The 12 Best Prenatal Vitamins of 2023

Best Overall

Ritual Essential Prenatal

4.8

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Ritual's Essential Prenatal specifically targets 12 key nutrients to support a healthy pregnancy, with transparent ingredient sourcing and rigorous third-party testing. We like that it leaves out nutrients that are abundant in food sources that you are unlikely to be deficient in, reducing the risk of over supplementation and allowing you to add individual supplements as needed based on your specific diet and nutritional status. DHA is among the nutrients that Ritual prioritizes to foster a healthy pregnancy, with 350 milligrams of DHA from microalgae. It features the methylated form of folate for best absorption, and includes choline, iron, and more vitamin D than most other two-pill prenatals.

Ritual gets bonus points for offering all of these essentials into just two pills. It can be daunting to swallow multiple pills per day, and it might not be so friendly on your tummy. Ritual makes this process simpler. They have designed something called a Smart Capsule, which delays the release of nutrients in the body, so they are released in the part of your gut where they are absorbed, an area that is also less sensitive to digestive upset.

The capsules have a pleasantly smooth outside, and they place a citrus-infused tab into the bottle to help reduce nausea. The capsules are vegan, gluten-free, major allergen-free, non-GMO, and free of artificial colorants and fillers. Ritual also features transparent sourcing of all of their ingredients and does comprehensive third-party testing for identity, purity, strength, and composition as well as for heavy metals, microbes, allergens and other potential contaminants.

You will notice that calcium is left out, and only a modest amount of iron is included. If you do not consume dairy or other calcium-rich foods regularly, you will likely want to take an additional calcium supplement. If you are prone to iron deficiency, you might also need an additional supplement. Ritual also does not include vitamin A or C, a few B vitamins, and some trace minerals, such as zinc.

Of note, Ritual offers a subscription service for its products. It can be beneficial to get the vitamins (or any of its other products) at a slightly lower price point and automatically renewed. However, they are also available for one-time purchase if you don't want a subscription.

Price at time of publication: $39 for 60 count ($1.30 per serving)

^{Key Specs:
Key Nutrients: Methylated folate, choline, DHA | Dose: 2 pills | Third-Party Tested: Yes}

Best Comprehensive

FullWell Prenatal Multivitamin

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You won't find FullWell on the shelves of your local drugstore, but we promise it's worth seeking out. Developed by a functional dietitian and mother, FullWell's Prenatal Multivitamin delivers top nutrient quality and dosages for people at all stages of their fertility and pregnancy journeys.

This prenatal goes above and beyond to deliver you the methylated forms of vitamin B12 and folate, which are the forms that all bodies can use. It contains 4,000 IU vitamin D, which can help to reverse deficiency and avoid complications such as gestational diabetes. This vitamin is also one of the few prenatals to contain not just a drop of choline but a whopping 300 mg. As a bonus, it contains inositol, which can be a useful nutrient for blood sugar balance.

By design, this prenatal does not contain iron or omega-3s, as iron needs vary by individual during pregnancy, and omega-3s may be best when taken separately from a multivitamin. While it's important to work with a healthcare provider to determine whether an iron supplement is beneficial (and if so, how much to take), we do recommend an omega-3 supplement for all who are pregnant—we like Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHA.

FullWell's creator, Ayla Barmmer, MS, RD, LDN, knows that quality is important, and she spared no expense when it came to creating her product. Every lot is third-party tested. The facility is certified to comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and is UL-certified (a global safety certification). Due to the quantity of nutrients and their formulations, the serving size for FullWell is a somewhat daunting eight pills daily. However, these soft capsules are easy to swallow, and you can even break them open to add to your smoothie or oatmeal.

Price at time of publication: $50 for 240 count ($1.66 per serving)

^{Key Specs:
Key Nutrients: Methyltetrahydrofolate, choline, vitamin D, magnesium | Dose: 8 pills | Third-Party Tested: Yes}

Best Budget-Friendly

Nature Made Prenatal Multi + DHA

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For an all-in-one option that will provide high-quality nutrition, Nature Made Prenatal Multivitamin with DHA is a solid choice at a budget-friendly price. This company is known for producing high-quality and safe products at a price that is easy on your wallet, allowing you to set aside money to shop for nutrient-dense foods as well. Many like that Nature Made's is a once-daily soft gel and gluten-free, and that does not contain any artificial flavors.

At least 300 mg of DHA are recommended for pregnancy, and this supplement contains 200 mg on its own. If you can add to that one serving of fatty fish per week, you will be meeting your needs and helping your baby's brain and eye health.

While it contains DHA, this prenatal lacks a few nutrients such as adequate levels of vitamins A, C, and D. It contains calcium and iron together, which is not ideal for absorption. You will not find choline here either, and you may end up wanting to supplement with these other items if you are deficient or having a tough time meeting your needs through diet.

