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Pregnancy is one of the best and, at the same time, most sacred feelings that a woman experiences in her lifetime. Being pregnant is also one of the most important times in a woman’s life. While you are pregnant, you cannot ignore the importance of the best prenatal vitamins for the extra nutrients needed by the mother’s body. Because now the woman is no longer a single person, even the nutrition she needs increases several times, so a healthy diet is highly recommended. This is where top-recommended prenatal Vitamins come into play.
Benefits of Prenatal Vitamins: Why are Prenatal Vitamins Important?
Prenatal vitamins are specifically made for mothers; to complete their nutritional needs and the baby’s requirements. These consist of particularly those nutrients that help the fetus to develop inside the womb. For example, the best Prenatal vitamin has folic acid, an element that is important for the overall development of the baby’s brain during its early days. Other recommended prenatal vitamins are around the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, and they contain calcium and vitamin D that work for the development of the baby’s teeth and bones.
Prenatal vitamins also ensure that you have enough iron, necessary for the baby and your body so that your body doesn’t deplete. Before we go forward with the list of the best, top recommended prenatal vitamins a mother should consider, let us look at some frequently asked questions regarding prenatal vitamins.
Do You Need Prenatal Vitamins?
Prenatal vitamins are essential before and during pregnancy as it helps your body meet the demands of pregnancy and aid in your baby’s development. A balanced diet should be the foundation of your nutritional vitamins. Your body will be able to absorb more from your diet than from supplements. However, the prenatal will help you fill in the gaps. A run-of-the-mill multivitamin will not cut it when you are pregnant.
But How Do You Identify The Best Prenatal Vitamins?
To make this selection easy for you, we have listed the major nutrients that a woman during her pregnancy needs as recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Each of these amounts is recommended on a per-day basis:
- 1.Folic acid: 600 mcg
- Iron: 27 mg
- Calcium: 1,000 mg (consider prenatal for calcium only if the regular dairy diet does not complete the requirement)
- Vitamin D: 600 IU
- Vitamin A: 770 mcg
- Vitamin C: 85 mg
- Vitamin B6: 1.9 mg
- Vitamin B12: 2.6 mcg
Now, Which One Is The Best Prenatal Vitamin?
The best prenatal vitamin is one that you can safely intake every day. However, doctors and registered dietitians advise taking prenatal vitamins by considering the following aspects:
Easy Swallow
A pill that you swallow whole is the best option for a woman who wants to get all the vitamins and minerals she needs in one prenatal vitamin. A liquid or chewable vitamin may be a better option for women experiencing nausea, but these may lack some of the aforementioned essential nutrients.
It is essential to read the labels to determine whether you require an additional supplement. Our rundown of the best pre-birth nutrients contains a few delicate gels that are covered in gelatin, which makes them easier to swallow. For those who are experiencing more severe nausea during pregnancy, we also provide one gummy and one liquid option.
Value
The cost of a serving of the best prenatal vitamin can range anywhere from 11 cents to 60 cents. In our research and testing, we discovered that a higher price does not necessarily indicate better quality and that each option on our list is a good value.
Certification
Look for certifications like the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) to see if a supplement has been tested for quality and safety because prenatal vitamins are supplements that are not well-regulated. The claims made by each option on our list are supported by an independent certification.
Nutrition Profile
All prenatal nutrients on this rundown meet the prenatal nutrient rules from the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and incorporate
- Folic acid
- Iron
- Calcium
- Vitamin D & B
- Choline
- Omega-3 unsaturated fats
- L-ascorbic acid
You might have to take an extra iron supplement if you pick the gummy or fluid prenatal vitamins.
When is The Best Time to Take Prenatal Vitamins?
Gynecologists and medical studies recommend prenatal consumption at least a month before conception until childbirth. Besides that, prenatal vitamins are also highly recommended if you are not pregnant but planning a pregnancy in the future.
What Is The Best Prenatal Vitamin Recommended By Experts?
1. Smarty Pants Organics Formula Multivitamin Best Prenatal Gummies ($32.93)
During their pregnancy, many females face difficulties swallowing pills as it makes them nauseous and causes other kinds of discomfort. In such cases, Smarty Pants Organics can be your-go prenatal vitamins as they are chewable gummies!
These gummies will take you down on a nostalgic trip, and these are available in various flavors like orange, lemon, and strawberry-banana. These are free of any synthetic flavors, sweeteners, artificial colors, fructose, corn syrup, or other preservatives of sorts and are 100% organic. As per the instructions on the bottle, expecting moms are advised to have at least 5-6 dummies daily.
Power-packed with: Folic Acid, Vitamin D, and 48 gm of DHA
Cons: These gummies do not contain calcium or iron.
