Best Prenatal Vitamins for a Healthy Pregnancy, According to Doctors
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Updated: January 10, 2022 What to Expect selects products based on real-life testing conducted by staff, contributors and members our user community, as well as independent research and expert feedback; learn more about our review process. Prices and details are accurate as of the published date. We may earn commissions from shopping links. Best Prenatal Vitamins
One of the most important steps you can take during pregnancy to ensure you have a healthy baby is also one of the simplest: taking a prenatal vitamin every day. A prenatal vitamin can’t replace a nutritious diet, adequate health care and stress management, but it can help your baby get a balance of crucial nutrients to support her development. Here’s how prenatal vitamins benefit you, along with how to choose the best prenatal vitamin. What are prenatal vitamins and when should I start taking them?Prenatal vitamins are specially formulated supplements designed for pregnancy, and most contain a similar balance of key nutrients to support the health of mom and baby. "These all help with either development in the baby, or they help mom maintain her levels of certain vitamins and minerals," says Nicole Rankins, M.D., an OB/GYN and site director of the OB Hospitalist Group in Norfolk, Virginia. Dr. Rankins suggests ideally starting prenatal vitamins three months before you hope to conceive. That's because women who take supplemental folic acid — a key component of good prenatal vitamins — before they get pregnant can reduce the risk of neural tube defects (which affect the brain and spine). However, given that many pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned or mistimed — making preemptive vitamin-taking challenging! — give yourself some grace if you didn’t start taking prenatals early. "Don't beat yourself up, just take them as soon as possible," says Dr. Rankins. Make sure to also ask your healthcare provider about continuing to take a prenatal after you give birth and finish breastfeeding (if you opt to do so). What vitamins need to be in them?It’s important to remember that each person (pregnant or not) has slightly different nutritional needs based on genetics and any pre-existing health conditions. Always check with your provider about your specific needs for a prenatal, and if you're a vegetarian or vegan during pregnancy, be sure to tell your doctor to ensure you're getting the right nutrients. That said, the following vitamins and minerals, listed here with the recommended daily amount (RDA), are considered must-haves during pregnancy. You can get many of these nutrients in your diet, but prenatal vitamins are meant to fill in any gaps. Note that while you shouldn’t expect your prenatal to contain full RDAs of every single ingredient listed, they should have decent doses of the following:
You may also want to consider these extras when selecting a prenatal vitamin:
Are there any side effects to prenatals?Generally, prenatal vitamins are considered safe when taken as directed. However, certain specific vitamins or nutrients can cause mild side effects, primarily related to digestion. Here’s an overview:
What are the different kinds of prenatals?Walking into the pharmacy or searching for prenatals on Amazon makes it feel like there are approximately 10 billion different kinds of prenatals. But they can broadly be divided into these categories:
How to buy the best prenatal vitaminAs you start to research vitamins, here are some things to keep in mind to ensure you get the best type for you.
Ultimately, consistency is the most important factor. "The best prenatal is one you can tolerate and take every day," says Dr. Purdie. How we chose the best prenatal vitaminsWe started with the above ingredients and found supplements that contain most (if not all) of the nutrients you need. We also kept in mind the criteria from Dr. Purdie and Dr. Rankins. From there, we checked which ones were tested and recommended by OB/GYNs, editors and members of the What to Expect community of millions of moms. Here are our top picks. Best Prenatal Vitamin OverallOne A Day Prenatal 1 Complete MultivitaminBuying Options: Registry List: Pros: Widely recommended by OB/GYNs, large variety of nutrients (including DHA) Cons: Some people don’t like the smell or taste Why We Love It You can’t go wrong with One A Day’s prenatal vitamins. The brand contains hefty doses of the most critical nutrients (iron, vitamin D, folic acid), plus a few important extras, like DHA, vitamin B6 and about 12 percent of your RDA for calcium. The comprehensive formula is packed into one daily pill, making it super convenient. Size: 30 to 