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One of the most important steps you can take during pregnancy to ensure you have a healthy baby is also one of the simplest: popping a prenatal vitamin every day. While a prenatal can’t replace a healthy diet full of the best foods for pregnancy, a supplement helps fill in any gaps, says Nicole Rankins, M.D. Opens a new window, an OB/GYN and site director of the OB Hospitalist Group in Norfolk, Virginia. After all, it’s tough to meet the nutrient demands of pregnancy through food alone — especially when you’re dealing with food aversions or morning sickness.
And no, a standard multivitamin won’t do the trick — I had the same question during my first pregnancy. Prenatal vitamins are specially formulated for pregnancy. “If comparing them side by side, you would notice higher amounts of many nutrients in a prenatal vitamin compared to the standard multivitamin for women,” says Olivia Small, R.D.N. Opens a new window, a prenatal dietitian and certified lactation counselor at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. For instance, prenatal vitamins contain higher levels of iron and folic acid than a standard multivitamin.
Best Overall Prenatal Vitamin – Nature Made Prenatal Multivitamin Folic Acid + DHA
Pros
- Includes DHA
- gentle on stomach
- USP-verified
Cons
- Pills are large
A 2024 Mom Must-Have Award winner, Nature Made’s Prenatal Multivitamin Folic Acid + DHA vitamin Opens a new window is packed with all the essential nutrients you need at an affordable price. These vitamins are especially rich in folic acid, iron, calcium, and vitamin D, and they contain DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, without a fishy aftertaste.
Sarah Darby, Associate Director, SEO Content Strategist, and mom of two, started with gummy prenatals but switched to Nature Made after realizing she needed more iron. She was pleasantly surprised at how well she could stomach them.
“I actually found that they tasted better than the gummies because I was just swallowing them instead of chewing,” Sarah says, adding that they were easy to swallow and the taste wasn’t bad. “I would say they were as easy on the stomach as I could expect for something with iron, given my raging heartburn.”
“I was also on a gummy prenatal at one point, but I switched to Nature Made once I realized that it had more of the recommended nutrients,” says Robin Hilmantel, Editorial Director of Special Projects and mom of three says.
“There was a slightly fishy aftertaste, but it wasn’t bad compared to other vitamins with DHA that I’ve tried. And Nature Made never upset my stomach.”
What moms love most about Nature Made prenatals is how gentle they are on the stomach—without any bitterness. Many moms also praised the softgel capsules for being easy to swallow and free from both the chalky aftertaste of uncoated pills and the excess sugar of gummy vitamins.
“I was intimidated by the size of the Nature Made vitamins, but I actually found it really easy to switch from gummy prenatal vitamins to these,” says Caroline Picard, Senior Health Editor and mom-to-be, says. “I always take them right before bed, so I haven’t had any issues with stomach upset or aftertaste, and I like having the peace of mind that they contain more iron and DHA than gummy options.”
Overall, Nature Made Prenatal is a solid multivitamin that delivers the nutrients you need at a good price, with a generous amount of pills in each bottle.
Best Prenatal Vitamin Subscription – Ritual Essential Prenatal Multivitamin
Pros
- Two flavor options
- vegan
- traceable ingredients
Cons
- some say it causes “fish burps”
- Not everyone loves the aftertaste
Ritual Opens a new window is a subscription-based service, so you’ll never have to remember to grab more prenatal vitamins when you run low. The brand is big on only including ingredients that you can trace right to the source, with detailed descriptions about where each vitamin and mineral comes from to help you know exactly what you’re putting in your body during this important time. Included in each serving is vital nutrients for you and baby, including folate and iron, plus choline and DHA, all which aid in neural tube, brain and blood support. You can choose from mint- or citrus-essenced pills for a nice taste that makes these pills more palatable than most.
“Based on everything I read about prenatal vitamins, I was prepared for some chalky and fishy flavors. But Ritual’s vitamins were fine,” Melissa Bykofsy, Executive Editor and mom of two, says in her review of Ritual prenatal vitamins. “It probably helps that the vitamins are available in two flavors: citrus and mint. I opted for citrus both times (though, it was the only option during my first pregnancy) and found it to taste a lot like a vitamin C supplement.”
It’s also the only prenatal on the market backed by a human clinical trial. A recently published study Opens a new windowexamined the maternal blood, placenta and cord blood over a 24-week pregnancy window. Of the 70 participants, those who took Ritual saw a higher increase of biotin levels and improved absorption of folate, as well as a reduction in cortisol, compared to those who just took a control multivitamin-mineral supplement and DHA pill.
However, it’s also important to point out that the supplements don’t contain zinc or vitamins A or C, so talk to your doctor to see if you should be supplementing separately with these nutrients or if your regular diet includes enough of each naturally.
Best Prenatal Gummy Vitamin – Vitafusion Prenatal Supplement
Pros
- Easy to take
- high in vitamin D
- contains DHA
Cons
- Doesn’t contain iron or calcium
Can’t stomach a horse-sized prenatal vitamin? A gummy might help. Vitafusion Prenatal Gummies Opens a new windowpack many of the essential nutrients you need (including DHA) into a lemon- or raspberry lemonade-flavored chew. Plus, they also contain 800 IU of vitamin D, which is more than the daily value for pregnant women and aids in bone growth and could help your immune system.
“My stomach was super sensitive during the first trimester, and I found these gummies easier to handle than traditional vitamins,” says Leah Rocketto, Associate Commerce Director and mom of one. “Oddly, I found the semi-sour flavor soothing on my stomach. I eventually switched to a softgel when my morning sickness passed, but these were a great first-trimester pick.”
Just note that you’ll need to ask your practitioner if you should supplement with calcium and iron separately because this option lacks both. And, because you’ll need to take two gummies a day, each bottle contains only a 45-day supply. However, for those who can’t swallow the large size of many prenatal vitamins or who have a sensitive stomach, this flavorful, easy-to-take gummy option will be a great alternative.
Best Preconception Prenatal Vitamin – Theralogix TheraNatal Core Preconception Vitamins
Pros
- Vegetarian
- NSF-certified
Cons
- Doesn’t contain DHA
The Theralogix TheraNatal Core Preconception Vitamin Opens a new window contains nutrients designed to give your body what it needs to prepare for pregnancy. This includes methylated folate, a natural form of folate that is easier to absorb, which helps support baby’s brain development. If you’re trying to conceive, taking a vitamin high in folate up to six months before conception can help set an important foundation Opens a new windowfor both your body and baby’s development.
Additionally, Theralogix’s preconception vitamins contain 2,000 IU of vitamin D, which is more than double the daily amount, in order to aid in bone growth, immunity and even mood. It also contains plenty of calcium and iron, which are crucial for your bones and blood cell production, respectively. And, it notably includes choline, which is not always found in prenatals but can help with fetal brain development Opens a new windowand may decrease the risk of neural tube defects.
However, talk to your doctor once you’re pregnant to ensure that the higher level of certain nutrients is still safe for a developing baby.