A Guide to Choosing the Best Prenatal Vitamins in 2024
medically reviewed by margaret etudo, BPharm. written by the vitamins for woman team.
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Are you expecting a baby? This article contains some of the best prenatal vitamins for a healthy pregnancy.
Table of Contents
Prenatal vitamins are essential for the healthy growth of every expecting mother and growing baby. The best prenatal multivitamins and folic acid supplements can help you meet your nutritional needs during pregnancy.
While a prenatal vitamin may not be the same as a balanced diet, supplements fill in the gaps for nutritional needs during pregnancy. So, besides taking your daily meals, you should take the necessary vitamins, too.
The right vitamins can prevent nutritional deficiencies that may lead to various pregnancy complications. For this reason, healthcare providers recommend prenatal vitamins if you are trying to get pregnant or expecting a baby.
In this article, you will find a compiled list of some of the best prenatal vitamins on the market.
Our Picks of the Best Prenatal Vitamins
- Best Prenatal with DHA: Theralogix TheraCal Bone Health D4000 at Amazon Jump to review
- Best Personalized Subscription: Care/of Prenatal Vitamins Jump to review
- Best Comprehensive: FullWell Prenatal Multivitamin Jump to review
- Best for Vegetarians: MegaFood Baby & Me 2 Prenatal Multivitamin Jump to review
- Best Affordable: Nature-Made Prenatal Folic Acid + DHA Softgels Jump to review
- Best for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Thorne Basic Prenatal Jump to review
- Best for Morning Sickness: New Chapter Advanced Perfect Prenatal Multivitamin Jump to review
- Best Gummies: SmartyPants Prenatal Formula Gummies Jump to review
- Best Trimester-specific: Perelel Prenatal Pack Jump to review
1
Best Prenatal with DHA
- Form: capsule
- Dose: 2 capsules per day
- Certifications: third-party tested for purity and potency, Non-GMO Project verified, Made Traceable
4.9
2
Best Personalized Subscription
- Form: tablet
- Dose: 3 tablets per day
- Certifications: third-party tested for purity and potency, non-GMO, Certified C.L.E.A.N.
4.8
3
Best Comprehensive
FullWell Prenatal Multivitamin
- Form: capsule
- Dose: 8 capsules per day
- Certifications: third-party tested for purity and potency, non-GMO
4.6
4
Best for Vegetarians
MegaFood Baby & Me 2 Prenatal Multivitamin
- Form: tablet
- Dose: 2 tablets per day
- Certifications: Non-GMO Project verified, glyphosate residue-free, tested for 125+ herbicides and pesticides, gluten-free
4.7
5
Best Affordable
Nature-Made Prenatal Folic Acid + DHA Softgels
- Form: softgel
- Dose: 1 softgel per day
- Certifications: USP verified
4.6
6
Best for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
- Form: capsule
- Dose: 3 capsules per day
- Certifications: gluten-free
4.5
7
Best for Morning Sickness
New Chapter Advanced Perfect Prenatal Multivitamin
- Form: tablet
- Dose: 3 tablets per day
- Certifications: Non-GMO Project verified, certified gluten-free by NSF, carbon-free
8
Best Gummies
SmartyPants Prenatal Formula Gummies
- Form: gummy
- Dose: 4 gummies per day
- Certifications: NSF certified, Clean Label Project, non-GMO tested
3.9
9
Best Trimester-specific
- Form: capsule
- Dose: 1 packet (5 capsules) per day
- Certifications: third-party tested for purity and potency, non-GMO
4.5
Comparing the Best Prenatal Vitamins in the Market
| S/N | Vitamins | Good For | Daily Dose | Vegan | Missing Key Nutrients |
| 1 | Ritual Prenatal | Can fill in the gap for a balanced diet | 2 Capsules | Yes | Vitamin A, B6, and C, Thiamine, Niacin, Calcium, Zinc |
| 2 | Care/of Prenatal | Customized Subscription | 3 Tablets | No | DHA, EPA, Niacin, Thiamine, Riboflavin |
| 3 | FullWell Prenatal | Pre and postnatal health | 8 Capsules | Yes | DHA, EPA |
| 4 | MegaFood Baby & Me 2 Prenatal | Whole-food ingredients | 2 Tablets | No | Magnesium, DHA, EPA |
| 5 | Nature Made Prenatal | Small budget | 1 Softgel | No | Choline |
| 6 | Thorne Basic Prenatal | Pre- and postnatal health | 3 Capsules | No | DHA, EPA |
| 7 | New Chapter Prenatal | Nausea | 3 Tablets | No | Choline, DHA, EPA |
| 8 | SmartyPants Prenatal | Gummy vitamins | 4 Gummies | No | Calcium, Magnesium, Pantothenic acid |
| 9 | Perelel Prenatal | Trimester targeted | 1 packet with 5 capsules | No | Nil |
Why You Should Trust Us
We understand the importance of having a healthy pregnancy, so our analysis ensures you get the proper amount of nutrients that will suit your unique needs. As a team, we consider feedback from expecting mothers to help us provide insights on each product, its effectiveness, and possible side effects. Rest assured that our guidance on choosing the best prenatal vitamins will support your health and your baby’s development.
