Prenatal vitamins provide millions of women worldwide with the nutritional support they need in order to ensure they have the best and safest pregnancy possible.
However, not all prenatal vitamins are made alike and it’s important for women to select a product that will provide both their baby and their body with the nutrients they need the most.
Here, we’ll review the 4 best prenatal vitamins for women that can be taken at any point throughout pregnancy.
The following products are designed to improve fertility, support pregnancy throughout all 3 trimesters, and promote safe labor.
Comparison of the 4 Best Prenatal Vitamins
Best Prenatal Multivitamin – Beli for Women
Beli has produced the ultimate prenatal multivitamin for women that provides them with the essential nutrients they need for each stage of pregnancy.
Beli for Women contains 20 essential nutrients that provide support for:
- Boosting fertility and improving egg quality
- Fetal growth and development
- Safe labor and delivery
- Nourishment throughout all trimesters and post-pregnancy
This superior prenatal multivitamin contains optimal levels of choline, methylated folate and B vitamins, as well as a gentle and easy to digest form of iron.
It is recommended for women who are currently pregnant or trying to conceive to take 3 capsules of Beli for Women daily. Women may continue using this product for additional nutrient support post-pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
Pros
- 20 vitamins and minerals
- Optimal forms of key nutrients
- Vegan friendly
Cons
- 3 capsules per day
- Does not contain DHA
Best Custom Multivitamin for Women – Persona Nutrition
Persona Nutrition offers customized vitamin packs that are designed to solve each individual’s unique needs.
Its prenatal vitamin packs are tailored to meet the health needs of women who are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or who are currently breastfeeding.
Women have the option to complete a quick assessment on Persona’s website in order to determine the best vitamin packs for their prenatal health needs or they may filter vitamins by selecting their specific needs on the product page.
Persona offers the following add-in options that are specific to prenatal health needs:
- Prenatal Multivitamin – This prenatal multi add-in comes fully packed with 24 essential nutrients for prenatal health! It contains vitamins and minerals in their optimal forms and even includes all eight B vitamins along with ginger.
- Ginger Extract – This add-in option is a must for women who find themselves struggling with bouts of nausea during pregnancy. Each serving provides 500 mg of ginger extract that’s standardized to contain 5% gingerols.
- Omega 3 w/ BioCurc® – Omega 3 fats are critical for supporting cellular development and structure and its potency is further enhanced through the use of curcumin. This powerful duo works together to enhance cognition in both mother and baby as well as defend the body against inflammation.
- Iron with Vitamin C – This product contains 18mg of iron Ferronyl® along with vitamin C and calcium. These nutrients work together to support a woman’s body as her belly continues to grow and also boost her energy!
- Vital Proteins® Hydration + Collagen – This product is available in the flavors Tropical Blast and Lemon Lime. Each serving provides women with 10 grams of collagen along with 880 mg of electrolytes including sodium, calcium, potassium, chloride, phosphate, and magnesium.
- Antioxidant – This broad-spectrum antioxidant blend is composed of vitamins A & E, riboflavin (vitamin B12), zinc, selenium, NAC, milk thistle, and mixed carotenoids. Women require these nutrients in greater concentrations throughout their pregnancies to enhance their immune system and boost energy.
Persona’s custom vitamin packs are ideal for women who need additional nutrient support throughout
Pros
- Highly Detailed Online Assessment
- Live Nutritionist Support
- 80 Different Ingredients Available
Cons
- Not All Ingredients are Trademarked
- Uses Proprietary Blends
- Does Not Rely on Blood Test or DNA Test
Best Multivitamin with Omega-3: Ritual Essential Prenatal
Essential Prenatal by Ritual is a DHA-containing multivitamin that provides women with 12 traceable ingredients that support fetal brain and neural tube development, promote blood cell formation, and help to maintain bone health.
Some of the major nutrients contained in this prenatal multivitamin include:
- 350mg DHA (Microalgae)
- 1,000mcg Folate (6S-5-methyltetrahydrofolate, Glucosamine Salt)
- 55mg Choline (Choline Bitartrate)
- 50mcg Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol from Lichen)
- 18mg Iron (Ferrous Bisglycinate)
Essential Prenatal comes in delayed-release capsule form and is enhanced with lemon to ease digestion.
Women should take 2 capsules daily and it is recommended to start taking this product at least 3 months prior to trying to conceive.
