9 Best Prenatal Vitamins of 2022
Have you just found out you’re expecting, and looking for the perfect prenatal vitamin for you and your bump? In search of a formula that fits your lifestyle, beliefs, and nutrition needs?
Like anything else in pregnancy, choosing a prenatal vitamin can be overwhelming. You just want the best for your baby. But, you need to decide on a prenatal fast, so you and your baby can get the proper nutrients needed for optimal growth and development.
In this post, we will talk about why taking a prenatal is so important and cover 9 of the top prenatal vitamins you can buy in 2022. We will also talk about when you should start and stop taking your prenatals and if you can expect any side effects.
**Just so you know, this post contains affiliate links. As an affiliate and Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full disclosure here.
Quick Comparison
Our Top Prenatal Vitamin Picks for 2022
Iron, Affordable, Allergy-friendly
No DHA, Way more than recommended B12, Three pills a day
Check price on: Amazon
Non GMO, vitamin C in the form of acerola cherry, MTHFR friendly
No iron, No DHA
Check price on: Amazon
Probiotics, Digestive enzymes, and Methylfolate
No DHA, No iron, and No iodine
Check price on: Amazon
Certified Organic, Vegan, Folate, Iron, and Vitamin D3 
Absorbs faster, Easy on the stomach, Postnatal and Prenatal, Non-GMO certified, Gluten and dairy free
No DHA, No iron
Check price on: Amazon
Real food based, Allergy friendly, Methylated folate, Some iron
No DHA, No calcium, No magnesium
Check price on: Amazon
A great supplement to use in conjunction with prenatals that lack DHA
Check price on: Amazon
Why are Prenatal Vitamins So Important?
Are you thinking, “Can’t I just take a ‘normal’ multivitamin?” “Why is taking a prenatal vitamin so important?”
Diet alone is usually not enough during this delicate time. You will need additional supplementation to support your growing baby and yourself. Prenatal vitamins contain essential nutrients and dosages that you can’t often find in a women’s multivitamin. Your prenatal vitamin provides you with:
- B Vitamins: Your energy levels are likely to tank during pregnancy, as you’re now supporting two bodies instead of one. Help maintain your energy by getting plenty of B vitamins in your prenatal.
- Folate: Folate (or folic acid) is crucial during pregnancy, as it promotes healthy brain and spine development and helps prevent a birth defect called spina bifida. Look for a prenatal with 600-800 mcg of folate (source).
- Vitamin D: In order to support your mood during pregnancy and postpartum, you will need to get plenty of vitamin D. Vitamin D also helps boost the immune system and promotes healthy bone growth. A recent study has even shown that taking 4,000 IU of vitamin D daily can greatly reduce your chances of preterm labor and infections.
- Iron: Your body uses iron to make more blood for you and your baby during pregnancy, so you need to be sure to try and get at least 27mg a day to help prevent pregnancy anemia (source).
- DHA: Healthy DHA levels during pregnancy and breastfeeding, support optimal brain and vision development for your baby. It also helps support your mood during and after pregnancy. If your prenatal multivitamin doesn’t have DHA in it, make sure you are taking a DHA supplement on top of it.
The Best Prenatal Vitamins to Buy in 2022
Now that you know what to look for in a prenatal vitamin, it’s time to start shopping around for one that works best for you and your bump. All vitamins listed below are synthetic-free and made with ingredients found in nature.
The Best Prenatal Vitamins with DHA
This might be the best option for those who want their monthly supply of vitamins shipped straight to their door. Ritual has a subscription service for their prenatal, or you can purchase it on Amazon. You won’t have to worry about forgetting to grab your vitamins while you’re out and about, and you also won’t have to worry if you’re getting the nutrients you need.
Ritual’s prenatal vitamin contains choline, folate, iron, vegan-certified Omega 3 DHA from microalgae, and great vitamins like B12.
