There are many benefits to taking prenatal vitamins every day during pregnancy. Prenatal vitamins help ensure that both the mother and the unborn child receive the proper nutrients and vitamins. They can help prevent birth defects, improve pregnancy outcomes, and promote a healthy pregnancy overall. However, they are not a substitute for a healthy diet, adequate medical care, or stress management.
We did extensive research to find the best prenatal vitamins for pregnancy on the market, comparing them based on the nutrients and minerals they contain and whether or not they are approved by medical professionals. We chose these top-rated solutions after evaluating dozens of formulas and seeking advice from several licensed nutritionists.
Our Top Picks
- Best Prenatal Overall: Nature Made Prenatal
- Best Prenatal Powder: Powder Prenatal Multivitamin
- Best Prenatal With DHA: Ritual Prenatal Vitamin
- Best Organic Prenatal Vitamin: New Chapter Advanced Perfect Prenatal Vitamins
- Best Prenatal Gummies: SmartyPants Prenatal Formula
- Best Vegan Prenatal Vitamin: Deva Vegan Prenatal Multivitamin
- Best Single-Serving Prenatal Vitamin: One A Day Women’s Prenatal
- Best Prenatal Protein Powder: Seeking Health | Optimal Prenatal Protein Powder
- Best Prenatal Vitamin For Nausea: Garden of Life Prenatal Multivitamin
- Best Choline: NusaPure Choline Bitartrate
In This Article
HappyBabyHub’s Best Prenatal Vitamins For Pregnancy Picks
Nature Made Prenatal – Best Prenatal Overall
- No artificial dyes
- Clinically proven absorption
- No after taste
- Great price point
- Large pill
This specially formulated prenatal multivitamin contains 19 essential vitamins and minerals, including Folic Acid and DHA, to help develop your baby’s brain, neurological system, bones, and eyes. And it’s not just for your baby – this multivitamin is also designed to support your own health during pregnancy.
Made from high-quality, gluten-free ingredients without any artificial flavors, this Nature Made Prenatal multivitamin for women is an excellent source of Omega-3 essential fatty acids. With 200 mg of DHA, this supplement can help support brain development for both you and your baby. Plus, it contains all eight B vitamins, as well as Vitamins A, C, D, E, and K.
Powder Prenatal Multivitamin – Best Prenatal Powder
- The flavor is uniquely tasty
- Great for morning sickness
- Easy for on-the-go
- Bubbly
- There is a slight fizz action
Root’d is not your average prenatal multivitamin. This exceptional product combines essential vitamins and minerals for both mom and baby with digestive probiotics, energizing organic superfoods like beets and greens, plus hydrating electrolytes, all in one convenient drink mix. Unlike traditional prenatal multivitamins, Root’d offer a comprehensive range of nutrients to support a healthy pregnancy and postpartum period.
The powder is naturally sweetened with stevia and has a delicious lemon-berry flavor that pregnant women will love. It is also a safe option for women with diabetes or gestational diabetes, as it does not contain added sugar.
Each packet of Root’d powder contains 25 essential vitamins and minerals, including folate, choline, and vitamin D, which are crucial for promoting health throughout pregnancy. Root’d formulations are rigorously tested by a third party for quality, purity, and label accuracy, so you can be confident you are getting the best for you and your baby.
Ritual Prenatal Vitamin – Best Prenatal With DHA
- The smell isn’t bad at all
- The ingredients all seem pretty good
- Easy-to-swallow capsules
- Promotes heart health, immunity, and digestive health
- The pill is quite large and the daily dose is 2 capsules
Ritual is our recommendation if you’re seeking a prenatal that provides you with the necessities in only two doses. These capsules are designed to delay the release of nutrients until they reach the stomach where they can be absorbed without causing digestive issues. Plus, they’re vegan, gluten-free, and free of major allergens and artificial dyes, and fillers.
Ritual’s prenatal vitamins provide a range of essential vitamins and minerals for both mom and baby. They offer more vitamin D than most other two-pill prenatal, use the methylated form of folate for optimal absorption, and include choline and plenty of DHA to support brain and eye development. And, with easy monthly delivery straight to your door, you won’t have to worry about running out.