Amazon Reviews:
I really like this brand and this product seems to be good quality. That being said, as a pregnant woman I’m very sensitive to smells and taste. Right when you open up the bottle you get a very strong smell that is not agreeable. Also, every time I take this capsule I end up burping it up and the flavor is also very disgusting. The reason I keep taking it this month is that I believe it’s good quality ingredients, but I will be looking for a different prenatal vitamin for next month.
Amazon Reviews:
2. Nature Made Multivitamin & DHA Softgels Best Prenatal Vitamins ($21.99)
These prenatal vitamins are best helpful and reasonably priced. Apart from meeting all the nutritional requirements at a reasonable price, these capsules need to be consumed only once a day and are a top favorite! This means you do not have to worry about swallowing the pills several times a day with all the other stress that comes with the pregnancy.
Power-packed with: Vitamin D, Iron, and Folic Acid, amongst various other essential nutrients
Cons: These soft gels contain just 150 gm of calcium, meaning you cannot entirely depend on these tablets for the required calcium quota. It is advised to include elements of dairy in the regular diet to cover up for the lack of it.
Amazon Reviews:
Amazon Reviews:
3. Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHA
This one is for expecting moms who have been recommended to increase their intake of the best prenatal vitamins and DHA. These Nordic Naturals Prenatal tablets are fish oil that contributes to lower preterm birth defects. With the correct amount of 480 gm of DHA per serving, it rejects the idea of the ideally suggested omega-3s for the baby’s brain development. Other than that, Nordic Naturals have been certified by NSF International to be toxin-free and free from heavy metals.
Power-packed with: 400 I.U. of vitamin D3 and 480 mg DHA per serving
Cons: The Nordic Natural tablets are a supplement for prenatal vitamins that contain DHA and are not the standard definition of multivitamins. They do not consist of prenatal vitamins with folic acid, iron, or other vitamins and minerals.
Amazon Reviews:
Amazon Reviews:
4. Honest Prenatal Vitamins Prenatal Once Daily ($19.99)
Some moms develop a particularly sensitive stomach while pregnant, and the Honest Company considers that very well. Apart from the goodness mentioned above, these prenatal vitamins also contain digestive enzymes found in pineapple, papaya, kiwi, and ginger, making the pill suitable for even the most fragile stomachs. These tablets are even coated in vanilla to prevent the bitter-tasting elements of the medicine, which makes it easier to swallow.
Power-Packed with: Spirulina, vitamin D, folic acid, iron, and other organic ingredients
Cons: These naturally-made prenatal tablets contain only 200 gm of calcium. So, balancing the calcium requirement will be a necessity with dairy supplements in the regular diet.
5. One-A-Day Women's Prenatal 1 Multivitamin ($37.80)
Of course, there is much more about these best prenatal vitamin gummies, which is why we have purposely put them at the end of the list to let them get some special attention. Apart from the fact that it is made with all these enriching nutrients, prenatal vitamins come at reasonable prices. These are easily accessible from the pharmacy in your area. Besides, they are also required to be taken only once a day, making nutrition so hassle-free and simple!
Power-packed with: Omega 3 DHA, folic acid, vitamin D, calcium, and iron
Cons: Well, nothing has bothered us!
Amazon Reviews:
Amazon Reviews:
6. Ritual Essential Prenatal ($35)
With this prenatal supplement, you will get over 100 percent of your daily needs for folate, vitamin D, and vitamin B12. In addition, with Ritual Essential Prenatal vitamins, you will also get DHA, iron, and choline. These are vegan-friendly and gluten-free capsules that will support the pregnant person and their baby before, during, and even after pregnancy. The dosage is 2 capsules every day.
Power packed with: Folate, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and more
Cons: These capsules lack calcium, choline, and other essential Key nutrients like vitamin B6, zinc, and vitamin A.
Ritual Review:
Ritual Review:
Yes, I’d tell a friend to take this product.
– Katherine W.
Ritual Review:
Yes, I’d tell a friend to take this product.
– Bridget K.
7. Persona Prenatal Supplements ($0.78 per day)
Persona Prenatal Supplements contain all eight vitamins, including iron and folic acid, which will help support the nutritional needs of the pregnant person and reasonably their baby. These prenatal vitamins also contain ginger, an ingredient the brand says is helpful for morning sickness and nausea. They ship these capsules to your address right when the previous one finishes. You need to take them daily which is why the price is on a per-day basis.
Power packed with: Vitamins A, C, D, B6, B12, folic acid, iron, and calcium
Cons: These prenatal vitamins are not certified and the amounts of proprietary blends have not been mentioned.
8. MegaFood Baby & Me 2 Prenatal Multi ($29.99)
Formulated with organic, plant-based ingredients, this prenatal vitamin supplement is designed to be easily digestible and can be taken on an empty stomach. It is non-GMO Project verified making it the best organic prenatal vitamins in the market.
