Looking for a list of the best prenatal vitamins money can buy? Here are 6 with the most well-rounded ingredients to nurture both you and your growing baby.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.
Note: This post shouldn’t be taken as medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider about any specific concerns.
One of the most important tasks you can do when you find out you’re pregnant is to find a good prenatal vitamin. Thankfully, there are plenty of good ones out there so deciding on one just comes down to personal preference. There are three main kinds of prenatal vitamins: regular multivitamins that you take with water, gummies, and liquid vitamins.
If you’re one of the many pregnant women dealing with morning sickness, a prenatal vitamin will practically be your best friend. I know that when I was in my first trimester, I was trying to eat whatever I could that didn’t repulse me and there was still no guarantee that I could keep it all down! A prenatal will fill the gap between what you’re eating and what your body needs to nourish your growing baby.
This post is all about the 6 best prenatal vitamins for you and your baby.
Why start taking a prenatal vitamin?
The number one reason to start taking a prenatal vitamin is because the average person doesn’t get all recommended vitamins through diet alone. Now when you’re pregnant, you will need even more of those vitamins and nutrients for not only yourself, but for your little bun in the oven.
In your first trimester, you will have many cravings and aversions. So while having a well-balanced diet is a great way to ensure that you’re getting the necessary nutrients, it may not be realistic. During that time, you will be focusing on eating what you can, which may or may not translate into eating at least 3 square meals a day. A prenatal vitamin will help replenish what is lost through the unusual first trimester diet.
Prenatal vitamins that contain folic acid also help prevent neural tube defects like spina bifida and other defects such as cleft lip.
Why prenatal vitamins over regular daily vitamins?
While regular daily vitamins would be fine to take throughout your pregnancy, prenatals are better. They have more of the most important vitamins for pregnant women such as increased amounts of folate and iron . You can be confident in the fact that your baby is receiving everything he or she needs for development while also giving yourself the needed nutrients to have a healthy pregnancy.
When to start taking prenatal vitamins
It’s best to start taking prenatal vitamins as soon as possible. If you’re trying to conceive, it’s a good idea to start taking them because you want to make sure your body has enough stores of nutrients should you fall pregnant. A lot of major developments and growth, including the neural tube, happen within the first 8 weeks of pregnancy. So it’s a great first step to get in the habit of taking them as soon as you can.
If you’re already pregnant, the same thing applies! You want to start taking them as soon as you find out you’re pregnant. If you have a prenatal health care provider, they will likely advise you to do the same. If you haven’t taken a prenatal vitamin throughout your pregnancy, don’t worry. It’s never too late to start taking one.
How should I take prenatal vitamins for?
You should take prenatal vitamins throughout your whole pregnancy. You can continue to take them postpartum and even while nursing if you prefer because they’re still beneficial while you’re postpartum. The increased amount of biotin in prenatals may help with postpartum hair loss, which can happen as late as 4 months after giving birth.
Should I take prenatal vitamins in the morning or at night?
When you decide to take your prenatals during the day is entirely up to you. Many women prefer to take them right before bed because they can upset your stomach. And when combating morning sickness, seems like a better option than taking them during the day.
I preferred to take mine in the mornings with breakfast because it was easier for me to remember and because breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. I could rely on myself to eat a good meal every morning, which is key because you don’t want to take them on an empty stomach. Whatever you do, don’t take more than the recommended daily dose unless instructed by your doctor.
Important things to look for when deciding on a prenatal vitamin
There are a few important things to look for when searching for a prenatal vitamin and they are: essential nutrients, price, smell, and transparency.
Nutrients
There are plenty of important vitamins in prenatals but these nutrients below are the most important ones that you want to check for before deciding on one:
- Folate or folic acid (400mcg) helps prevent neural tube defects and brain defects. It also supports the general growth of your baby and the placenta1.
- Calcium (1,300mg) helps build strong bones and teeth1. Prenatal vitamins don’t have much calcium because it interferes with iron absorption. It’s best to continue taking your prenatal but strive to drink milk or eat foods that are rich in calcium at least 2 hours after taking your prenatal.
- Vitamin D (600 IUs) helps build your baby’s bones and teeth and also aids in promoting healthy eyesight and skin1 and helps your body absorb calcium.
- Vitamin A (750mcg) forms healthy skin and eyesight and also helps with bone growth1.
- Iron (27mg) helps red blood cells deliver oxygen to the baby1 and also gives mom energy.