New Chapter Advanced Perfect Prenatal Vitamins – Best Organic Prenatal Vitamin
- Easy to swallow
- Easy on the stomach
- Contains essential minerals
- Organic and vegetarian
- You need to eat something while taking these
New Chapter’s Perfect Prenatal vitamins are made with organic whole-food ingredients that are fermented to ensure that your body absorbs each nutrient, just like food! This means you can be confident that you’re getting everything you need.
Perfect Prenatal contains methyl folate, the most bioactive form of Folate, which is crucial for your baby’s brain and spinal cord development, as well as non-constipating Iron, and B vitamins for energy support, Vitamin D3 for heart health, and Vitamin C, A, and Zinc for immune support.
But that’s not all! Perfect Prenatal is gentle on your stomach and even includes ginger to help with nausea relief. It’s a comprehensive prenatal vitamin that will keep you fueled and support healthy preconception, pregnancy, and fetal development. Plus, it’s so gentle that you can take it anytime, even on an empty stomach!
SmartyPants Prenatal Formula – Best Prenatal Gummies
- Tastes like a sweet candy treat
- Great clean ingredients
- Doesn’t make me nauseous
- Easy to take two per meal or all at once
- Can be a little too sweet for some
SmartyPants is a brand that makes taking your daily prenatal supplements easy and enjoyable with its delicious gummy vitamins. Their prenatal supplement is specially designed with the essential omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, as well as important minerals like folate and B12.
If you’re looking for a gummy vitamin that doesn’t contain iron, this might be a great option for you. However, it’s always best to consult with your doctor to determine if you need to supplement with iron.
What sets SmartyPants apart is their commitment to using all-natural flavors sourced from fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. You won’t find any artificial sweeteners, flavors, or colors in these tasty gummies, making them a guilt-free treat that you’ll look forward to taking every day.
Deva Vegan Prenatal Multivitamin – Best Vegan Prenatal Vitamin
- Good price (compared to other vegan prenatal vitamins)
- Easy to get down
- The serving size is only 1 pill
- No offensive smell or taste
- Neon yellow urine caused by excess B2 (riboflavin)
Are you looking for an affordable prenatal vitamin that won’t irritate your stomach? Look no further than this supplement, which contains 90 vitamins all derived from plant sources! It’s perfect for moms who have allergies to soy, gelatin, or seafood. Plus, it’s gluten-free and doesn’t contain any artificial colors or preservatives.
These vitamins are packed with essential nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin D, and B vitamins that will help sustain your energy levels throughout your pregnancy. And the best part? The pills don’t have a strong taste or odor. Plus, the high B12 dosage is great for both you and your growing baby.
One A Day Women’s Prenatal – Best Single-Serving Prenatal Vitamin
- Easy to swallow
- Only 1 needed per day
- Great value
- Has DHA
- Doesn’t have choline
When you’re growing a little one, you want to make sure you’re doing everything in your power to give them the best start possible. That’s where One A Day Women’s Prenatal 1 comes in! It’s a complete multivitamin specifically formulated for women before, during, and after pregnancy. And get this: it has Omega-3 DHA and important minerals like folic acid, iron, and calcium – all packed into one easy-to-swallow soft gel. Plus, it’s free of dairy, wheat, artificial flavors, and sweeteners, so you can feel confident that you’re taking care of yourself and your little one.
Seeking Health | Optimal Prenatal Protein Powder – Best Prenatal Protein Powder
- Helps with morning sickness
- Taste like chocolate
- 3rd party tested
- Easy to take
- A bit expensive
Seeking Health’s Optimal Prenatal Protein Powder is a complete prenatal formula designed specifically for pregnant women or women trying to conceive. This chocolate-flavored protein drink is packed with a unique blend of amino acids, chelated minerals, and vitamins that are tailored to meet the high nutritional demands of pregnancy and support optimal fetal growth.
