When you find out you’re pregnant, your doctor will recommend you take a daily prenatal vitamin. These vitamins don’t replace a healthy diet but are designed to complement it. They are packed with extra vitamins and minerals to ensure your well-being and that of your developing child. With so many prenatal vitamins on the market, it can be hard to find the right one. We’ve done some of the legwork to help narrow down the choices to the best prenatal vitamins most recommended by experts.
Interestingly, many prenatal vitamins don’t contain choline, an essential nutrient for humans and animals. A recent study found pregnant women who indulge in choline-rich foods such as eggs, lean meat, fish, and nuts can give their children a better attention span. Researchers found consuming twice the recommended amount of choline leads to kids having better focus.
The specific need for certain nutrients during pregnancy contrasts with some general nutritional advice. While you may read studies that say taking a daily multivitamin is a waste of time and provides no extra benefit to your body, doctors say this doesn’t apply to pregnant women or those planning to start a family. Many vitamins, such as folic acid, are essential to support healthy fetal development.
When choosing a prenatal vitamin, it’s important to consider the following:
- Form: Prenatal vitamins come in various forms, like capsules, gummies, and liquids. Choose one that is easy for you to take regularly.
- Tolerability: Some prenatal vitamins might cause nausea, especially if they contain iron. If you have morning sickness or other sensitivities, look for a formula that’s easier on your stomach.
- Quality and Safety: Opt for prenatal vitamins from reputable brands that adhere to FDA guidelines for dietary supplements.
- Consultation with a Healthcare Provider: It’s crucial to consult with your doctor or a healthcare professional before starting any supplement.
Which prenatal vitamins will give you all the extra nutrients you and your growing baby need? For our list of the best prenatal vitamins, we searched for the seven most recommended over-the-counter pills, across seven expert websites. Did we miss one that you or your doctor loves? Let us know in the comments below.
The List: Best Prenatal Vitamins, Recommended by Experts
1. Nature Made Prenatal Folic Acid + DHA
This prenatal vitamin tops our list because it meets the nutritional demands of pregnancy and is one of the most affordable. According to Healthline, “This liquid softgel multivitamin combines DHA with folate, iron, and other essential nutrients, is third-party tested by U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) and has more than 14,000 mostly 5-star reviews online.”
“We like that this prenatal contains 200 milligrams of DHA which is important for the development of the baby’s central nervous system, brain, and eyes,” writes Parents. “This supplement is USP Verified, so you can trust that it contains only the ingredients listed on the bottle. It’s also gluten-free and does not contain any artificial flavors.”
According to community members at The Bump, “these capsules were to swallow” and are “budget friendly.”
2. Smarty Pants Prenatal Multi & Omegas
Let’s face it, trying to keep anything down can be a challenge when you’re pregnant, which is why this gummy can be a great choice. Babylist writes, “Smarty Pants gummy vitamins come in lemon, orange, and strawberry-banana flavors and have zero artificial colors, sweeteners, preservatives or high fructose corn syrup. You’ll need to eat six a day to get the amount of folic acid and vitamin D required for pregnant women. And you’ll even get a bit of DHA too (48 mg).”
“SmartyPants is a popular and easy-to-find supplement brand that offers a great option if you prefer gummy vitamins,” writes Healthline. “Specifically, the prenatal supplement features the omega-3s EPA and DHA, along with other important nutrients such as folate and B12. Like most other gummies, this one doesn’t contain iron, which some people may prefer. Be sure to ask your doctor for a recommendation for an iron supplement if necessary.”
According to Parents, “This prenatal is a tasty way to get your vitamins and minerals, and it may be a particularly good option if you feel nauseous or if you have trouble swallowing pills. It’s also third-party tested for purity and potency. But Take Note: It does not contain calcium, iron, or magnesium, so additional supplements may be needed depending on your diet. It also contains six grams of added sugar, gelatin, and fish oil, so it is not suitable for vegans and vegetarians.”
3. Ritual Essential Prenatal
Parents likes this one because, “In our opinion, Ritual has the best transparent ingredient sourcing—they clearly show where each ingredient comes from. It’s also third-party tested for purity and potency, and vegan friendly.” The website adds, “This prenatal covers all of the key nutrients important to support a healthy pregnancy including vitamin D3, E, K, methylated folate, B12, biotin, choline, iron, iodine, magnesium, and omega-3 DHA. You’ll notice it does not include vitamins A, and C, certain B-vitamins, calcium, and some trace minerals like zinc. Because it is not a complete multivitamin, it is best for those that eat a relatively balanced and diverse diet.”