Pros
- 12 traceable ingredients
- 100% Vegan-friendly
- Contains 350mg of DHA
Cons
- Does not contain calcium or vitamin C
- Missing vitamin B6 for energy support and enhanced red blood cell production
- Missing selenium for additional thyroid support
Best Liquid Multivitamin – Prenatal & Postnatal Liquid Multivitamin by Mary Ruth’s
This organic, liquid multivitamin can be used by women both during pregnancy and after.
Prenatal & Postnatal Liquid Multivitamin contains over 20 vitamins and minerals along with organic superfoods that support immune function.
Major antioxidants contained in this prenatal multivitamin include:
- 750mcg Vitamin A (Beta Carotene)
- 60mg Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
- 19mg Vitamin E (dl-alpha Tocopheryl Acetate)
- 13mg Zinc (Zinc Citrate)
- 70mcg Selenium (Selenium Chelate)
Additionally, this product’s organic antioxidant whole fruit blend is sourced from apples, cranberries, blueberries, and elderberries.
Prenatal Liquid Multivitamin can be taken with or without food, once daily. For best results, it is recommended to take this product immediately upon waking.
Pros
- Can be used before, during, and after pregnancy
- Contains organic whole food blend
- Provides women with over 20 vitamins and minerals
Cons
- Does not contain iron
- Provides low amounts of calcium and magnesium
- Only one flavor available
Benefits of Prenatal Vitamins
There are countless reasons why women should use prenatal vitamins both prior to and during pregnancy. Some of the major health benefits of using prenatal vitamins include:
- Improvements in fertility and the ability to conceive
- Healthier egg quality and development
- Reduction in the risk of miscarriage and fetal abnormalities
- Promotes better labor and postpartum healing
- Boosts immunity and energy
Fertility Vitamins
Women may suffer from impaired fertility due to a wide variety of factors. Some of the most common reasons that women struggle with fertility or conception include low nutrient intake, advanced maternal age, PCOS, diabetes, obesity, and high exposure to environmental toxins.
The following vitamins and minerals help women to improve their fertility, increase their chances of conception, and fight off damage from free radicals and other forms of toxins:
- B Vitamins (1,2,3,6,12) – Help trigger ovulation.
- Folate (Vitamin B9) – Improves egg quality and the ability to conceive.
- Vitamin C – Aids the menstrual cycle and normal ovulation.
- Vitamin D – Supports embryo implantation and reduces the risk of infertility due to PCOS.
- Vitamin E – Improves egg quality and increases cervical mucus.
- Vitamin K2 – Assists with progesterone and estrogen production.
- Iron – Reduces the risk of anovulation and poor egg health.
- Selenium – Supports healthy follicular fluid surrounding women’s eggs.
- Zinc – Promotes hormone function, cell division, and ovulation.
- Omega-3 fatty acids – Increase blood flow to pelvic organs and improve embryo implantation.
When to Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins
You can take prenatal vitamins at any time during your pregnancy, however, it is highly encouraged to begin taking them a few months before trying to conceive in order to promote your fertility. The earlier you take prenatal vitamins, the greater your chances are of conceiving since certain nutrients are required by the body to promote ovulation and improve egg health.
Taking prenatal vitamins early on also reduces your risk of miscarriage and will help you ensure that you have the healthiest and safest pregnancy possible.
What Happens if You Don’t Take Prenatal Vitamins
Although it is highly recommended to take prenatal vitamins, women who consume enough of the right nutrients from their diet on a daily basis and who are not deficient in key vitamins and minerals should be able to have a healthy, safe pregnancy with little to no concern if they choose to not take prenatal multivitamins. In cases such as these, women should still consider the use of supplements containing single key nutrients that are more difficult to obtain through diet alone, such as folate, DHA, iodine, or selenium.
Generally speaking, it is best for most women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the near future to take a multivitamin supplement in order to reduce any potential risks in their pregnancy and to increase their chances of conceiving.
Prenatal Vitamins Side Effects
The majority of women experience very few or no side effects from taking prenatal vitamins. However, there are some women who may have slight sensitivities from their use.
Examples of minor side effects that women may experience from using a prenatal multivitamin include upset stomach, nausea, constipation, or cramps. These symptoms are generally associated with the use of certain forms of iron that are harder to digest or may be due to indigestion related to consuming certain types of fat, such as krill or fish oil.
Additionally, women should ensure to consume enough food when taking their vitamins in order to reduce these symptoms and enhance their body’s ability to absorb the vital nutrients from them.