DHA is very important for developing a baby’s nervous system, eyes, and brain, but it’s not just good for your baby. Mothers who take DHA might notice a positive difference in their mood postpartum.
Ritual’s Prenatal is free from artificial colors and additives, is non-GMO certified, and also has a citrus tab in each bottle to help contain freshness and create a pleasant scent. Their website has in-depth details on every ingredient, so you know exactly what you’re getting.
A few things you won’t find in Ritual’s prenatal that you might want to supplement are vitamin C, calcium biotin, and a probiotic.
Pros:
- Subscription service
- Omega 3 DHA
- Citrus tab for freshness
Cons:
- Expensive
- Have to order online
- No probiotic
The Best Prenatal Vitamins with Iron
This one ties the next one with the lowest price, but that doesn’t mean you’re compromising on quality.
Thorne Basic Prenatal is free from peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, soy, dairy, yeast, fish, and shellfish, making it extremely allergy-friendly.
Nausea is a common pregnancy symptom, but many moms-to-be have found this vitamin soft on the stomach, as it includes vitamins K, B6, and C to help combat that dreaded morning sickness.
This prenatal has 200 mcg of B12, which for some people might be too high a dose (the recommended for a pregnant woman is 2.8 mcg). Remember to always consult your midwife or OBGYN on your prenatal to make sure it’s the right fit for you.
Thorne Basic Prenatal contains the active form of folate, which means it is safe for those with the MTHFR gene mutation. This prenatal also has 45 mg of iron, making it an excellent choice if you are prone to anemia.
One downside might be that you have to take three pills a day, so if taking pills isn’t your thing, you might want to opt for a gummy or a liquid prenatal instead.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Good source of iron
- Allergy-friendly
Cons:
- Doesn’t contain DHA
- Three pills a day
- More than recommended amount of B12
The Best Gummy Prenatal Vitamins
With just four gummies a day that come in three different yummy flavors, you can get the nutrients needed for you and your baby.
Gummies are a great option if you are suffering from extra nausea, and you can rest easy because SmartyPants selects their ingredients and nutrients using extensive research. Not only is this prenatal USDA certified organic and vegetarian, but it is also non-GMO project verified. It is also free of artificial flavors and synthetic colors.
The vitamin C in this prenatal comes from acerola cherry, a super fruit that is thought to be the best choice because it has a better absorption rate than other forms of vitamin C. SmartyPants organic prenatal also includes a probiotic for gut health, which is important all the time, but especially when pregnant or postpartum.
Whether you have the MTHFR gene or not, this vitamin also has methylfolate instead of folic acid, which is easier for the body to break down and use.
This option does not contain DHA or iron though, so keep in mind that you might want to supplement those in your diet if you pick this prenatal.
If you love the idea of this prenatal, but organic isn’t on the top of your priority list or you’re just looking to save some money, there is a cheaper non-organic gummy option from the same brand. Some people actually prefer the taste of the non-organic gummies as opposed to the organic ones. However, the non-organic option does not contain any probiotics.
Pros:
- MTHFR friendly
- Non-GMO and organic
- Vitamin C in form of acerola cherry
Cons:
- No DHA
- Doesn’t contain Iron
- Some prefer the taste of the non-organic gummies over the organic
The Best Plant-Based (Vegan) Prenatal Vitamins
Mama Bird AM/PM is a plant-based prenatal that only uses the methylfolated forms of vitamins, so there’s zero waste and it’s MTHFR gene friendly. It’s also comprised of probiotics, digestive enzymes, and an organic herbal blend to help ease morning sickness symptoms. This formula is so gentle, it can even be taken on an empty stomach.
The dose comes in a twice a day formulation to help you maintain your energy levels. Plus, the pills are easy to swallow.
However, this prenatal lacks iron, iodine, and DHA, so you will need to find separate sources to fulfill those requirements.