According to Babylist, this is the best choice if you’re vegan. “Three key nutrients, vitamin B12, Omega-3 DHA, and iron, are most commonly sourced from animals. (Think meat, fish, eggs, and milk.) Ritual vitamins, however, use either bioidentical ingredients (meaning they’re made in a lab) or nutrients sourced through other vegan-friendly methods. The brand’s founder and CEO is even a vegan.”
Medical News Today likes Ritual because the pill offers delayed release for better absorption and is free from GMO ingredients, gluten, and other major allergens.
Ritual also offers a Prenatal Multivitamin & Plant-Based Protein Powder for Pregnancy & Postpartum package. This comes with the prenatal multivitamin and Ritual’s essential plant-based protein designed for before and during pregnancy.* The brand also offers a 30-day money back guarantee if you’re not satisfied.
4. Care/of
This is a subscription supplement service that provides personalized product recommendations. According to Healthline, “This prenatal supplement contains 22 essential vitamins and minerals to support a healthy pregnancy and is formulated to be gentle on your stomach and easy to absorb. It’s also delivered in daily packs for added convenience and is vegetarian-friendly, gluten-free, non-GMO, and free of major allergens. While it does not contain omega-3 DHA and EPA, you can easily add an omega-3 supplement to your Care/of daily pack.”
Parents adds “Care/of offers customizable daily vitamin packets, so you can start with their base prenatal and add additional nutrients specific for your needs. Their supplements are also internally and third-party tested for purity and potency.”
The Bump writes, “Each individual pack contains a curated selection of three prenatal multivitamins to take daily. Together, they contain 23 essential nutrients for you and baby, including methylfolate and choline—plus, they’ve been designed with easy digestion in mind.”
5. FullWell Prenatal Vitamin
This prenatal vitamin lives up to its name, according to Healthline. “It was designed by dietitian and fertility expert Ayla Barmmer, and it’s one of the most comprehensive prenatal vitamins on the market. Each serving covers 55% of recommended choline needs and provides 4,000 IU of vitamin D per dose. It also includes folate (folic acid) in the form of methylfolate, a more absorbable form of the nutrient.”
“This is the most comprehensive prenatal multivitamin on our list delivering high quality and higher quantity dosages of vitamins and minerals supported by research and experts, writes Parents. “But Take Note: The serving size is 8 pills per day, which can be an overwhelming amount of supplements to take daily when you’re pregnant. It also does not contain iron or omega-3s which they recommend taking separately as needed.”
The Bump adds, “Searching for prenatal vitamins without iron? Look no further than this option from FullWell. As a mom-to-be, you’ll appreciate that these prenatal multivitamins are full of essentials—like folate and B12—as well as other beneficial nutrients, such as choline, calcium, and magnesium. And don’t let the high dosage of eight capsules deter you. You can split them up throughout the day, or even break the capsules open and mix them into a cool beverage drink to make the process as seamless as can be.”
6. Perelel Prenatal Pack
Looking for a trimester-specific option? According to Healthline, “Perelel is a subscription service that delivers prenatal supplements tailored to the trimester of pregnancy you’re currently in. For example, the First Trimester Prenatal Support Pack contains extra folate, as well as added B6 and ginger to reduce nausea. The company was founded by an OB-GYN, and each product is free of artificial additives and third-party tested for accuracy and purity.”
According to Parents, “Perelel targets the specific needs of women in each trimester of pregnancy including the trying to conceive stage and postpartum. We like that their products are developed by a team of OBGYNs, and dietitians, and are third-party tested for purity and potency. But Take Note: The daily dosage is five larger capsules which may not be a good option for those experiencing nausea or that have difficulty taking pills.”
The Bump adds, “Targeted nutrients for every stage of pregnancy in convenient daily multipacks? We’re sold!”
7. Thorne Basic Prenatal
This prenatal vitamin, which rounds out our list, does contain choline and is great if you’re still breastfeeding an older child. Healthline writes, “Thorne Basic Prenatal is formulated to support the specific nutrient needs of pregnancy and breastfeeding. Specifically, it provides choline and folate to support fetal brain and spinal cord development during the early stages of pregnancy, as well as additional calcium and vitamin D to support increased needs during breastfeeding.”
According to Parents, “It is higher in iron (and other minerals) than other prenatals which can be helpful for those low in iron and don’t want to take an additional iron supplement. It has forms of vitamins and minerals that are well absorbed and gentle on the stomach.”
The Bump says, “If you’re an expectant mother who’s still breastfeeding baby’s older sibling, you’ll need a workhorse prenatal vitamin that can cover all of your bases—and then some. That’s why we’re fans of the Thorne Basic Prenatal, which has been specifically designed for pregnant and nursing women. Each capsule contains bioactive folate, iron, calcium, and vitamin D (all of which are ingredients that Twogood recommends!) to promote healthy development in mom and baby every trimester.”
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