The 15 Prenatal Vitamins to Take Before, During, or After Pregnancy, According to RDs

The biggest drawback of this supplement is the daily serving size: eight capsules. That's a lot of pills to swallow every single day, especially while you’re pregnant and possibly struggling with nausea. The company suggests that you spread them throughout the day by taking half with breakfast and half at lunch, or open the capsules and mix the powder into a beverage. Some people felt the capsules give off an unpleasant smell. Still, given the high-quality ingredients and stringent testing, taking several capsules daily is a fair trade-off.

SmartyPants follows current good manufacturing practice standards to ensure the safety and quality of its products, and its prenatal vitamins are tested by a third party. The company was certified clean by the Clean Label Project Purity Awards.

We particularly like the taste (lemon, orange, or strawberry-banana flavors) and texture of these vitamins, and that the ingredients are non-GMO.

SmartyPants prenatal gummies do not contain iron, calcium, or magnesium, so check with your doctor to make sure you don’t need an additional supplement for these minerals during your pregnancy.

Prenatal Multi Powder from Needed is a great option if you are struggling with nausea or have trouble swallowing pills. It provides the same nutrients and doses as prenatal vitamin pills, unlike gummies, which typically contain fewer nutrients and lower doses.

While the formulation is impressive, some people may find that the monk fruit sweetener is far too sweet. It’s also worth noting that the high doses of nutrients in a full dose of this prenatal powder may cause nausea or digestive upset until you’re accustomed to them. That’s why some people may need to start with a quarter dose (half a scoop) and slowly work up to a full dose to optimize their tolerance. Still, because of the meticulously chosen ingredients, we think this powder is an excellent alternative to prenatal vitamin pills.

However, they don’t contain as many key vitamins and minerals as other prenatal vitamin formulations, and some people may find the flavor a bit strong. Still, they make an excellent stopgap for expectant moms who are fighting morning sickness, and the nutrition in these gummies is strongly preferable to skipping your prenatal vitamin altogether on nauseous days.

Be aware that some people found the capsules to have an unpleasant odor. However, we still recommend this product because of its well-rounded formula and third-party testing for quality and contaminants.

The company calls the ingredients “made traceable,” so you can see exactly where each comes from. With its capsule-in-capsule formulation, Ritual can deliver more nutrients in fewer pills than many other brands. Often, DHA and iron must be supplemented separately, but Ritual has both in its standard formula. All Ritual products are third-party tested for allergens, heavy metals, and other contaminants.

The biggest issue is that you may experience some fishy-tasting burps, which are caused by the vegan algae oil (a source of DHA) in these vitamins. Ritual uses mint or citrus essence to mask this scent and make it more pleasant to consume, but those may be a little strong for some people, too, especially if you’re experiencing morning sickness. Still, we recommend Ritual because of its carefully crafted all-in-one formula and ingredient transparency.

Subscription vitamin packs contain multiple supplements, with each day’s supply neatly packaged in a small envelope. This makes them great for travel, minimizing clutter on your counter, or those who have trouble remembering to take all their pills. They’re also delivered monthly, so you don’t have to worry about running out.

Perelel makes trimester-specific prenatal subscription packs, each featuring nutrients targeted for a specific period of pregnancy. For instance, the daily pack for the first trimester contains five capsules: two basic prenatal capsules, omega-3 DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), methylfolate, and an anti-nausea blend consisting of B6 and ginger root. The second-trimester pack includes the prenatal capsules, omega-3 DHA and EPA, and calcium and magnesium supplements. The third-trimester pack is the same as the second-trimester pack, plus a probiotic capsule to bolster your gut health, since constipation is common during this trimester.

One drawback is that the vitamin packs contain a lot of pills. Like many other prenatal capsules, they also have a strong smell. As an alternative to the prenatal capsules during your first trimester, Perelel offers a prenatal powder that can be mixed into beverages to help mask the scent.

Price should never be a barrier to getting the prenatal nutrition that you and your baby need. If you’re working with a limited budget, you can still find a solid prenatal vitamin, and this one from Nature Made, while not quite as well formulated as some of the more expensive options, costs less than 50 cents per serving and still contains important nutrients for maternal and fetal health, like iron, DHA, and calcium. Additionally, Nature Made products are easy to find in drugstores and big box stores.

Nature Made supplements are independently tested and verified by USP, a third-party testing organization that evaluates and certifies products that meet its quality standards. A USP verification ensures that the ingredients in the bottle are exactly what the label states.

Overall, though, this prenatal vitamin is a good option for people with a limited budget for supplements.

If you’re looking to grab a bottle of vitamins while you’re out running errands, this CVS prenatal vitamin is an affordable and well-reviewed basic option. It contains several key vitamins and minerals, including both iron and algae-based DHA. CVS also regularly has sales and coupons that make it even more budget-friendly. This convenient once-a-day capsule is a good choice if you want to avoid taking several pills each day. The trade-off is that the pill is a bit large, so it may be difficult to swallow.

Mama Bird Prenatal A.M./P.M. is taken twice a day: once in the morning and once at night. This is gentler on your stomach than taking a full dose all at once and allows you to spread your nutrient intake across the day.

Best Nest Wellness products are all third-party tested for the presence of gluten, heavy metals, microbes, and pesticides.

Some people may find the uncoated caplets large and difficult to swallow. The pills have a bit of an unpleasant taste, but we think the ingredient quality and split daily dose make up for these drawbacks.

Mama Bird Multi+ Liquid is an excellent alternative to traditional prenatal vitamins, especially if you’re experiencing nausea or dislike swallowing pills. Just a tablespoon provides an effective dose of several important nutrients, and it can be taken quickly in one sip or mixed into beverages. It has a sweet strawberry flavor that we think tastes good, and it works well in juices, smoothies, or sparkling water. Best Nest Wellness products are third-party tested to ensure that they contain exactly what the label says they do and are free of potentially harmful contaminants.

If you need iron or DHA, you’ll need to take those separately. This product doesn’t come with a measuring spoon and requires refrigeration, so it may not be a good option if you travel frequently.

These vitamins can sometimes cause fishy-tasting burps. Still, we appreciate that the packaging is designed with sustainability in mind. In your first order, you’ll receive a refillable glass jar; subsequent refills are sent in pouches.