Mama Bird Prenatal does also come in a once daily formulation
Pros:
- Most absorbable form of vitamins
- Probiotics and digestive enzymes
- MTHFR friendly
- Vegan
- Made in the USA
Cons:
- No DHA
- No iron
- A bit pricey
The Best Organic Prenatal Vitamins
Garden of Life’s my kind Organics Prenatal is made with nutritious organic whole foods, perfect for expecting and nursing mothers. It’s a vegan formula with folate to support neural tube development and
You only have to remember to take one tablet daily, but the pill is quite large for some moms-to-be. However, this prenatal is also available in a gummy form if the pills are too hard to swallow.
This organic prenatal comes at an affordable price, and most Targets seem to carry it now. If you don’t have a Target near you, you can always purchase on Amazon.
Pros:
- Certified organic
- Vegan
- Iron
- MTHFR friendly
- Readily available at local retailers
Cons:
- No DHA
- No probiotics
- Some moms don’t like that Garden of Life was bought out by Nestle
Best Chewable Prenatal
If swallowing pills isn’t your thing, you might love this particular option. Just chew two of these vegetarian tablets every day to meet your nutritional needs while pregnant.
Seeking Health Chewable Prenatal has milk thistle and active B6 to help with nausea. It also has the active form of folate but has no iron or DHA, so you might need to supplement those in your diet.
One thing to note is that many moms don’t like the taste while some said they preferred it, so you might want to have a glass of water handy just in case. They are free of gluten, tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, and milk, which would be great for someone with food allergies. They also have no artificial colors or sugar and are overall a healthy, well-rounded choice for a prenatal vitamin. One thing to note is that they are one of the more expensive options, at $39.95 for a bottle of 60 tablets.
Pros:
- Allergy friendly
- Good for nausea
- Some preferred the taste
Cons:
- No Iron
- No DHA
- Expensive
The Best Liquid Prenatal Vitamins
You can order a one month supply of this prenatal on Amazon. Take two tablespoons of the berry-flavored liquid every morning by itself or mixed into any cold drink, like a smoothie or some juice. The bottle does say not to mix it into a warm drink.
The good news is that liquid vitamins have been shown to absorb quicker and might even be more effective than other forms, such as capsules. It is non-GMO, dairy free, gluten free, soy free, vegan, and free of added sugars and fat, so you can rest easy knowing you’re using only the best.
Another plus is that it has folate instead of folic acid. It comes in an amber glass bottle, so handle with care, but also know that means you won’t have any unwanted micro-plastics leaching in your vitamin.
One of the great things about Mary Ruth’s Liquid Prenatal is that it is a postnatal vitamin as well. It does not contain iron, so you will need to supplement that in your diet or purchase their Liquid Prenatal Iron to go with. Another nutrient you might want to supplement is DHA. Some do say that it tasted bad, while others say they actually prefer it to other vitamins, but if you don’t like the flavor you could dilute it with water or juice.
Pros:
- Postnatal as well as Prenatal
- Can be mixed into cold drinks
- Liquid so easy on stomach
Cons:
- No Iron
- No DHA
- Some moms-to-be don’t like the taste
Best Food Based Prenatal
If you’re passionate about getting nutrients from real food, then this prenatal is for you. MegaFood Baby & Me 2 Prenatal is doctor-formulated by an expert. It’s vegetarian, free of gluten, dairy, and soy, and packed with all kinds of fruit and veggies that will give you and your little one what you both need.
One interesting thing that sets this vitamin apart from others is that it has manganese instead of magnesium. The body needs one hundred times less manganese than it does magnesium, but their functions are similar. MegaFood Baby & Me 2 has 1 mg of manganese and also lacks calcium, so be sure to ask your doctor if you should be supplementing magnesium or calcium in your diet if you go with this pick.
It also has choline, methylated folate, and many other beneficial vitamins, including B6 to help with nausea. You might want to supplement some iron since it only has 18 mg of the 27 recommended while pregnant. Some reviews do say that this vitamin can cause gas, so you might want to take that into consideration as well.