Price at time of publication: $27 for 110 count ($0.25 per serving)

^{Key Specs:
Key Nutrients: DHA and EPA, iron, folic acid | Dose: 1 pill | Third-Party Tested: Yes}

Best Customizable

Care/of Prenatal

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While there are standardized RDAs for vitamins and minerals during pregnancy, each person has their own unique supplemental needs, depending on diet and overall health status. We love that Care/of enables you to customize your own daily vitamin packets with a convenient subscription service, offering monthly delivery to your doorstep. Their supplements are also internally and third-party tested for purity and potency

They offer a baseline prenatal multivitamin, including 22 essential vitamins and minerals in a three tablet serving size, and then you can add additional nutrients as needed. The prenatal is a comprehensive multivitamin, but it lower in some nutrients including iron, calcium, choline, and magnesium, compared to other options on our list. If your diet is low in these nutrients, you can always add an individual, additional supplement to your daily pack. They do not include DHA in their prenatal base, but you can add their omega-3 fish oil to your pack. Depending on how many supplemental vitamins you add, it could end up being a lot of pills to take daily.

Price at time of publication: Starting at $19 for a 30-day supply of the prenatal only ($0.63 per serving)

^{Key Specs:
Key Nutrients: vitamin D, iron, choline, methylated folate | Dose: 3 tablets | Third-Party Tested: Yes}

Best for Morning Sickness

Needed Powdered Prenatal

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If you have problems with prenatals, such as nausea or difficulty swallowing them, a powdered prenatal is a great option. Needed has taken the prenatal and fertility supplement space by storm. This powdered prenatal was one of the company's early products that was a welcome option for those who experience morning sickness.

This vanilla-flavored and monk fruit-sweetened powder mixes easily into a smoothie, oatmeal, or latte. You can use it daily or alternate between the powder and their pill prenatal for the days you're feeling less queasy. Monk fruit is a high-intensity sweetener and brings its own flavor. It could be an issue for those who do not care for the taste.

Even as a powder, this prenatal manages to include vitamin A, ample vitamin D, methylated B vitamins, choline, calcium, and many other critical nutrients. It also contains a unique antioxidant blend. Needed manufacturers are all third-party tested.

The product is careful to include sustainably sourced forms of their nutrients and keeps unnecessary fillers and additives out. The biggest downside is cost. However, you could always take this during the stage when you feel most nauseous before switching to a more budget-friendly option.

Price at time of publication: $70 for 30 day supply ($2.33 per serving)

^{Key Specs:
Key Nutrients: Methyltetrahydrofolate, choline, calcium | Dose: 1 scoop of powder | Third-Party Tested: Yes}

Best Prenatal + DHA

HUM Womb Service Prenatal Multi + DHA

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HUM Prenatal Multi + DHA is an OB-GYN formulated, two capsule solution to getting a complete prenatal multivitamin, including choline and methylated folate, as well 350 milligrams of DHA from algae oil. They separate the DHA from the multi capsule to reduce the fishy aftertaste that plant-based algae can sometimes have when combined with other vitamins and minerals.

Omega-3 fatty acids are important to the development and maintenance of all of our cells. DHA—docosahexaenoic acid—is thought to be particularly valuable to the development of a baby's eyes, brain, and nervous system. It is generally recommended to consume 200 milligrams of DHA per day during pregnancy. Keep in mind that you can also get DHA from whole food sources. For example, 3 ounces of salmon contains 1,240 milligrams. However, it can be hard to reach your daily intake through food alone, so supplementation can be helpful.

We love that HUM Prenatal Multi + DHA is formulated by OB-GYNs and registered dietitians, and is third-party tested for purity and quality, including heavy metal testing. It is also free of artificial colors, sweeteners, flavors and preservatives. This supplement contains 100% daily value of iron, but does not include calcium (which can compete for absorption with iron).

Price at time of publication: $31.50 for 60 count ($1.05 per serving)

<sup>Key Specs:

Key Nutrients: Vitamin D, methylated folate, choline, iron, DHA | Dose: 2 capsule | Third-Party Tested: Yes</sup>

Best Organic

Garden of Life Mykind Organics Prenatal Multivitamin Tablets

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Those who are looking to maintain a plant-based or vegan diet during pregnancy will want a supplement that sources high-quality plant ingredients. Mykind Organics is a solid choice, as it is certified USDA organic, free of GMOs, and certified vegan. It is NSF Certified Gluten-Free, but it is not third-party tested for purity and potency.

There are pros and cons to a plant-based prenatal. This one contains a unique stomach-soothing blend with ingredients like ginger, peppermint, and lemon to help with nausea. It also uses the food form of folate, which is very well absorbed and effective. However, it uses iron from plant sources, which is not as effective at raising iron levels in the case of anemia during pregnancy.

The Mykind Organics prenatal does not contain choline, magnesium, or calcium and skips DHA and EPA. If your are following a vegan or vegetarian diet, we recommend adding an algae-based omega-3 supplement. However, the supplement is three easy pills and is widely available at a more moderate price point.