Other helpful supplements
Notice that some of the best prenatal multivitamins do not contain essential ingredients like vitamin D, choline, and omega-3.
In response, some of the best folic acid supplements can fill in any nutritional gap in the absence of prenatal vitamins.
FullWell and Care/of Prenatal offer supplements that provide additional nutrients for the healthy growth of your pregnancy.
Tips on Choosing the Best Prenatal Vitamin for Pregnancy
There are certain things you must consider when looking for the best prenatal multivitamins. They include the proper nutrients for a healthy preconception and prenatal period.
Let’s find out more below.
Note Your Health Preferences
Check and Compare Prices
Daily Dosage
Look Out for Added Herbs
Note Your Health Preferences
Do you have any allergies? What is your medical history or restrictions? Will you need additional supplements to boost your vitamins? Have you had a history of bariatric surgery or anemia? These and many more are factors you must consider when choosing the best prenatal vitamin.
Check and Compare Prices
The differences in prices are based on factors such as ingredients, vegan or organic, and the serving size of each bottle. However, while comparing prices, it is important not to choose a product based on prices alone. Read the labels to know the details before purchasing.
Daily Dosage
Depending on the brand of the prenatal vitamin, this dosage may range from one to six capsules daily. Taking less than the recommended dosage may reduce the product’s effectiveness. Conversely, taking more than the recommended dosage is unsafe for you and the baby. It could lead to nutrient deficiencies in the baby’s development during your pregnancy.
Look Out for Added Herbs
Herbs may be natural, but it doesn’t make them safe for pregnancies. Not all pregnancies require herbal supplements, as some may contradict medications you may be taking for fertility. Always confirm with your doctor the ingredients in a prenatal supplement or multivitamin before taking it. Ask specific questions about what works best for your body and your baby.
Essential Nutrients to Check for in a Prenatal Vitamin
During pregnancy, certain nutrients play essential roles in keeping you and your baby healthy. While purchasing your prenatal vitamins, ensure they have the vital nutrients below.
Folic Acid
Folic acid, also known as folate, is a B vitamin that you must take during your pregnancy. This nutrient helps to prevent any abnormality that may happen in the fetus’s brain and spine development.
A birth abnormality or neural tube defect (NTD) can occur when there is insufficient folic acid in your diet. This synthetic form of B vitamin plays a role in the DNA synthesis of proteins, red blood cells, and the nervous system.
The best folic acid supplement also helps in supporting the placenta and preventing miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth weight.
Choline
Choline is another essential nutrient for the healthy development of the fetus during pregnancy. Just like folic acid, it helps your baby’s brain and spinal cord develop properly. A well-developed neural system reduces the risk of neural tube defects.
Despite the scientific evidence on the benefits of choline during pregnancy, some prenatal vitamins contain little amounts of choline – or none. However, you can make up for the loss when you eat a well-balanced diet.
DHA
Daily intake of DHA is very safe and essential during your pregnancy. It is an essential omega-3 fatty acid that supports the development of your baby’s vision, brain, and nervous system.
Despite its importance, some of the best prenatal vitamins do not provide this nutrient. You will need additional prenatal supplements containing DHA to complement your vitamins.
Iron
Iron is a significant source of healthy red blood cells for you and your baby. These red blood cells are needed to carry oxygen to various organs and tissues in your body.
A pregnant woman short of red blood cells is anemic, which increases the risk of preterm delivery and postpartum maternal infections. Daily iron intake can also prevent energy loss and regular fainting from fatigue.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a significant nutrient in pregnancy to ensure ovulatory regulation and healthy egg formation. Studies have shown that normal vitamin D levels are associated with higher IVF success for a healthy pregnancy.
More so, if you lack vitamin D supplements during your pregnancy, there is a high chance that your child will have soft bones. Insufficiency in this vitamin could cause rickets, a disease of the bone in children.
Iodine
Iodine is necessary during pregnancy because your body needs to produce thyroid hormones. These hormones help your body use and store energy from food.
Iodine also helps in the development of your baby’s nervous system, which includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Each nervous system part helps your baby move, think and feel.
Why is it Important to Take a Prenatal Vitamin?
The best prenatal vitamins contain the nutrients and minerals your body needs before and during pregnancy. These vitamins ensure your unborn baby gets what it needs for healthy growth.