Power packed with: Vitamin B12, iron, choline, methylated folate, and organic food
Cons: Some customer reviews have claimed that it caused me adverse reactions like longer menstrual cycles, spotting, lack of folic acid, etc.
Amazon reviews:
Amazon reviews:
9. Care of Baby Love Prenatal Multivitamin ($39.99)
Vitamins A, C, and D3 are the main components of this daily prenatal multivitamin from the ingredient list. Multivitamins also contain iron, folate, and choline, although the levels of iron and choline are lower than the other prenatal vitamins on this list. Therefore, you would want to make up for the dietary gaps with some additional supplements or choline and iron-rich foods. These multivitamins are also dairy and gluten-free and you can take 3 of them every day.
Power packed with: Vitamins A, C, and D3, 800mg DFE of folate
Cons: These prenatal vitamins have low amounts of choline and iron. They also contain echinacea which is unsafe during pregnancy even though studies claim otherwise
Amazon Reviews:
Amazon Reviews:
I like the ingredients here, there are many of the standard nutrients found in prenatal and postnatal multivitamins with some that are higher strength than some other competitors. It is nice to have the added ginger especially in early pregnancy. Also seams to be clean with no added nasty additives, making it a good product but it is on the expensive side.
It is a shame that it is not clearly stated on the package if these are vegetarian friendly, or if they are gluten or soy free or suitable for other specific diets, which is often listed on these types of products and would be important for many people.
All in all this is a very good option of prenatals but a bit pricey at $39.99 for 30 days supply in comparison to competitor products.
– Omri Ran
For more product reviews visit Amazon
10. Garden Of Life Vitamin Code RAW Prenatal ($39.84)
These best prenatal vitamins are filled with probiotics, zinc, and ginger. This prenatal vitamin intends to support your immune system and your baby’s. It is a vegetarian, gluten-free, raw, and dairy-free choice that will give you 100 percent of your daily iron needs. These are third-party non-GMO certified and kosher.
Power packed with: Folate containing raw food, Vitamins C, E, and B-complex, 1400 IU of Vitamin D3
Cons: No downsides so far although some claim they use folic acid as folate cannot be extracted in its original form from food. The company responds to these comments by saying that folate is a whole food.
Amazon Reviews:
I came here to check one of the ingredients on this prenatal vitamin, which I have used for both of my pregnancies, and I noticed a small string of negative reviews. So, I wanted to add my two cents, even though I usually tend to shy away from reviews. So far as I can tell, these prenatal vitamins have worked really well for both of my pregnancies. Our son is happy, healthy, and bright, and we had an uneventful pregnancy and labor and delivery. Our baby-on-the-way is developing well and is active in the womb.
I also want to note that with my first pregnancy, sometime in my first trimester, I ran out of these vitamins and switched to Garden of Life for about a week or so. During that week, I started having painful cramps that were like nothing I have experienced before in my life, and I was genuinely terrified that I might be miscarrying. I told my husband about my symptoms, and he asked if I had changed anything in my routine. I said no at first, but then I remembered the prenatal vitamins. I switched back to Vitamin Code immediately, and within a day I was back to my happy, cramp-free self; from there, I went on to have a healthy pregnancy. So, just a word of caution that it really can make a difference which prenatal vitamins you choose.
A few other thoughts: I think the taste of these vitamins are mild, and they’re not too difficult to swallow. They do tend to float a little in the water when I take them, so I just take my time and try to relax. For those who are worried about Nestle owning the company now (I haven’t verified this, but I will take others’ claims at face value), I can say that I notice no difference between when I took these in 2015/2016 and now in 2021/2022. They seem just as high quality as they always were. The only other thing I’ll note is that it’s good to take an additional calcium supplement with these, especially if you avoid dairy.
I hope this review helps and reassures anyone who might be on the fence. These are really excellent prenatal vitamins, tried and true for me, and I am glad to recommend them.
– David T
Amazon Reviews:
11. Best Nest Wellness Mama Bird Prenatal Multi+ For A Healthy Pregnancy ($37.05)
An easy-to-swallow, gentle tablet, this prenatal multivitamin is food-based and is made with an organic herbal blend. It also contains choline, which can sometimes get overlooked in the diet, especially if you are vegan. You have to consume one capsule each day and you will notice progress in neuro-development, brain and memory processing speed, and energy production. These capsules are third party ISO/IEC 17025 certified.
Power packed with: Vitamins B6, B12, B9
Cons: WIth a whopping 3000+ reviews on Amazon, you will find a handful of buyers who developed skin rashes, less number of capsules than promised, having hot spots on the body, acidic discomfort in the stomach, and such allergies. So consult your doctor before consuming them.
