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Preparing for your pregnancy involves more than just tracking your ovulation period and leading a healthy lifestyle. One important step in the pregnancy journey, is taking prenatal vitamins before conception to ensure your body has the essential nutrients needed to support fertility and early development of your baby.
Prenatal vitamins help fill in the nutritional gaps, support egg health, and create the ideal conditions for pregnancy. But with so many options available, how do you choose the right one?
In this guide, we’ll explore why prenatal vitamins are essential before pregnancy, key nutrients to look for, and the best prenatal vitamins to get pregnant to help you conceive faster, carry you through the pregnancy and even after.
Why take prenatal vitamins before pregnancy?
Most people associate prenatal vitamins with pregnancy, but taking these vitamins before conceiving can also offer lots of other benefits.
These benefits include:
- Boosting Fertility: Certain vitamins and minerals support reproductive health and improve egg quality.
- Preventing Birth Defects: Folic acid reduces the risk of neural tube defects, which develop in the first few weeks of pregnancy often before you even realize you’re pregnant.
- Supporting a Healthy Uterine Environment: Nutrients like iron and vitamin D help create the right conditions for egg implantation within the womb.
- Enhancing Overall Health: A well-nourished body is more likely to conceive, sustain a pregnancy and deliver a healthy baby.
These benefits and more are reasons why you should take prenatal vitamins before you conceive so that your pregnancy journey is as smooth as it is healthy.
Top 5 Prenatal Vitamins for Fertility
Pink stork
TOTAL SCORE : 5.0 (0) TOTAL RATING : 15- Women-Centered Formulas
- Clean, High-Quality Ingredients
- Variety of Forms Available
- Taste & Aftertaste Issues
- Higher Price Point
Pink Stork prenatal vitamins offer clean, doctor-formulated nutrition with essential nutrients for pregnancy and postpartum. Available in capsules and gummies, they are high-quality but can have a strong aftertaste and premium pricing.
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Theralogix theranatal
TOTAL SCORE : 4.7 (0) TOTAL RATING : 14- Clinically Tested & Recommended by Doctors
- Includes Key Nutrients in Optimal Doses
- Third-Party Tested for Purity & Quality
- Higher Price Point
- Multiple Pills Required Daily
Theralogix TheraNatal offers doctor-recommended prenatal supplements with clinically tested ingredients, including methylfolate, DHA, and choline. NSF-certified for safety, it’s highly effective but requires multiple pills in some formulations.
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Nature made
TOTAL SCORE : 4.7 (0) TOTAL RATING : 14- Affordable & Widely Available
- Essential Nutrients for Pregnancy
- USP Verified for Quality & Purity
- Uses Folic Acid Instead of Methylfolate
- Large Pill Size
Nature Made prenatal vitamins offer essential pregnancy nutrients at an affordable price. USP-verified for quality, they come in softgels and gummies, though some formulas lack methylfolate or require multiple doses daily.
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Myo-inositol and D-Chiro inositol
TOTAL SCORE : 4.7 (0) TOTAL RATING : 14- Supports Hormonal Balance
- Improves Ovulatory Function
- Supports Metabolic Health
- Takes Time to Show Effects
- Potential for Mild Side Effects
Myo-inositol and D-chiro inositol support hormonal balance, fertility, and insulin sensitivity, especially for PCOS. Available in powders and capsules, they require consistent use but are generally safe and effective.
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Ladywell prenatal
TOTAL SCORE : 4.7 (0) TOTAL RATING : 14- Comprehensive Nutrient Profile
- Clean, Bioavailable Ingredients
- Developed by Fertility Experts
- Limited Availability
- Multiple Capsules Daily
Ladywell's Prenatal Multivitamin offers essential nutrients like folate, DHA, and choline in bioavailable forms. Developed by fertility experts, it's vegan-friendly and non-GMO but requires two daily capsules.
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Key Nutrients to Look for in Prenatal Vitamins
Not all prenatal vitamins are created equal. There are the master vitamins and there are the assistants. Here are the essential nutrients that should be included in a high-quality prenatal vitamin for fertility:
- Folic Acid: Prevents neural tube defects, supports DNA synthesis, and promotes healthy ovulation.Recommended dosage: At least 400–800 mcg daily. If nothing else, make sure that your prenatal vitamin contains folic acid. The proper development of your baby’s brain depends on it.