Some prenatal vitamins help prevent congenital disabilities around the bone and the nervous system. Other prenatal vitamins can reduce nausea and vomiting that you may feel during morning sickness.
These are reasons to take prenatal multivitamins today.
When to Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins
As soon as you decide to try to get pregnant, do not hesitate to take prenatal vitamins.
It is advisable to take these vitamins a few months before getting pregnant. The first few weeks of your pregnancy is a delicate stage and will require you to be intentional with getting proper nutrition.
Many providers recommend prenatal vitamins while breastfeeding or pumping for your baby. The right amount of vitamins will keep your breast milk flowing for healthy baby growth.
Do I Need Prenatal Vitamins After I Give Birth?
Yes, it is advisable to keep taking your prenatal vitamins after delivery. Prenatal vitamins may help after delivery in improving your nutritional needs of breastfeeding. Vitamins also help in enhancing energy and better mood regulation after delivery.
In some cases, women with vegetarian or vegan diets may not get proper nutrition through diet. Prenatal vitamins ensure that they are not at any risk for deficiencies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Prenatal vitamins are essential in the healthy functioning of your tissues and organs during pregnancy. This role affects the development of the baby’s essential organs, too. From the bones to the nervous system, prenatal vitamins provide the proper nutrients.
The Rituals prenatal vitamin makes it to the top of our list. However, it is essential to reach out to a doctor for the best prenatal vitamin most suitable for you and your baby.
No. There is absolutely no need to take prenatal vitamins if you are not pregnant. Taking that high amount of nutrients could expose you to health risks, causing you to experience specific side effects.
It is possible for prenatal vitamins to encourage a healthy pregnancy. Folic acid, found in prenatal vitamins, can increase the likelihood of getting pregnant. However, they do not directly help you get pregnant.
Final Thoughts For You
At Vitamins For Woman, we are committed to offering the best prenatal vitamins and supplements that will provide you with proper nutrition during pregnancy. Every prenatal vitamin product is selected based on its health, safety, quality, and nutritional value.
This article ensures that you get the proper guidance on the prenatal vitamin products for your requirements. Carefully go through it to find more information on the product of your choice.
Pregnancy is a beautiful journey for every mother like you, and we wish you the very best as you expect your bundle of joy. Cheers to the beginning of a new journey with the right nutrients!
- Leeman, L., & Fontaine, P. (2008). Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. American Family Physician, 78, 93–100.
- Jackson K, et al. (2018). A prenatal dha test to help identify women at increased risk for early preterm birth.
- Blusztajn JK, Wurtman RJ. Choline and cholinergic neurons. Science. 1983;221:614–20
- Rudick BJ, et al. Influence of Vitamin D Levels on In Vitro Fertilization Outcomes in Donor-Recipient Cycles. Fertil Steril (2014) 101:447–52.
- Scaglione F, Panzavolta G. Folate, folic acid, and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate are not the same thing. Xenobiotica 2014;44:480-8.
- Allen LH. Maternal micronutrient malnutrition: effects on breast milk and infant nutrition, and priorities for intervention.
- A review of postpartum psychosis. Sit D, Rothschild AJ, Wisner KL. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2006;15:352–368.
medically reviewed by margaret etudo, BPharm. written by the vitamins for woman team.
hey there, just wondering if taking prenatal vitamins too early can be a problem? started planning for a baby and thinking if it’s the right time to start on these. thanks for the insight, Vitamins For Woman.
EvaGarden, starting prenatal vitamins before you’re pregnant is actually a great idea! It helps prepare your body with essential nutrients needed for early fetal development. Just make sure to choose one with the right nutrients.
is it just me or these vitamins are just a way to make money? ppl been having babies without these fancy pills for ages.
I’ve read a lot about DHA’s benefits for brain development but noticed a lot of prenatal vitamins don’t have it. Shouldn’t it be a standard by now for all prenatal vitamins to include DHA?
Love that you included Choline in the essential nutrients. Not enough people talk about how critical it is for pregnancy!
so like when is the best time to start taking these? after you’re pregnant or before? kinda confused lol
Very comprehensive list of nutrients! It’s crucial that expectant mothers check for these essentials in their prenatal vitamins. Kudos for the detailed breakdown, Vitamins For Woman.
Ah, the grand ol’ tradition of gobbling vitamins. Ever pondered if our ancestors fretted over DHA or Choline? Perhaps a stroll and sunbathed thoughts would suffice in those simpler times.
Just started on my prenatal journey and this article is a treasure trove of info. I never knew about the importance of Iodine in pregnancy till now. Thanks for sharing!
can guys take these prenatal vitamins too or is it just for the ladies? asking for a friend.
So if I start taking prenatal vitamins, does that mean I’ll get superpowers or just a super healthy baby? Looking for both, honestly.
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