Price at time of publication: $80 for 180 count ($1.33 per serving)

^{Key Specs:
Key Nutrients: Folate, vitamin A and C, and digestive-friendly herbs | Dose: 3 pills | Third-Party Tested: No}

Best Choline

NusaPure Choline Bitartrate

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You may notice that your prenatal vitamin does not contain choline. If you are not regularly consuming choline-rich foods like eggs, liver, soybeans, and chicken, you will want to consider a stand-alone choline supplement to reach the recommended 450 mg per day of choline. Supplementing with choline during pregnancy can help the baby's brain and nervous system develop properly.

NusaPure is a trusted brand that follows GMP practices to produce safe and effective supplements. Their pills are vegetarian, gluten-free, and non-GMO.

You will notice that NusaPure lists 650 mg of choline bitartrate, which translates into 267 mg of elemental choline. The recommended amount for pregnancy is 450 mg, so this is one of the few supplements that gets you pretty close. Please note that NusaPure only contains choline and is not a full prenatal supplement, so you will have to choose another prenatal in addition to this.

Price at time of publication: $20 for 200 count ($0.20 per serving)

^{Key Specs:
Key Nutrients: Choline | Dose: 2 pills | Third-Party Tested: No}

Best Personalized by Trimester

Perelel Vitamin

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Pregnancy is a constant state of flux, and the need for some nutrients will change as you progress through each trimester. Perelel takes a unique approach and designs prenatal supplements based on trimester-specific needs. Each trimester subscription comes conveniently packed in a small sachet and starts with the core prenatal and omega-3. Then there are different add-ons. For example, the first trimester adds additional folate and ginger for nausea; the second trimester bumps up calcium and magnesium as the baby's skeletal system develops; and the third trimester adds on a probiotic. It's important to note that this probiotic addition might not provide any added benefits.

Perelel's products are non-GMO and dairy- and gluten-free. Still, these vitamins are not vegan as they source the omega-3 from high-quality fish oil. Each packet contains five pills, so if you have a tough time taking many pills, this one may not be the one for you. Since Perelel prides itself on high-quality ingredients and customization, it has a higher price point than other prenatals.

Price at time of publication: $50 for 30 pack count ($1.67 per serving)

^{Key Specs:
Key Nutrients: Folate, omega-3, choline | Dose: 5 pills | Third-Party Tested: Yes}

Best Prenatal Omega-3

Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHA

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While a handful of prenatal vitamins contain DHA (an omega 3 fatty acid), DHA supplements are most often sold and recommended to be taken separately from other vitamins. Omega 3's are important during pregnancy to help with brain development for baby and may also play a role in length of gestation and healthy birth weight. Thus, we wanted to offer you a supplement option that is DHA alone (plus a small amount of vitamin D), so you can take it separately from your prenatal multivitamin. Fortunately, Nordic Naturals delivers a high-quality product that is merely two small capsules and comes in a flavorless version and strawberry flavor, so you won't be left with a fishy taste or burps.

This omega-3 supplement contains 480 mg of DHA, which is above the 300 mg recommended amount. So even if you are not consuming a serving of fatty fish, you can rest assured that your needs are being met. Alongside DHA is the complementary fatty acid, EPA, as well as a small amount of vitamin D. Nordic Naturals sources easily absorbable forms of omega-3s from anchovies and sardines, so this supplement would not be suitable for vegetarians. However, in case the environmental impact of fishing is important to you, Nordic prides itself on being non-GMO and Friends of the Sea certified.

Please note that this is not a full multivitamin prenatal supplement, as it only contains DHA and vitamin D.

Price at time of publication: $50 for 180 count ($0.56 per serving)

^{Key Specs:
Key Nutrients: DHA, EPA, vitamin D3 | Dose: 2 pills | Third-Party Tested: Yes} 

Best Gummy

Smarty Pants Daily Organic Gummy Prenatal Vitamin

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It can be enjoyable and comforting to take a chewable, gummy vitamin like you did when you were a kid. Smarty Pants created an easy-to-take gummy prenatal vitamin that is third-party tested and free of synthetic colors, artificial flavors, top allergens, and salicylates. In just four easy gummies, you will be getting a dose of key nutrients for yourself and your growing baby.

Smarty Pants' prenatal does include all of the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K), folate as L-methylfolate, and a small amount of choline and omega-3 fatty acids. Because some nutrients are more bulky, and manufacturers can't squeeze them into a few gummies, they are left out. Keep in mind that you might need additional calcium, iron, or magnesium if you choose this product.

One perk of gummy vitamins is that they taste great. However, this great flavor comes from added sugars. This product uses cane sugar for sweetness, so be mindful of your overall added sugar consumption if this prenatal is also part of your daily routine.

Price at time of publication: $27 for 120 count ($0.90 per serving)

^{Key Specs:
Key Nutrients: Vitamin D, methylated folate, choline, DHA | Dose: 4 gummies | Third-Party Tested: Yes}