Amazon Reviews:
💕 love the no iron option. I don’t know why they took the iodine out though. I can take this o. An empty stomach with no side effects whatsoever. They have a option with iron when I should need it.
– Yeano
Amazon Reviews:
Amazon Reviews:
12. Zahler Mighty Mini Prenatal + DHA ($37.02)
Zahler Mighty Mini Prenatal + DHA consists of over 100 percent of your recommended daily folate intake. It even provides DHA from algal oil, which is ideal for vegetarians. But unfortunately, the multivitamin supplement is missing choline, an essential nutrient that helps in fetal brain development and calcium.
Power packed with: Folate, iron, 100mg of DHA
Cons: No trace of choline can be found in these prenatal vitamins
Amazon Reviews:
Amazon Reviews:
13. Seeking Health Optimal Prenatal Chewable ($59.95)
Seeking Health Optimal Prenatal Chewable tablets provide nutrients that support pregnancy in a chewable form. This makes them perfect if anyone has trouble swallowing pills. These also contain zero added sugars. Hence, they are ideal for moms with blood sugar management problems such as gestational diabetes.
Power packed with: Iodine, Zinc, Vitamin B9, and calcium
Cons: Some reviews have claimed that the taste is wretched, unsatisfactory delivery, insomnia, and the label carries a warning that one of the ingredients is considered unsafe for pregnancy in the state of California (CAL Prop 65).
Amazon Reviews:
14. New Chapter Perfect Prenatal Multivitamins ($84.95)
New Chapter probiotic multivitamins consist of 100 percent of the daily iron requirement, but they are gentle on the stomach. Added ginger and probiotics can help ease queasiness. They are even made with non-GMO ingredients and are also vegetarian and kosher.
Power packed with: Vitamins, B, C, D3, zinc, folate, and iron
Cons: The brand promotes unverified claims regarding breastfeeding. Some women experienced allergic reactions, joint hip pains, acne, and other issues.
Amazon Reviews:
Amazon Reviews:
Are There Any Potential Side Effects Of Prenatal Vitamins?
Well, some folks might feel a bit queasy after taking them. If you find it hard to stomach these vitamins, your doctor might suggest trying a different kind, like a powder or gummy version. If you’re dealing with morning sickness, taking your prenatal vitamins with food or at night might help ease those queasy feelings.
Constipation can also be a concern, especially if your prenatal vitamin contains a lot of iron. But here’s the thing: some types of iron, like iron bis-glycinate chelate, are less likely to cause this issue compared to others, such as ferrous sulfate.
To tackle constipation, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water, upping your fiber intake in your diet, and staying active with regular exercise. If constipation continues to be a problem, don’t hesitate to seek advice from your doctor.
Can Prenatal Vitamins Help in Getting Pregnant?
Research indicates that prenatal supplements can be quite helpful when it comes to fertility. They can increase your likelihood of becoming pregnant and even shorten the time it takes for you to conceive.
You see, having the right nutrients in your body is crucial for your ability to conceive and have a healthy pregnancy. When you’re deficient in important vitamins like D, B12, and folate, it can impact your chances of getting pregnant.
But here’s the good news: if you’re trying to conceive and you take a prenatal vitamin that contains things like methylated folate and B12, it might boost the effectiveness of treatments like assisted reproductive technology.
So, in a nutshell, prenatal vitamins can be a helpful tool in your journey to becoming a parent by increasing your fertility and ensuring your body has the necessary nutrients for a healthy pregnancy.
Are Prenatal Vitamins FDA-approved?
You might be wondering if prenatal vitamins have the FDA’s stamp of approval. Well, here’s the deal: While the FDA does have some pretty strict rules about what can be printed on the labels of dietary supplements, they don’t treat these supplements the same way they do medications.
This means the FDA doesn’t closely monitor or control the actual making and the ingredients that go into prenatal vitamins. That’s why it’s a good idea to pick a prenatal vitamin that’s been checked by an independent third party. This way, you can be more certain that the vitamins you’re taking contain what they claim to have on the label.
A Final Word: What is The Best Prenatal Vitamins?
All we need to say about the best prenatal vitamins for pregnancy is that these have unique enriching minerals and vitamins in addition to the diet during pregnancy. Pick any one of these that is a perfect match for you and congrats, you are good to go.
Now that you are equipped with a quick checklist of the prenatal vitamin supplements you may buy, let us tell you this one last thing: how to know what prenatal vitamins will work the best for you? If you are unsure which vitamins to purchase, write down your diet on an average day and try seeing what nutrients you are lacking in your diet.
For vegetarians, prenatal vitamins consisting of iron supplements are much-needed. But, even for vegans, for fish haters, most women would need calcium supplements and supplements with DHA. Whatever you prefer to buy, always cross-check with your gynecologist and keep them in the loop regarding what is going on inside your baby bump!