- Iodine (220 mcg) is essential for healthy brain development1.
- Choline (450 mg) is important for the development of the baby’s brain and spinal cord1.
- DHA is a kind of omega-3 fatty acid found in fish that helps with the development of your baby’s eyes1. Some prenatal supplements have DHA but often times they don’t so you’d have to take them separately.
Price
The price of prenatal vitamins is also important. Depending on your preference, you should be able to find one that’s a good fit, regardless of your price requirements. There is no need to splurge either. If you need help finding one that isn’t on this list, your healthcare provider is a great person to ask.
Smell
When you’re dealing with morning sickness, different scents can trigger nausea. On top of that, nobody really wants to take a prenatal vitamin that doesn’t smell too great. The best way to get information on how a supplement smells is to look through the reviews. It’s always helpful to read about others’ experience before buying.
Transparency
Whichever prenatal vitamin you end up purchasing, you always want to make sure the company behind it is transparent about the ingredients and their processes. The website should look also professional and you should be able to easily find the research that was done to formulate the product. Credibility and honesty are key because you want to make sure you’re making the best decision for you and your baby.
The Best Prenatal Vitamins
Pure Encapsulations
The Pure Encapsulations PreNatal is a great well-rounded multivitamin. It contains most of the major nutrients you would need to support a pregnancy and the company prides itself on having the purest ingredients. They do not contain DHA so that is something you would have to take separately. These prenatals are two capsules a serving.
Klaire Labs Prenatal & Nursing Formula
I love this prenatal. I’ve been taking it since I got pregnant with my first and haven’t switched since. The website is professional and user friendly so it’s easy to click around and read up on the supplements. The ingredients are also comparable to the Pure Encapsulations PreNatal, however, it’s a little more expensive. Just like Pure Encapsulations, it does not have DHA so you’d have to take it separately. In addition, these are three capsules a serving.
Thorne Research Basic Prenatal
This prenatal vitamin is a little cheaper than the two above, while still giving you most of the integral nutrients you need while you’re pregnant. It’s three capsules a serving but does not contain choline or DHA so you would have to take those two supplements separately. Most importantly, the ingredients are clean and top-notch, which is good for you and your baby.
MaryRuth’s Prenatal + Postnatal Liquid Vitamin
If you’re not a fan of swallowing pills, a liquid vitamin may be a good option to consider. This prenatal has all of the major nutrients you need during pregnancy except DHA. A serving size is 1 fluid ounce so a full bottle should last you about a month. A huge benefit to taking a liquid vitamin is the fact that you can blend it in anything. Whether it’s a smoothie, or your oatmeal in the mornings, its versatility is something that can’t be beat.
Nature Made Prenatal Multi + DHA
If you want a prenatal that is literally a one-a-day, the Nature Made Prenatal is great for you. It has DHA so you don’t have to worry about taking that separately and it’s only one capsule a serving! The only nutrient it doesn’t have is choline. This supplement is a great value and it’s gluten-free with no artificial flavoring.
SmartyPants Prenatal Gummies
If you prefer the gummies, these Smarty Pants Prenatals vitamins are an amazing option. Each serving size is 4 gummies so there’s enough for a month in a bottle. It contains DHA but it doesn’t have calcium or iron so you’d have to make sure you’re getting those nutrients somewhere in your diet.
The Best DHA Supplements
Since most of these prenatal vitamins don’t contain DHA here are a couple DHA supplements that are made with high-quality ingredients:
Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHA
I take this one and highly recommend it not only because of the pure ingredients but the fact that it’s highly credible. It has won the Top-Notch Award from Taste for Life, and is also the official omega-3 of the American Pregnancy Association. The company is also committed to sustainable practices. These are two capsules a serving so you’ll get two months out of these bottles.
Barleans Omega Swirl Fish Oil
This omega-3 is a liquid supplement that has flavoring so you’re not just getting a mouthful of fish. The company claims that is has better absorption than competing brands, just like the Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHA. Barleans also has longevity because they’ve been around for over three decades! It’s definitely a DHA worth considering if you don’t like taking pills. This supplement is 1 tablespoon a serving so you’ll get about a month out of this bottle.
Sources
1“Nutrition During Pregnancy.” ACOG, Mar. 2021, www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/nutrition-during-pregnancy.
This post showed you the 6 best prenatal vitamins as well as recommended DHA supplements.
