Before you part with your cash, you probably want to know which are the best prenatal vitamins in 2019. This is one of the first decisions you will make about your prenatal health, so it’s understandable that you want to get it right. You want to give your baby the best start possible, and taking care of your health during pregnancy is the best way to go about that. We’re here to help answer the question of what are the best prenatal vitamins in 2019 to take?

There are lots of different bottles and packets on the chemist shelves, all claiming to be the right one for you and your baby. How do you know which prenatal vitamin is best? Do they all do pretty much the same thing or are there variations between brands? Perhaps most importantly, which ones will your sensitive tummy be able to cope with now that you’re battling pregnancy nausea?

Do I need prenatal vitamins?

Yes, you need to take prenatal vitamins for pregnancy to ensure you are getting all of the nutrients you and your baby need. While you may be able to get lots of vitamins and minerals by eating a healthy, balanced diet, it’s always wise to take a prenatal vitamin to be on the safe side. Even a healthy diet can lack nutrients. Taking the best prenatal vitamins means you can rest assured that you’re getting everything you need, even when pregnancy nausea is restricting your diet.

How are prenatal vitamins different from other vitamins?

Prenatal vitamins differ from other vitamins because they are specifically designed to meet the needs of a pregnant woman. Your body is growing a human being from scratch and it needs a specific set of nutrients for that. Prenatal vitamins contain high amounts of folic acid which help to prevent neural tube defects. Many top-rated prenatal vitamins also contain iron which you need higher amounts of during pregnancy.

7 Best Prenatal Vitamins in 2019

What are the best prenatal vitamins? Here are the best prenatal vitamins in 2019 on the market today. Read on to find out which pregnancy vitamins made it onto the list and what we love about them:

Prenatal Vitamins in 2019 #1: Rainbow Light Prenatal Petite Mini-Tab Multivitamin

The Rainbow Light Prenatal Petite Mini-Tab Multivitamin is a compact vitamin so it’s ideal for people who struggle to swallow big prenatal pills. These are small prenatal vitamins so they’re easy to swallow. They are food-based multivitamin filled with vitamins, minerals, food and herbs. These pregnancy vitamins are suitable for vegetarians.

A daily serving of these small prenatal vitamins contains 600 mcg of folic acid to promote baby’s brain and spinal development, as well as a whole host of other vitamins and minerals. Rainbow Light Prenatal Petite Mini-Tab Multivitamins also contain probiotics to enhance digestion during pregnancy.

Rather than taking one big pill, you will need to take three tabs a day. While you could take these all at once, many women choose to space them out throughout the day. This may be useful if you are struggling from pregnancy sickness and are struggling to keep things down at certain times of the day.

Cons:

You need to take three prenatal pills daily to ensure you get enough nutrients. If you’re struggling to keep anything down, the idea of taking three separate prenatal pills may be a little overwhelming. The smell might be off-putting, too. These pregnancy vitamins will change the color of your pee, so don’t panic if you notice that your pee is looking particularly luminous.

Prenatal Vitamins in 2019 #2: Nature Made Prenatal Multi + DHA

Nature Made Prenatal Multi + DHA is the best over the counter prenatal vitamins and is available at most drugstores. It’s easy to get hold off and won’t cost you a fortune. A standard-sized bottle contains 90 soft gels which will last you 90 days because you take just one capsule per day. A single capsule contains 800 mcg of folic acid to aid your baby’s development.

These multivitamins are specially formulated to support the development of your baby’s brain, nervous system, bones and eyes. As well as containing the key vitamins and minerals for pregnancy, each capsule contains 200 mg of omega 3 DHA. DHA is an essential fatty acid that supports brain development. Nature Made pride themselves on only giving you what you need, so their multivitamins aren’t full of things you don’t need.

Cons:

The capsules are quite big and don’t taste great. If you’re struggling with nausea, you may find these prenatal pills hard to keep down. Some users have complained that these multivitamins have a fishy odor which isn’t ideal if you have morning sickness. Some women find the aftertaste of these pills hard to stomach, though other women found that the bad taste only lasted a few seconds after swallowing.

