- How we chose
- Our picks
- Importance of prenatals
- How to choose
- Nutrients to look for
- Comparison table
- Additional supplements
- When to take prenatals
- Side effects
- FAQs
- Bottom line
Registered dietitians selected the best prenatal vitamins based on needs and key ingredients. On the list: Ritual, MegaFood, Thorne, Natalist, Smarty Pants, and more.
Between morning sickness, fleeting cravings, and random aversions, getting good nutrition during pregnancy can be tough. Plus, even if you’re eating a balanced diet, the increased nutrient demands during pregnancy are difficult to meet with diet alone.
Enter: prenatal vitamins. They’re an easy way to fill any gaps and support both your body and your baby’s growth and development.
Whether you’re looking for something that will stay put when morning sickness hits or you just want something that tastes good, we rounded up 12 great options to consider.
How we chose the best prenatal vitamins
When choosing the best prenatal vitamins for pregnancy, we considered the following factors:
- Nutritional content: We included products that are specifically formulated to meet the nutritional demands of pregnancy.
- Ingredients: We looked for supplements that are made from high quality ingredients and free of artificial additives and preservatives.
- Testing: We included products that undergo testing for purity and potency, ideally by a third-party organization.
- Reviews: The products listed below have mostly positive online reviews.
- Vetting: All the supplements on our list have been vetted to ensure that they align with Healthline’s brand integrity standards and approach to well-being. You can read more about our vetting process.
Every brand and product on our list has been reviewed by registered dietitians and vetted to ensure that it aligns with Healthline’s brand integrity standards and approach to well-being. Each product in this article:
- adheres to allowable health claims and labeling requirements, per Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations
- is manufactured in facilities that adhere to Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs) established by the FDA
- is produced by a medically credible company that follows ethical, legal, and industry best standards
- is made by a company that provides objective measures of trust, such as having its supplements validated by third-party labs
Picks of the best prenatal vitamins
Best prenatal vitamin subscription
Ritual Prenatal Multivitamin Capsules
Form: capsule
Dose: 2 capsules per day
Certifications: third-party tested, Non-GMO Project verified
Created by women for women, Ritual Essential Prenatal Multivitamin provides 12 key nutrients to help support you and your baby before, during, and after pregnancy.
Specifically, the prenatal offers more than 100% of your daily needs for folate, vitamin D, and vitamin B12. It also includes DHA omega-3 from algae, so it’s a suitable option for those following a vegan diet.
As a bonus, the lemon-scented capsules are designed to be easier on your stomach than some other supplements, so you can take them with or without food.
Just keep in mind that one serving provides only 10% of the recommended amount of choline, a nutrient that’s essential for fetal health and development, so it’s still important to include sources of choline, such as eggs, in your diet
Best prenatal 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
Formulated with organic, plant-based ingredients, this prenatal vitamin is designed to be easily digestible and can be taken on an empty stomach.
It also contains many key nutrients for a healthy pregnancy, including iron, choline, folate, and vitamins B6, B12, and D3 (1).
The supplement is also certified gluten-free and doesn’t contain soy or dairy products. However, while it is vegetarian-friendly, it isn’t suitable for vegans.
Best prenatal for pregnancy and breastfeeding
Thorne Basic Prenatal
Form: capsule
Dose: 3 capsules per day
Certifications: gluten-free
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 (2, 3).
Like many other Thorne products, the Basic Prenatal features highly absorbable forms of certain nutrients. It’s also designed to be gentle on the stomach and contains ferrous bisglycinate, a form of iron that may be less likely to cause constipation (4).
While this product is not third-party tested, Thorne is known for its rigorous in-house testing standards to ensure that the contents of each supplement match those listed on the bottle.
Additionally, all products are manufactured in a facility that’s certified by NSF International and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
Best comprehensive prenatal
FullWell Prenatal Multivitami
Form: capsule
Dose: 8 capsules per day
Certifications: third-party tested, non-GMO
FullWell Prenatal Multivitamin 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.
It does not contain iron, but this may be a positive aspect for some because iron intake and needs differ from person to person during pregnancy. Also, keep in mind that this product should be combined with the company’s DHA and EPA supplement.
FullWell Prenatal Multivitamin is highly rated, with customers mentioning how easy it is to digest. Several also say they’ve noticed increased energy levels since switching to this product.
Best trimester-specific prenatal vitamin
Perelel Prenatal Pack
Form: capsule
Dose: 2 tablets per day
Certifications: third-party tested, non-GMO
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.
The First Trimester pack includes five capsules, which may be difficult to tolerate if you have morning sickness. However, the company recently released a powdered form of their First Trimester Pack as an alternative that may be easier for some people to tolerate.
Best prenatal with DHA
Nature Made Prenatal Folic Acid + DHA Softgels
Form: softgel
Dose: 1 softgel per day
Certifications: USP verified
This liquid softgel multivitamin combines DHA with folate, iron, and other essential nutrients to help you meet the nutritional demands of pregnancy.
Nature Made Prenatal Multi + DHA is third-party tested by U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) and has more than 33,000 mostly 5-star reviews online.
Plus, it’s one of the most affordable and easiest-to-find options on our list.
Best prenatal gummies
Smarty Pants Prenatal Formula Gummies
Form: gummy
Dose: 4 gummies per day
Certifications: NSF certified, Clean Label Project, non-GMO tested
SmartyPants is a popular and easy-to-find supplement brand that offers a great option if you prefer gummy vitamins.
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.