60 softgels per bottle Serving: One tablet per day Community Reviews “I just take One A day prenatal. Has everything you need.” - amcMama2 “I LOVED my One A Day prenatal. I need more iron so I’m on prescription now, but the One A Day were my favorite!” - Sweetnik19 Best Value Prenatal VitaminNature Made Prenatal Multi + DHABuying Options: Registry List: Pros: Contains a wide variety of pregnancy nutrients (including DHA) in high amounts Cons: A larger pill than other brands (a little longer than a penny) Why We Love It A 2021 What to Expect Mom Must-Have award winner, these prenatal vitamins from Nature Made are packed with all the nutrients you need, and in impressive amounts. They’re especially rich in folate, vitamin D, iron and DHA, and even contain 12 percent of the RDA for calcium. The more affordable price tag doesn't hurt either, especially when you consider how many vitamins you'll need over the course of your pregnancy. Size: 60 to 90 tablets per bottle Serving: One tablet per day Community Reviews “I took the Nature Made Prenatal +DHA for a few months and it was great.” - embabe21 “Most prenatals make me nauseous but I’ve been using NatureMade with DHA & I’ve had zero issues.” - ExpatMamaDE Best Prenatal Gummy VitaminVitafusion Prenatal Gummy VitaminsBuying Options: Registry List: Pros: Easy to take, high in vitamin D, tastes good Cons: Doesn’t contain iron or calcium Why We Love It Can’t stomach a horse-sized supplement? A gummy might help. Vitafusion Prenatal Gummies pack many of the essential nutrients you need (including DHA) into a lemon- and raspberry lemonade-flavored chew. Plus, they also contain 800 IU of vitamin D, about 133 percent of the daily value for pregnant women. Just note that you'll need to ask your practitioner if you should supplement with calcium and iron separately. Size: 90 gummies per bottle Serving: Two gummies per day Community Reviews “I take vitafusion prenatal gummies. This is my 3rd pregnancy I've taken the same ones for all 3!” - JMP3489 Best Vegetarian Prenatal VitaminGarden of Life Vitamin Code Raw PrenatalBuying Options: Registry List: Pros: Contains probiotics and over 20 organically grown ingredients Cons: Doesn’t contain DHA, serving size is bigger than most at three capsules daily Why We Love It Garden of Life prenatals are made using whole plant foods and boast an impressive list of nutrients (800 mcg of folate and 1,400 IU of vitamin D, for example). We also love that they contain vitamin B6 and some ginger, which can help ease morning sickness. Just note that these don’t contain calcium or DHA, so ask your doctor about taking separate supplements. Size: 30 to 180 capsules per bottle Serving size: Three capsules per day Community Reviews "I used the RAW while I was pregnant and still do now that I'm BFing. They are wonderful vitamins! No complaints at all other than the smell used to irk me a little in the first few months of pregnancy, but then again.. what smell didn't haha." - jordanwin Best Preconception Prenatal VitaminTherologix TheraNatal CoreBuying Options: Registry List: Pros: Vegetarian, specifically formulated for women trying to conceive Cons: Doesn't contain DHA Why We Love It Designed to help your body prepare for pregnancy, Theralogix’s prenatal vitamins contain 2,000 IU of vitamin D and over 1,300 mcg DFE of folate, plus other nutrients that are beneficial when you're trying to conceive. They also have both calcium (about 11 percent of your RDA) and iron. However, talk to your doctor once you’re pregnant to ensure that the higher level of certain nutrients is still safe for a developing baby. Size: 90 tablets per bottle Serving size: One tablet per day Community Reviews "My fertility clinic recommended Theralogix TheraNatal Core." - richfield95 Best Prenatal With IronPink Stork Total Prenatal + DHABuying Options: Registry List: Pros: Easy to swallow, high in iron, woman-owned company Cons: Some can't stand the scent Why We Love It Not all prenatal vitamins have iron, so if you’re iron deficient, it’s a nutrient you really have to prioritize. These vitamins from Pink Stork contain every nutrient on our essentials list, including DHA, iron, iodine, calcium, and the full pregnancy RDA of iron. They do have a light citrus scent that some absolutely love — and say makes the pills more palatable — but others despise. Size: 60 to 180 capsules per bottle Serving size: Two capsules per day Community Reviews "I’ve been using Pink Stork - on Amazon. They’re easy to swallow… and they don’t have a yucky aftertaste." - 3rdbabyomg Best Prenatal Vitamin with Organic IngredientsNew Chapter Advanced Perfect Prenatal MultivitaminsBuying Options: Registry List: Pros: Made with organic ingredients, great for combatting nausea Cons: Doesn’t contain DHA, have to take multiple pills a day Why We Love It New Chapter’s kosher prenatals are made with organic vegetables and herbs and are 100 percent vegetarian. (To be specific, these vitamins are International Certification Services (ICS) organic certified, meaning that at least 70 percent of the product is organic.) We like how they contain 27 mg of iron (which is about 100 percent of your daily value during pregnancy!), but are gentle enough to take on an empty stomach. They also contain a modest amount of calcium (about 6 percent percent of the RDA during pregnancy, to be more specific). Size: 48 to 270 vegetarian tablets per bottle Serving size: Three tablets per day Community Reviews "It's amazing, doesn't give me constipation or stomach upset like many other vitamins I tried." - celiema Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHABuying Options: Registry List: Pros: Strawberry flavor option to combat fishy taste Cons: Doesn't contain other necessary nutrients, so you'll probably need to take it alongside another vitamin Why We Love It If your prenatal vitamin doesn’t contain DHA, ask your doctor if you should take an additional omega-3 supplement like Nordic Naturals. The brand’s prenatal softgels contain an impressive 480 mg of DHA and 400 IU of vitamin D3. While many fish oil supplements taste, well, a little fishy (which probably won’t sit well with any morning sickness), these softgels are available in an unflavor or a strawberry flavor. Size: 90 to 180 softgels per bottle Serving size: Two soft gels per day Community Reviews “I've been taking Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHA which is a fish based DHA since before conception.” - workingonmynightcheese Best Vegan PrenatalNaturelo Prenatal MultivitaminsBuying Options: Registry List: Pros: Vegan, includes iron Cons: Must be taken three times daily Why We Love It Plant-based parents-to-be will love these vegan supplements, which contain nutrients such as folic acid, calcium, iron, zinc and vitamins A, C and D. It also uses chelated iron, an altered form of the mineral that some feel is easier to digest. And while you have to take three capsules per day, they can be opened so that you can add the powder to food or drink if you’d prefer that route. Size: 180 capsules per bottle Serving size: Three capsules per day Community Reviews “I HIGHLY recommend Naturelo prenatal vitamins. Before we started trying to conceive, I began researching prenatal vitamins and I probably spent 40+ hours reading online and also calling and emailing vitamin manufacturers. I learned a ton. I finally decided on the brand Naturelo." - sweetpea2014 Best Liquid PrenatalPink Stork Liquid PrenatalBuying Options: Registry List: Pros: Great option for moms-to-be with nausea, can mix with other beverages, women-owned company Cons: No DHA, some say the taste could be better Why We Love It For moms-to-be experiencing nausea or hyperemesis gravidarum (or for those who simply don’t enjoy taking pills), Pink Stork’s liquid prenatal is a great option to consider. Widely loved by expectant moms in the What to Expect community, this liquid prenatal packs in tons of the nutrients you need, like folic acid, zinc, vitamin C and even iron. You can even mix it in with your favorite beverage to make it even easier to ingest. (You can, of course, feel free to take the standard one tablespoon daily by itself — but some reviewers note it has that standard vitamin taste, so adding it to another beverage may be ideal). Note, though, that this prenatal doesn’t include DHA — although Pink Stork does sell this liquid in a bundle with probiotic and DHA supplements, albeit in pill form. Size: 16 fluid ounces (32 servings) Serving size: 1 tablespoon per day Community Reviews “I take Pink Stork liquid prenatal. You mix it with a beverage so you don’t taste it.” - Strick9j “Pink Stork makes a liquid kind that you can add to water/lemonade/Gatorade so it’s not bad at all.” - LindseyC7
What is the best prenatal vitamin to take while trying to conceive?It's common for women to take folic acid (AKA Vitamin B9) during pregnancy to reduce the risk of neural tube defects for the baby. But it's actually been shown to increase fertility rates as well, so for many reasons it's a good idea to start supplementing with folic acid in advance.
Do prenatal vitamins make you more fertile?Prenate pills do not increase fertility, but they can help you experience a healthy pregnancy and prevent complications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advice women on when to start taking prenatals. Women who are planning to get pregnant should take their vitamin three months before conception.
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