Fit Healthy Momma Rating: 9.5/10
Ritual's Essential Prenatal Multivitamin has 12 key nutrients for before and during pregnancy so you can fill those demanding nutritional gaps.
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Prenatal vitamins are designed with moms and babies in mind. Not only is it important for mom to be getting all of the nutrients that she needs during this physically demanding time, but her baby needs certain nutrients in order to grow and develop normally. When deficiencies are present, this can lead to a whole host of pregnancy complications such as low birth weight, abnormal bone growth and slowed brain development.
You should start taking a prenatal vitamin as soon as you and your partner decide that you want to get pregnant. Certain nutrients like folic acid are beneficial before conception even takes place. You should continue to take your prenatal vitamins each day throughout your pregnancy. Some of these supplements are even designed to be taken after giving birth throughout the period of lactation (see our Ritual Postnatal Vitamins review). Nursing your baby places a whole new set of demands on your body.
While there are many different prenatal vitamins available on the market right now, you should take some time to learn about your different options. Check to see that the basic essential nutrients are included in a product you're considering, the product should be free of artificial ingredients and the brand should be very transparent about what they've put into their prenatal product. I’m going to be taking a look at the Ritual brand today, and their Essential Prenatal Multivitamin product.
Quick Summary of Ritual Prenatal Vitamins Review
Product: | |
Brand: | Ritual |
Key Ingredients: | Folic Acid, Choline, Omega-3 DHA, Iron, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D3, Vitamin K2, Magnesium |
Claimed Benefits: | Could help with bone support, blood-building, brain health, neural tube support |
Gluten-Free: | Yes |
Website: | |
Best for: | Women who are trying to conceive, just thinking about it, and when it's time (during pregnancy) |
Price: | $39 |
Avg. User Rating: | 4.5/5 (Over 200 reviews) |
FHM Rating: | 9.5/10 |
Introducing Ritual Essential Prenatal Multivitamin
Ritual’s Essential Prenatal Multivitamin has been formulated with twelve different key nutrients that you and your baby need prior to and during pregnancy. All of the nutrients come from clean and absorbable sources. Slightly different from your typical prenatal, omega-3s rich in DHA are included from algae. Choline has also been added to support brain development. Vitamin D3 comes from wild lichen, a vegan safe source. Iron is chelated so it doesn’t make your morning sickness worse, and it’s also very easy to absorb. You take two capsules each day, and they are delayed release so that you receive ample nutrition throughout the day.
Pros
- You may be able to receive reimbursement for this product through your health savings account
- Free of all the major allergens (nuts, eggs, wheat, soy)
- Made with traceable ingredients
- No artificial colors, flavors or additives have been included
- Affordably priced
Cons
- Contains some doses of vitamins over the daily recommended limit
- Could be pricey for some
Claimed Benefits
When you’re shopping for a prenatal vitamin you probably want to know more about the potential benefits that it can provide to you and your baby. Let’s look at some of the claimed benefits of Ritual Essential Prenatal Multivitamin.
Could Support Brain Health
Ritual has included nutrients like omega-3 DHA, choline and folate in this prenatal vitamin to ensure that your baby is getting what it needs for healthy brain development. These nutrients also benefit your brain health as well.
Blood-Building
Nutrients such as iron, folate and vitamin B12 are included for the formation of healthy red blood cells. The blood volume of a woman will double about halfway through their pregnancy, and these nutrients are needed to make this happen.
Bone Support
Ritual’s sources of D3, K2, magnesium and boron are included to support the absorption of calcium. Maintaining normal calcium levels during pregnancy is very important. There is a big need for calcium as your baby’s skeletal system grows. If you’re not consuming enough calcium, your baby will start to draw from your own body’s reserves. This can compromise the integrity of your bone health.
Neural Tube Support
Methylated folate in the form of 5-MTHF is included as an active form of folic acid that will help neural tube growth. This is a very important nutrient needed for the prevention of spinal conditions such as spina bifida.
Key Ingredients Analysis
It’s important that you know what specific nutrients are included in the prenatal that you choose. You should also look at any additional ingredients that have been added to the product. Stick with as pure of a supplement as you can. A transparent brand will even share with you where their ingredients are sourced.
Folate
The methylated folate included in Ritual’s prenatal product functions as 5-MTHF. This active form of folic acid is absorbable by people who have a common gene variation that affects their body’s ability to convert folic acid to folate. This is a condition that as much as 1/3 of the population has.
Choline
Ritual’s choline has been extensively studied to determine its safety and purity. It is made of natural-identical tartrate that addresses a popular choline deficiency. As much as 90 percent of the female population isn’t getting enough of this nutrient.
Omega-3 DHA
Vegan-certified omega-3 DHA is included in Ritual’s prenatal; sourced from microalgae. This is an option that’s better for the environment compared to fish oil, which is the most common supplement source for DHA. This is a nutrient that is very important for heart health, brain function and brain development.
Iron
Chelated has been chosen for the formulation of Ritual’s Essential Prenatal. This is a form of iron that has been backed by decades of scientific research. It’s also very easy on the stomach, which is what you want when you’re pregnant. It doesn’t take much to flare up a persistent case of morning sickness or nausea. Iron helps support red blood cell formation as your blood volume increases.