You can use Optimal Prenatal Powder whenever you need a protein and multivitamin supplement. It is formulated with special attention to the increased need for certain nutrients during pregnancy and the potential for intestinal irritation. The product includes L-5-MTHF, the most physiologically available form of folate, which is essential for promoting healthy cognitive development in your baby.
Additionally, Optimal Prenatal offers folinic acid, a non-methylated form of folate that the body can quickly metabolize into coenzyme forms. Together with amino acids, chelated minerals, and other B vitamins, this ideal blend of folates may support healthy cell development, cardiovascular, neurological, and immunological function.
The formula is perfect for vegetarians and is free from dairy, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, and wheat.
Garden of Life Prenatal Multivitamin – Best Prenatal Vitamin For Nausea
- No artificial ingredients or fillers
- It includes veggies and spouts
- Contains probiotics
- Easy-to-swallow
- They do have a slightly strange flavor
These raw supplements contain live probiotics, enzymes, and natural cofactors, which are usually lost when vitamins are made with excessive heat. Making them perfect if you are suffering from nausea
You can rest assured that your baby is getting everything they need with Vitamin Code. With 1,400 IU of whole food Vitamin D3 and over 100% DV of folate (800mcg) in each capsule, you can feel confident that your baby’s development is off to a great start. Plus, you get 100% of the recommended daily intake of the vitamins B6 and B12, and 27 mg of stomach-friendly iron to support blood and reproductive health.
The capsules are made from vegetable cellulose, so they are vegetarian-friendly, and they are easy to open and mix with water or unpasteurized juice.
NusaPure Choline Bitartrate – Best Choline
- Plenty of choline
- It is gluten-free
- Easy-to-swallow tablets, with no taste
- Budget-friendly
- No other vitamins except choline
If you’re worried about not getting enough choline in your diet, you might consider taking a separate choline supplement. NusaPure is a trusted company that follows strict GMP procedures to ensure safe and effective supplements. Their tablets are gluten-free, vegetarian, and non-GMO.
It’s worth noting that while the NusaPure supplement provides 650 mg of choline bitartrate, which is equivalent to 267 mg of elemental choline, it’s not a complete prenatal vitamin. So you’ll still need to take a separate prenatal supplement to make sure you’re getting all the other important nutrients you need during pregnancy.
Nutrients To Look For In Prenatal Vitamins
- Folic Acid: 600mg. The neural tube, which develops into the baby’s brain and spine, is assisted by folic acid. Making sure your food contains the optimum quantity of folic acid will aid in the healthy development of the neural tube and shield your unborn child against brain and spinal cord problems (1).
- Iron: 27mg. During pregnancy, you’ll need to consume more iron. For one thing, your baby will require more iron, but you’ll also need more iron to produce hemoglobin since you’ll be producing more blood throughout pregnancy (2).
- Calcium: 300mg. If you don’t have enough calcium in your system, your bones will suffer since your baby requires calcium to build their bones from the ground up (3).
- Iodine: 220 mcg. Iodine supports the thyroid and brain development of your unborn child. Iodine in prenatal vitamins may be advantageous for people who follow a low-sodium diet. However, consuming too much iodine can cause hyperthyroidism in both the mother and the fetus.
- Zinc: 15mg. Supports appropriate fluid balance in your body while supporting neuron and muscle function.
- DHA: You’ve probably heard of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA because pregnancy draws a lot of attention to brain health and development. This substance, which is mostly present in fatty fish, is essential for the growth of the neurological system, the eyes, and the brain (4).
- Vitamin A: 750 mcg. Liver, sweet potatoes, spinach, pumpkin, and carrots are just a few of the foods rich in vitamin A that are safe and healthy to eat on a daily basis. Cell differentiation and reproduction require vitamin A. It is critical for the growth of the heart, spine, ears, and eyes (5).
- Vitamin B12: 6mcg. This reduces the incidence of neural tube abnormalities, intrauterine growth retardation, and early miscarriage, and supports normal embryonic neurological development (6).