Prenatal Vitamins in 2019 #3: Honest Whole-Food Based Prenatal

Honest Whole-Food Based Prenatal are on the pricier end of the spectrum and pride themselves on using top-quality ingredients. They are non-GMO and offer a balanced, whole-food blend of vitamins and minerals that are designed to be gentle on your tummy. They contain digestive enzymes from papaya, pineapples and kiwis to support healthy digestion as well as meeting your nutritional needs during pregnancy.

These are prenatal vitamins with iron. These supplements contain iron, folic acid, Vitamin D3, Choline and B vitamins to help you enjoy a healthy pregnancy. These pregnancy vitamins were produced with the help of a team of doctors and health experts to ensure they are the best product possible. Honest Whole-Food Based Prenatal are made without sweeteners, artificial flavors, starch, dyes or preservatives. They’re cruelty-free and suitable for vegans.

Cons:

You need to take three pills per day to get the right dosage of vitamins and minerals. While this may be a good thing for those struggling to keep food down, it also means you have to swallow vitamin pills three times a day which is no easy feat during early pregnancy. The prenatal pills are big too, so may not be ideal if you struggle with taking large tablets. These are a pricey option so they not be within everybody’s budget.

Prenatal Vitamins in 2019 #4: MegaFood Baby & Me

MegaFood Baby & Me is a pre- and post-natal supplement created with you and your baby in mind. They contain vitamins and minerals derived from whole foods including orange, carrot, rice and nutritional yeast. This prenatal vitamin contains 600 mcg of folic acid, 15 mcg of Vitamin D as well as other essential pregnancy vitamins and minerals.

MegaFood Baby & Me can be taken at any time of day, even on an empty stomach. These tablets are non-GMO and are free from gluten, dairy and soy. These top-rated prenatal vitamins for pregnancy are suitable for vegetarian mamas-to-be.

Cons:

MegaFood Baby & Me prenatal vitamins are not cheap, in fact, they’re pretty expensive compared to a lot of the other prenatal vitamins on the market. You need to take four tablets per day which some women find overwhelming, especially when in the midst of morning sickness. They are big tablets so aren’t easy to swallow and they don’t taste great. They have a salty taste which some women found unpleasant.

Prenatal Vitamins in 2019 #5: Ritual Prenatal Vitamins

You may already be familiar with the story behind Ritual Vitamins. This brand is known for shaking up the vitamin industry. They pride themselves on including only the things you actually need, and only in forms your body can actually use. Ritual’s Prenatal Vitamins contain just 12 essential nutrients because these are the nutrients you are likely to be lacking.

These cleverly designed capsules won’t start dissolving until they reach a part of your digestive tract that is less likely to trigger nausea (genius, no?). Ritual scoured the world to bring you the best quality vitamins and minerals they could find, and they’ll tell you exactly where each one comes from.

Ritual Prenatal Vitamins contain no colorants or synthetic fillers. They are non-GMO, gluten- and allergen-free, and are suitable for vegans. They contain folate, Omega 3, Vitamin B12, Choline, Iodine, Biotin, Vitamin D3, Iron, Boron, Vitamin E, Vitamin K2 and Magnesium.

Cons:

These vitamins only contain the vitamins and minerals women are likely to be lacking, so they may not contain everything you need. You’ll also need to ensure you eat a healthy, balanced diet rich in nutrients to make sure you’re meeting all of your nutritional targets. Ritual Prenatal Vitamins are more expensive than your standard drugstore prenatal vitamins.

Prenatal Vitamins in 2019 #6: Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHA

This is not a prenatal vitamin but is designed to be taken alongside a prenatal vitamin. Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHA contains 830 mg of Omega-3 DHA and 400 IU Vitamin D3 for added immune support. Omega-3 is important for your baby’s brain development, so you need to make sure you are getting enough of this fatty acid. The Omega-3 in these capsules is in the triglyceride molecular form which is the form your body can most easily absorb.

They are soft gel capsules and are a decent size to swallow. The soft-gel design means they are easy to swallow and shouldn’t get stuck in your throat. As your pregnancy progresses, your baby will need more DHA to aid brain development. If your prenatal vitamin doesn’t contain DHA, these are a great way of ensuring you are getting enough Omega-3.