Keep in mind that a serving of 4 gummies contains 6 grams (g), or 1 1/2 teaspoons, of added sugar. Therefore, the supplement might not be the best choice for people trying to manage their blood sugar levels, such as those with gestational diabetes.
Best prenatal powder
Root’d Prenatal Multivitamin Drink Mix
Form: powder
Dose: 1 powder packet per day
Certifications: third-party tested, non-GMO
This Root’d prenatal drink mix is a powdered prenatal supplement that you can easily mix into any beverage. This makes it a good choice for people who cannot tolerate swallowing pills or feel nauseated when taking multiple supplements.
The powder has a delicious lemon-berry taste and is sweetened with erythritol and monk fruit extract, not sugar. For this reason, it’s a safe choice for people who need to monitor their blood sugar during pregnancy, such as people with diabetes or gestational diabetes.
Each packet of flavored powder provides 25 vitamins and minerals, including important nutrients necessary to promote health during pregnancy, such as folate, choline, and vitamin D.
Best prenatal 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
New Chapter Perfect Prenatal Multivitamin contains 100% of your daily iron needs but is designed to be gentle on your stomach.
The supplement also contains ginger, which may help ease queasiness.
This product is made from all non-GMO ingredients and is both kosher and vegetarian-friendly.
Best prenatal protein powder
Seeking Health Optimal Prenatal Protein Powder
Form: powder
Dose: 1 scoop per day
Certifications: third-party tested, NSF certified facility
Seeking Health Optimal Prenatal Protein Powder is a comprehensive prenatal supplement that packs 15 g of highly absorbable pea protein isolate per 1-scoop (43.8-g) serving.
Protein is necessary for fetal growth and development and for your health during pregnancy, so it’s important to take in optimal amounts of this nutrient each day while you’re pregnant (5).
Because you can mix this powder into smoothies and other beverages, it may be easier to tolerate than pills or capsules when you’re experiencing nausea.
In addition to protein, this supplement contains a variety of vitamins and minerals, including 45% of the recommended intake of choline and 2,000 IU of vitamin D.
Best vegan-friendly prenatal
Natalist Prenatal Daily Packets
Form: capsule
Dose: 1 packet (5 capsules) per day
Certifications: Certified Plastic Neutral, CGMP Certified
Natalist Prenatal Daily Packets are a doctor-formulated, vegan-friendly supplement designed to help round out your diet and provide essential nutrients for pregnancy, including iron, omega-3 DHA, and vitamin D.
These prenatal vitamins are free of artificial ingredients and available in convenient daily packets
However, each pack includes five capsules, which might not be good for people who have morning sickness or difficulty swallowing pills.
While Natalist Prenatal Daily Packets are not tested for purity and potency by a third-party lab, the company claims that every batch is tested in a CGMP-certified facility to ensure final product integrity and quality.
Best personalized subscription prenatal
Care/of Prenatal
Form: tablet
Dose: 3 tablets per day
Certifications: third-party tested, non-GMO, Certified C.L.E.A.N.
Care/of is a subscription supplement service that provides personalized product recommendations and creates a supplement routine tailored to your needs.
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.
Why should you take a prenatal vitamin?
During pregnancy, your needs for vitamins, minerals, and trace elements increase significantly in order to support your health and the health and growth of the developing fetus
For example, folate needs increase by 50% and iron needs increase by 150% (6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source).
These and many other nutrients are essential for fetal and placental growth and the general health of the pregnant person, which is why they’re needed in larger amounts during pregnancy.
Taking a prenatal vitamin that contains all the nutrients needed to support a healthy pregnancy can help reduce the risk of deficiencies and ensure you’re getting the vitamins and minerals you need to keep yourself and your baby healthy.
In fact, most experts recommend taking a prenatal supplement for at least 3 months before becoming pregnant to ensure adequate stores of key nutrients, such as folate.
Keep in mind
While prenatal supplements can certainly help fill gaps in your diet, they’re not a one-way ticket to superhuman health throughout your pregnancy.
It’s important to read nutrition labels and balance your intake of vitamins and minerals with a well-rounded, nutrient-rich diet.
A dietitian who specializes in nutrition during pregnancy can help you design a diet based on your preferences and specific health needs.
How to choose the best prenatal vitamin for pregnancy
If you have pregnancy complications or other health concerns, a doctor might recommend a prescription prenatal supplement. Otherwise, you can find over-the-counter supplements at your local pharmacy or online.
Since so many products are available, you may want to consider the following factors when shopping for the best prenatal vitamin for you:
- Included nutrients and doses: While there are several key nutrients to look for in a prenatal vitamin to support a healthy pregnancy, the best prenatal is the one that best fits your nutritional needs. Be sure to talk with your OB-GYN or other healthcare professional about necessary nutrients and recommended doses.
- Supplement type: If you dislike swallowing pills, look for a prenatal that comes in a chewable, gummy, liquid, or powdered form.
- Recommended daily dose: Some prenatals feature a one-a-day formation, while others may require taking up to eight pills daily. Be sure to consider the option that’s best for you. While only remembering to take one pill is more convenient, some people report better tolerance if they divide the dose throughout the day.
- Dietary needs: If you have any food allergies or dietary preferences, such as vegan, be sure to read ingredient lists carefully to select a product that’s suitable for your needs.
- Third-party testing: To ensure that the contents of your prenatal multivitamin match the label, look for products that are third-party tested by an organization such as Labdoor, NSF, USP, or UL Solutions.