- Iron: Supports red blood cell production and prevents anemia, which is crucial for oxygen delivery to the baby.Recommended dosage: 18–27 mg daily.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Supports brain and eye development in the baby while reducing inflammation in the mother’s body.Recommended dosage: At least 200 mg of DHA per day.
- Vitamin D: Essential for calcium absorption, bone health, and immune function, which supports fertility. Recommended dosage: 600–1,000 IU daily.
- Zinc: Plays a role in cell division, egg quality, and hormonal balance. Recommended dosage: 8–11 mg daily.
Anytime you go shopping for a prenatal vitamin, ensure you pay attention to these particular nutrients. They play a very important role in your baby’s development and in making sure that your pregnancy is carried to full term.
Why Trust Us
Vitamins for Woman is your partner in your health and wellness journey. Focusing on your well-being in your daily life, we are dedicated to supporting, guiding, and empowering you.
At Vitamins for Woman, we put you first, ensuring we only give you expert-reviewed information that empowers you to take charge of your life and pregnancy journey.
We recognize the unique challenges everyone faces. Therefore, we lend an empathic and understanding voice from our personal stories and inclusive information.
How We Choose the Best
Choosing the best supplement is not a sprint for us. Instead, we take our time to carefully curate the best supplements for your needs. By consulting our in-house experts and partnering with third-party professionals, we consider several factors closely. We value high-quality products, so we consider the composition, ingredient quality, testing, and certification and also compare the forms and dosage.
Also, we try to cater to different budgets and needs, so we review the prices and choose the best value for your money. Understanding that a high price does not equate to good quality, Vitamins for Women recommends the best quality for your money.
While we may not cover all grounds, we do well to be comprehensive and put you first. This is a comprehensive guide, but we recommend that you consult your doctor before taking any iron supplements during pregnancy.
Tips for Choosing the Right Prenatal Vitamin
To make sure you’re picking the best prenatal vitamin for your fertility journey, consider these tips before purchasing any vitamin:
- Check for Third-Party Testing: Choose brands that test for purity and potency.
- Look for Methylated Folate: If you have the MTHFR gene mutation, this form of folic acid is better absorbed. The MTHFR is an enzyme that is important for the metabolism of folate.
- Avoid Artificial Additives: Stick to clean formulas free of unnecessary fillers and artificial colors.
- Consider Your Diet: If you’re vegetarian or vegan, make sure the vitamin doesn’t contain gelatin or other animal-based ingredients.
- Evaluate Pill Form and Size: Some prenatal vitamins come in large pills or have specific tastes; choose one you can take consistently.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s advisable to start taking prenatal vitamins at least one month before attempting to conceive to ensure adequate nutrient levels.
While prenatal vitamins don’t directly increase fertility, they ensure your body has the necessary nutrients to support reproductive health and a developing fetus, thereby supporting a healthy conception.
Some women experience mild side effects such as:
- Nausea (especially with iron-rich vitamins)
- Constipation
- Upset stomach
To reduce the side effects of these prenatal vitamins, try taking your vitamin with food and choosing a formula with a gentle form of iron.
Final Thoughts For You
Taking prenatal vitamins to get pregnant, is one of the best steps you can take to boost fertility and prepare your body for a healthy pregnancy. By choosing a high-quality supplement that is rich in essential nutrients, you increase your chances of conceiving and supporting your baby’s early development.
If you’re unsure which prenatal vitamin is best for you, consult your healthcare provider to find the right fit for your needs.
- CDC, 2024. MTHFR Gene Variant and Folic Acid Facts [WWW Document]. Folic Acid. URL https://www.cdc.gov/folic-acid/data-research/mthfr/index.html (accessed 3.20.25).
- Vitamins, minerals and supplements in pregnancy [WWW Document], 2020. . nhs.uk. URL https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/vitamins-supplements-and-nutrition/ (accessed 3.20.25).
- Good Health Before Pregnancy: Prepregnancy Care [WWW Document], n.d. URL https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/good-health-before-pregnancy-prepregnancy-care (accessed 3.20.25).
- admin, 2021. 5 Most Important Prenatal Nutrients For Pregnancy [WWW Document]. American Pregnancy Association. URL https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/pregnancy-health-wellness/5-most-important-prenatal-nutrients/ (accessed 3.20.25).