- Vitamin D: 15 mcg. As a hormone, vitamin D controls immunological response, glucose metabolism, cell proliferation, and bone development. Since there aren’t many excellent dietary sources of vitamin D, it’s normally necessary to take a supplement during pregnancy to keep levels at a healthy level (7).
What Are Prenatal Vitamins?
Prenatal vitamins are dietary supplements that are designed to meet the increased nutritional needs of women during pregnancy. They typically contain higher levels of certain nutrients, including folic acid, iron, and calcium, that are important for the health of the mother and the developing baby (8). Prenatal vitamins are generally recommended for all women who are pregnant or who are trying to become pregnant, in order to help reduce the risk of birth defects and other problems.
What Are The Different Types Of Prenatal Vitamins?
- Capsules: It eliminates bitter flavors by breaking down in the stomach.
- Softgels: Gelatin is found in softgels, which are often the easiest to swallow. Anyone who is vegetarian or vegan should find out if they are vegan-friendly because they are usually made from gelatin.
- Tablets: These are created by combining coated or uncoated powdery components.
- Liquids, Powders, And Gummy Vitamins: If you don’t like taking pills, you might want to try one of these alternatives to prenatal vitamins. A liquid or chewable vitamin can be a better choice for women who are feeling nauseous.
When Should I Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins?
If you are planning to become pregnant, you should start taking prenatal vitamins about 3 months before conception. These vitamins provide important nutrients, such as folic acid, which can help prevent certain birth defects. If you are already pregnant, you should start taking prenatal vitamins as soon as possible.
Do Prenatal Vitamins Have Side Effects?
- Constipation: This is one of a plethora of pregnancy-related problems that pregnant women frequently battle. This situation might be significantly worsened by the iron in your vitamins.
- Bright Yellow Urine: Although it’s usually safe, taking large doses of B vitamins like riboflavin may cause your urine to have a more vibrant color. If you’re worried, though, always consult your doctor.
- Nausea & Vomiting: Prenatal vitamins, meals, and a variety of odors and tastes may all make pregnant women feel queasy. If you frequently feel unwell after taking a vitamin, you may want to try switching brands to ones with less iron or seeing if taking your vitamin with meals may help.
- Loss Of Appetite: Due to morning sickness, pregnant women may not feel as hungry as they normally would throughout the first trimester of the pregnancy. However, your vitamin intake may also be to blame for your lack of appetite.
Should I Take My Prenatal Vitamins In The Morning Or At Night?
There is no definitive answer as to when is the best time of day to take your prenatal vitamin. Some say that it doesn’t matter, while others recommend taking it with a meal to avoid nausea. If the latter doesn’t work for you, speak to your doctor about other options. You might be interested in reading more about pregnancy books for first time moms.
When Do I Stop Taking Prenatal Vitamins?
It is generally recommended that women stop taking prenatal vitamins after they have given birth and are no longer breastfeeding. However, some women may benefit from continuing to take prenatal vitamins even after they have given birth. This decision should be made in consultation with a healthcare provider.
You should keep taking your prenatal vitamin even if you’re breastfeeding. The extra nutrition will help to supply milk for your baby, and you may be able to top up on any depleted stores you incurred during your pregnancy.
Are Prenatal Vitamins FDA-Approved?
Prenatal vitamins are not FDA-approved because they are not considered a drug. Prenatal vitamins are classified as dietary supplements, which means they are not subject to the same level of regulation as drugs (9).There are indeed some businesses that might make dubious claims about their products, or add unnecessary or even dangerous chemicals to their vitamins, due to less stringent regulations. However, this doesn’t mean that you should start worrying that your medication might be poisonous. Instead, take some time to learn about new products, and if you have any questions, consult your doctor.
Do Prenatal Vitamins Help Your Hair Grow?
While there is no direct evidence that prenatal vitamins help hair grow, some people believe that they can improve the overall health of the hair, making it appear shinier and fuller.
Everyone’s hair is different and responds differently to different nutrients. However, many people report that taking prenatal vitamins has helped them to see an improvement in the health and growth of their hair. Prenatal vitamins contain a range of nutrients that are essential for healthy hair growth, including iron, biotin, and folic acid (10).