Vitamin B12
The form of vitamin B12 used in this product is the biologically-active form that is found in our food. A lot of cheaper vitamin brands will use the synthetic B12 source: cyanocobalamin. Vitamin B12 is beneficial for normal nervous system function, mood and energy production.
Safety and Side Effects
Ritual is a brand that prides themselves on transparency. Each batch of their vitamins is third-party tested (twice) to confirm things like potency, purity and safety. The goal is to ensure that the ingredients listed on the outside of the bottle are exactly what you’re getting from the product on the inside. The products are also tested for allergens, microbes and metals.
Cost and Where to Buy
You can purchase a bottle of Ritual Essential Prenatal Multivitamins for $39 on the Ritual website, located at www.ritual.com. You can have your product sent to you automatically each month for convenience purposes.
Real Reviews of Ritual Prenatal Vitamins
Reviews through the Ritual website reflect a 4 star rating out of five stars. There are a lot of happy customers that have taken Ritual vitamins throughout their lifetime and now during their pregnancy. Because of how gentle they are on the stomach, women are able to conveniently take them at any point during the day. It has a subtle lemon flavor that most people find pleasing, and it’s a very affordable product that you can conveniently receive at your doorstep each month.
Alternatives Compared to Ritual Prenatal Vitamins
It’s perfectly normal to have certain food aversions when you’re pregnant, and you might not like how Ritual’s prenatal tastes. You may be looking for something else from your prenatal brand. Here are some of the prenatal vitamin alternatives compared to Ritual’s products.
1st Phorm Prenatal
1st Phorm Prenatal provides you with a full panel of nutrients that are needed prior to conception and during pregnancy. You can also use this product while you’re nursing your new bundle of joy. This brand has other prenatal products that you can use to ensure you’re getting ample nutrition during this important time in your life. They often pair their omega-3 supplement with their prenatal, though Ritual includes omega-3 right in their prenatal essential multivitamin.
EU Natural Conception
EU Natural Conception is a product that is designed for fertility and pregnancy. It contains some herbal ingredients in addition to nutrients, such as Ashwagandha, Myo-Inositol and Vitex Chaste Tree Berry. These ingredients are designed to support a healthy reproductive cycle. This product can also be used to naturally regulate your hormone cycle, including ovulation.
Learn more on EU Natural Conception
Rainbow Light Prenatal One
Formulated in a once-daily tablet, Rainbow Light Prenatal One nurtures your body and baby’s body throughout the entire course of your pregnancy. It’s ideal if you’ve just decided to get pregnant but have not yet conceived, and you can use it throughout lactation. It contains seven basic nutrients needed for reproduction, providing nutritional support for the healthy growth of your baby’s brain and spine.
Beli Prenatal Vitamins
Beli uses modern science to make products for both females and males during the time of conception, pregnancy and beyond. Their prenatal vitamin is gentle on the stomach, contains a healthy dose of choline in each serving and even improves your chance of getting pregnant.
Learn more on Beli Fertility Supplements
The Bottom Line
A prenatal vitamin is one important product that you can’t skip when you’re about to get pregnant or are already pregnant. Nutrition is an incredibly important part of being able to conceive and carry a healthy baby to full term.
Unfortunately, many women aren’t getting enough of these beneficial nutrients in their daily diet. That’s why a supplement is so important. However, you still need to make sure that you choose a product that contains the essential nutrients needed during pregnancy.
Ritual and the other brands that we discussed have scientifically formulated their products with the safety and health of mom and baby in mind.
Tips for Success from the Nutritionist
If you’re looking to make some additional healthy changes and choices to your lifestyle and diet when you’re trying to get pregnant and during your pregnancy, here are some helpful tips that can get you started.
Watch Your Stress Levels
Pregnancy is a beautiful time in your life. You’re getting ready to welcome this brand new being into the world. However, you may feel very stressed throughout those nine months of pregnancy and while you’re nursing. Having difficulty conceiving can also be incredibly stressful. Stress will only harm your body and put your baby under stress as well. Use a variety of self-care techniques to keep your stress levels under control. This can include meditation, yoga, mindfulness and relaxing activities.
Partake in Mild to Moderate Exercise
Keeping your body active can help alleviate a lot of unpleasant symptoms when you’re pregnant. It can help keep morning sickness at bay, it can increase your energy levels and keep your back from hurting. Check with your doctor to see what they recommend for you in the form of exercise. As long as you’re experiencing a healthy pregnancy, you should be able to continue with things like walking, swimming and doing yoga.
Be Careful of Your Food Cravings
Many women experience food cravings during their pregnancy. While it’s perfectly fine to indulge in some of these cravings, don’t make a habit of turning to unhealthy food choices. Eating too many sweets or foods that are high in fat will lead to a lot of weight gain. Obesity during pregnancy can cause gestational diabetes and heart complications. Try to substitute some of your unhealthy cravings with a healthy option. If you want something sweet, fruit makes a great option. Instead of ice cream that’s high in fat and sugar, a fruit sorbet is a much healthier choice.