Cons:

This is not a multivitamin and does not contain folate. This should be taken alongside another prenatal vitamin that contains your daily recommended serving of folic acid. These need to be taken with a meal. They have a slight fishy taste as you swallow them, but they do also make a strawberry flavor capsule if you’d rather skip the fishy taste. These are not suitable for vegetarians.

Prenatal Vitamins in 2019 #7: Smarty Pants Prenatal Complete

Smarty Pants Prenatal Complete are the best pregnancy vitamins with DHA. They’re gummies so they’re perfect for pregnant women who struggle to swallow daily vitamins. We think they’re the best chewable prenatal vitamins out there. They contain 15 essential nutrients and Omega-3 DHA from fish oil. They are designed with your baby in mind and contain full active folate for healthy nervous system development, and Vitamins K2 and D3 for skeletal support. They are non-GMO, gluten-free and contain no synthetic colors, artificial flavors, sweeteners or preservatives. You take four small gummies per day, and that’s no problem because they taste yummy.

Cons:

Smarty Pants Prenatal Complete are not suitable for vegetarians. These vitamins do not contain iron, so you’ll need to pay careful attention to your diet to be sure you’re getting enough of that elsewhere. The gummies are very sweet so they not be for you if you don’t have much of a sweet tooth. If you don’t love the taste, having to take four gummies per day may feel like a bit of a chore.

FAQ Section

Does it matter what prenatal vitamin I take?

It does matter which prenatal vitamin you take because you need to find the one the best prenatal vitamins for you. If you don’t like the flavor, you might not take them as often as you should. You should look for a prenatal vitamin that includes all of the vitamins and minerals you need. Folic acid and Vitamin D are essential, but there may be other nutrients you would like included. If you follow an organic diet, you will want to source organic prenatal vitamins. Speak to your healthcare provider for advice about which prenatal vitamins they recommend and why.

Are gummy Prenatals OK?

Gummy prenatals are absolutely ok. What you need is a prenatal vitamin that contains all of necessary nutrients while also being something you don’t mind taking. There’s no point having a cupboard full of prenatal vitamins you can’t stomach because you simply won’t take them. What you need is to find prenatal vitamins that you can keep down. If you find gummy prenatal vitamins easiest to take, then they are the best ones for you and your baby.

Can I take 2 prenatal vitamins a day?

Whether you can take two prenatal vitamins a day will depend upon the manufacturer’s instructions. You should always follow the instructions on the bottle and take in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Some brands do require you to take two (or more) each day. However, you should never take more than the recommended amount in a day.

Is it bad to forget to take your Prenatals?

Nothing bad is going to happen if you forget to take your prenatals. However, if you forget a lot, you may be lacking in some vitamins and minerals. Try to eat a healthy, balanced diet so that you are getting plenty of nutrients from the food you eat as well. To help you remember to take your prenatal vitamins, try to make them a part of your daily routine. Either take them first thing in the morning or last thing at night. Set a reminder on your phone or smartwatch so you’ll never miss a day.

Is it OK to miss a day of prenatal vitamins?

It’s not ideal, but it’s certainly not the end of the world if you miss a day of prenatal vitamins. Just try to make sure it’s an occasional occurrence rather than something that happens regularly. You should aim to take your prenatal vitamins every single day, but don’t beat yourself up if you don’t always manage it.

How early should I start taking Prenatals?

You should start taking prenatal vitamins as early as possible. You should start taking prenatal vitamins as soon as you discover you are pregnant, if not before. Experts recommend that you start taking prenatal vitamins three months before conception to ensure your body is in the best health possible to conceive. If you haven’t started yet, however, don’t worry, just start today.

What time of day should prenatal vitamins be taken?

The time of day prenatal vitamins should be taken at will depend upon the brand you take. Check the manufacturer’s instructions on the bottle for further information. Some prenatal vitamins will have specific instructions as to when they can be taken (for example, first thing in the morning or with a meal) whereas others can be taken at any time. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.