Pros:
- Made with real food
- Dr. formulated
- Allergy-friendly
Cons:
- Could cause gas
- Less than the recommended amount of iron
- No calcium
The Best Prenatal DHA Supplement
Nordic Naturals is the perfect addition to a comprehensive prenatal vitamin. This additional supplement provides a clean, natural source of Omega-3 DHA, which is critical for your baby’s visual and cognitive development.
It also includes a daily dose of vitamin D3, which promotes strong bones and mood support and has also been shown to be helpful for absorption.
Each dose is encapsulated in olive oil, instead of canola and other impure oils, like most DHA supplements. The pills are small and easy to swallow, and you only have to take two a day. Plus, there’s no fishy smell or aftertaste.
This DHA supplement is third-party tested for its purity and heavy metals. In fact, Nordic Naturals is such high quality, that it’s even been named the official omega-3 of the American Pregnancy Association for its exceptionally pure fish oil.
Pros:
- No fishy odor or taste
- Pure triglyceride form for optimal absorption
- Easy to swallow capsules
- Exceeds strictest quality standards
- Sustainably sourced
Cons:
- A bit pricey
- Some moms-to-be aren’t a fan of the strawberry flavor
- Have to take 2 a day
When Should I Start Taking a Prenatal Vitamin?
It’s always best to start taking a prenatal vitamin before you conceive, so your baby can get all the benefits straight from the start. In fact, taking folate for at least one month before conception has been shown to reduce the risk of neural-tube defects, such as spina bifida, by up to 70 percent (source).
Of course, not all births are planned and well prepared for. If your pregnancy is a new surprise, just start taking one as soon as possible. Of course, it’s always best to consult with your physician before starting any kind of supplement or medication during pregnancy, so don’t be afraid to call and discuss your options with your midwife or OB.
And When Should I Stop Taking My Prenatal Vitamins?
Your prenatal vitamins are beneficial to you even after you’ve given birth. If you’re breastfeeding, you might not be supporting a baby inside of you anymore, but you are still growing another human being with your own body. It’s best to continue your prenatals as long as your breastfeeding, so you and your baby can both keep getting many essential nutrients, like folate, calcium, and iron.
Even if you’re not nursing, taking your prenatal vitamins for at least a few months after you deliver isn’t such a bad idea. It can help you restore iron that was depleted during and after birth and provide you with energy to keep up with your new sleep (or lack of) routine. And omega-3s and vitamin D can help reduce your risk of postpartum mood disorders.
There are even some physicians out there that recommend taking prenatal vitamins throughout all of your childbearing years, in the off chance that you just might get pregnant. But again, it’s always best to consult your physician to see what they recommend for you.
Are There Any Side Effects of Prenatal Vitamins?
Just like anything else, there’s always the potential of side effects with prenatal vitamins. Everyone’s body reacts differently to various herbs, foods, and fillers, so it’s important to remember that what works for one, may not work for you.
You might have to try a few different prenatals to find which one works best for you. You could experience some side effects along the way, such as:
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Decreased appetite
- Change in urine color or odor
Certain things in your prenatal could be causing these reactions, such as the iron and B vitamins. They might even be harmless side effects, but it’s never a bad idea to speak with your healthcare provider about how your body is reacting.
Nutrition for Your Bump
Taking prenatals before, during, and after pregnancy can greatly benefit you and your baby. They contain key ingredients which help prevent birth defects and promote optimal development. They also provide key nourishment to help mom-to-be keep up with those crazy pregnancy symptoms.
You need a prenatal with B vitamins, iron, folate, vitamin D, and DHA. There are several options on the market right now that can meet you and your baby’s needs and are completely free of synthetic fillers and flavors. With a little digging and trial, you can find the perfect prenatal for you and your bump.
What About You?
Which prenatal vitamins did you decide on? Did you use any of the prenatals in this post? Share which prenatal vitamins worked best for you in the comments below and be sure to share this post with other expecting moms.