12 Best Prenatal Vitamins for a Healthy Pregnancy, According to Dietitians

• Best subscription: Ritual Prenatal Multivitamin | Skip to review
• Best comprehensive: FullWell Prenatal Multivitamin | Skip to review
• Best for vegetarians: MegaFood Baby & Me 2 Prenatal Multivitamin | Skip to review
• Best for pregnancy and breastfeeding: Thorne Basic Prenatal | Skip to review
• Best trimester-specific: Perelel Prenatal Pack | Skip to review
• Best with DHA: Nature Made Prenatal Folic Acid + DHA Softgels | Skip to review
• Best gummies: Smarty Pants Prenatal Formula Gummies | Skip to review
• Best chewable: Seeking Health Prenatal Essentials Chewable | Skip to review
• Best for morning sickness: New Chapter Advanced Perfect Prenatal Multivitamin | Skip to review
• Best protein powder: Seeking Health Optimal Prenatal Protein Powder | Skip to review
• Best vegan-friendly: Natalist Prenatal Daily Packets | Skip to review
• Best personalized subscription: Care/of Prenatal | Skip to review

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.

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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

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%.

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.

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.

A well-rounded prenatal should include a variety of nutrients that are in high demand during pregnancy, such as:

• B vitamins, including folate: Your body needs eight different B vitamins. During pregnancy, your needs for these nutrients increase. Most prenatal supplements include all eight B vitamins, but some include only a few. At a minimum, a prenatal should include B12, folate, and B6.
• Choline: Choline needs increase significantly during pregnancy, as choline plays an important role in placental and fetal development. Research suggests up to 95% of pregnant people don’t consume enough choline. A well-designed prenatal should cover at least some of your choline needs.
• DHA and EPA: You need more of these fatty acids during pregnancy because they’re important for fetal brain development. Some prenatals contain them, but most don’t. Most pregnant people take a separate DHA and EPA supplement, like a fish oil or algal oil supplement.
• Vitamin D: Although the current recommended vitamin D intake during pregnancy is 600 IU — the same as for people who aren’t pregnant — needs during pregnancy are estimated to be much higher, at about 4,000 IU per day. Most prenatals contain much less, so you may need an extra vitamin D supplement.
• Iron: Iron needs increase during pregnancy. However, as iron intake varies greatly from person to person, iron should ideally be supplemented separately based on iron levels.
• Magnesium, calcium, iodine, and zinc: Needs for these minerals also increase during pregnancy, so a good prenatal will cover all or most of these.
• Vitamins A and C: Vitamin A is necessary for fetal eye and organ development, immune system function, and more. Vitamin C is necessary for both your health and your baby’s health, and maintaining optimal levels could help reduce your risk of complications such as preeclampsia and preterm birth.

These are just some of the nutrients that are in higher demand during pregnancy. A well-rounded prenatal will provide the additional nutrients your body needs during pregnancy, but it should be used as a supplement to, rather than a replacement for, a balanced diet.

Having trouble deciding which prenatal is right for you? Here’s a quick look at how our top picks compare:

*First Trimester pack includes an additional folate supplement, which offers 278% of the Daily Value (DV) for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

**Third-party testing refers to testing by a third-party laboratory to ensure purity and potency of a product.

Nutrient comparison table

While many nutrients are essential, as explained above, your needs for some nutrient increase during pregnancy. These include calcium, iodine, magnesium, zinc, omega-3 DHA and EPA, all eight B vitamins, and vitamins A, C, and D.

Here is a quick look at which of these key nutrients our top picks contain or lack, as well as the amount of choline and vitamin D per serving:

*First Trimester pack includes an additional folate supplement, which offers 278% of the DV for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Experts recommend taking a prenatal supplement containing folate for at least 3 months before becoming pregnant.

Supplementing with folate — which is found in prenatal vitamins — before conception significantly reduces the chances of neural tube irregularities such as spina bifida.

A baby’s neural tube, which will develop into both the brain and the spinal cord, develops during the first month of pregnancy. That could happen before you even realize you’re pregnant.

If you aren’t already taking a daily prenatal vitamin, start taking one as soon as you find out you’re expecting. You’ll continue taking your prenatal vitamin every day during your pregnancy.

Experts also recommend continuing to take a prenatal supplement after you give birth, though there are also several products on the market specifically designed for the postnatal period.

This is because your body needs extra nutrients to support healing after delivery and requires more nutrients during breastfeeding. In fact, needs for many nutrients are even higher during breastfeeding than during pregnancy.

Some people may feel nauseated after taking prenatal vitamins. If you’re having difficulty tolerating your prenatal, your doctor may recommend a different form of prenatal nutrients, such as a powder or gummy supplement.

Taking your prenatal vitamins with food or in the evening may be helpful if you’re experiencing bouts of morning sickness.

You may also experience constipation, especially if you’re taking a prenatal vitamin with large amounts of iron.

However, some forms of iron, such as iron bisglycinate chelate, are less likely to cause constipation than other forms, such as ferrous sulfate.

Be sure to drink lots of water and increase the fiber in your diet. You’ll also want to get regular exercise. Ask your doctor for advice if constipation becomes an issue.

Why are prenatal vitamins important?

During pregnancy, the need for micronutrients increases significantly. Health experts recommend taking a prenatal supplement before, during, and after pregnancy in order to meet your nutrient needs.

What is the most effective prenatal vitamin?

The most effective prenatal vitamin is one that you tolerate best and can remember to take daily. However, it may also be beneficial to choose products that contain more readily absorbed forms of certain nutrients.

Is it OK to take prenatal vitamins if you are not pregnant?

Yes, it’s OK to take prenatal supplements if you’re not pregnant. In fact, experts recommend taking prenatal supplements for at least 3 months before becoming pregnant.

Do prenatal vitamins help you get pregnant?

Research shows that prenatal supplements have a beneficial impact on fertility, including increasing the chance of becoming pregnant and decreasing the time it takes to become pregnant.

What’s more, nutrient deficiencies can affect your ability to conceive and have a healthy pregnancy.

For example, deficiencies in vitamin D, vitamin B12, and folate can affect your ability to become pregnant.

Additionally, supplementing with a well-rounded prenatal that includes methylated folate and B12 may improve the effectiveness of assisted reproductive technology treatment.

Are prenatal vitamins FDA approved?

While the FDA sets strict standards for the labeling of supplements, it does not regulate supplements in the same way as medications.

This means the FDA doesn’t oversee the actual production and ingredients of prenatal vitamins.

This is why it’s best to choose a product that has been third-party tested to ensure that your prenatal vitamin contains the types and amounts of ingredients that it claims to on the label.

Are prescribed prenatals better than store-bought ones?

While prescription prenatals are available, they aren’t necessarily better than prenatal vitamins that you can purchase over the counter.

In fact, several high quality prenatal supplements don’t require a prescription. However, one of the benefits of having a prescription prenatal is that your insurance may cover some or all of the cost.

Regardless of whether you opt for an over-the-counter or prescribed prenatal, what’s most important is that you choose a supplement that’s formulated to meet the unique nutritional demands of pregnancy.

Taking a prenatal supplement is recommended for all pregnant people. A well-rounded prenatal supplement can help you meet your nutrient needs before, during, and after pregnancy.

The prenatal products listed above are trusted by experts and can help ensure you’re getting the recommended amount of nutrients to keep you and your little one healthy.