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Alongside a well-balanced diet, prenatal vitamins provide important nutrients for conception, pregnancy, and postpartum months. Regularly taking a prenatal vitamin before becoming pregnant ensures adequate folic acid to support fetal development and reduce the risk of birth defects. During pregnancy, your body requires more vitamins and minerals such as iron, calcium, vitamin D, and B vitamins. Prenatal vitamins are specially formulated to meet these needs.
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Prenatal vitamin basics
What you need to know
Beginning supplementation one month prior to conception is ideal, specifically for the folic acid benefits. But if you are pregnant and just starting a supplement, don't worry – you'll still reap rewards. Either way, a diet rich in vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and protein is vital for your health and your baby's.
Prenatals typically offer a variety of vitamins and minerals - and come in gummies, pills, liquids, and powders. Many are kosher, gluten-free, vegan, or organic. At a minimum, look for these key nutrients:
- Folic acid/folate: at least 400 mcg
- Iron: 27 mg
- Calcium: 18 years and younger – 1,300 mg; 19 years and older – 1,000 mg (note: most prenatal vitamins may only contain 100 to 200 mg so it’s important to eat calcium-rich foods or talk to your doctor about taking an additional supplement)
- Vitamin D: 600 IU
- Vitamin B6: 1.9 mg
Overwhelmed by all the prenatal vitamin choices? Our top picks deliver all the nutrients you and your baby need – and more.
The following prenatal vitamins and supplements are the most recommended by our site editors, and are the our site Love It winners for best Prenatal vitamins and supplements of 2020.
Important note: Before taking a new supplement, it's always a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider first, to make certain it is appropriate (and safe!) for your unique needs.
Quick look
The best prenatal vitamins and supplements
Best high-quality prenatal vitamin
Pure Encapsulations PreNatal Nutrients
Pure Encapsulations sources high-quality ingredients and independently tests all products. These hypoallergenic vitamins meet the daily needs for iron, folate, vitamin D, and vitamin B6. An additional 100 mg of choline supports your baby's nervous system development.
Available at Amazon starting at $43.00
Best gummy prenatal vitamin
Mykind Organics Prenatal Multi Gummies
Made with fruits and vegetables, these gummies are free of gelatin, artificial flavorings, and GMOs. If you are looking for gluten-free or kosher vitamins, these fit the bill. Rest assured, mykind provides the essential nutrients for your pregnancy and beyond.
Available at Garden of Life starting at $34.99
Best vegan prenatal vitamin
Mykind Organics Prenatal Multi Vegan Tablets
If you follow a plant-based diet, these vitamins may be a great match. That's because they fill in the gap of certain nutrients – such as zinc, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 – often missing from vegan diets. mykind formulates its tablets with an organic food blend that contains 1,000 IUs of plant-based vitamin D from lichen.
Available at Garden of Life starting at $46.99
Best basic prenatal vitamin
Thorne Basic Prenatal
Known for its commitment to quality, Thorne puts its prenatals through four rounds of testing to ensure consistency and maximum bioavailability. These capsules include a gentle form of iron and active forms of folate and vitamin B12. Plus, they are specially formulated to be gentle on the stomach.
Available at Thorne starting at $27.00
Best prenatal vitamin with Probiotics
New Chapter Perfect Prenatal Vitamins
New Chapter blends essential vitamins and minerals with probiotics, fermented herbs, and whole foods like broccoli and kale for additional nutrition. These tablets also include a dose of ginger to help ease morning sickness.
Available at Amazon starting at $34.36
Best liquid iron supplement
Floradix Liquid Iron Supplement
If your prenatal contains less than the daily recommended 27 mg of iron, additional supplementation may be necessary. Incorporating a liquid iron supplement allows you to tailor your intake to meet your needs. One serving has 10 mg of gentle iron, herbal extracts, and vitamin C-rich fruit juices.
Available at Amazon starting at $40.49
Best liquid prenatal vitamin
Pink Stork Liquid Prenatal Vitamin
If swallowing a pill triggers your gag reflex, a liquid prenatal may be suitable for you. With 1 tablespoon, you'll meet your daily needs for folate and vitamin B6. This variety contains only 18 mg of iron and 20 mg of calcium, so additional supplementation may be needed.
Available at Amazon starting at $35.99
Best affordable prenatal vitamin
Nature Made Prenatal Vitamin + DHA Softgel
The most affordable prenatal goes to Nature Made. Taking this once-a-day meets your needs for crucial nutrients, like vitamin D and iron, plus 260 mg of omega-3 fatty acids.
Available at Amazon starting at $14.85
Best prenatal DHA supplement
Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHA
Omega-3s help build your baby's brain, eyes, and nervous system. Once your little one is born, omega-3s continue to support brain development and immune function. The American Pregnancy Association recommends Nordic Naturals DHA, which provides 480 mg of DHA and 205 mg of EPA.
Available at Amazon starting at $42.46
Best food-based calcium supplement
Rainbow Light Food-Based Calcium
Many prenatal vitamins either exclude or supply very little calcium, as it can cause stomach upset. Alongside consuming calcium-rich foods, an additional supplement may be needed. One serving of Rainbow Light contains 500 mg of food-based calcium, along with vitamin D to help with calcium absorption.
Available at Amazon starting at $17.14