In partnership with Ritual. Editor’s Note: We only select and work with partners that meet our quality standards, so you can rest assured we only endorse products we believe in.
Trying for a baby is hard. Being pregnant is hard. Preparing for a new baby is hard. I get it…and I’m here to tell you it doesn’t get easier. Just kidding, kind of. But I digress – we’re here to talk about multivitamins!
When my husband and I began talking about starting a family, I knew I wanted to find a great prenatal multivitamin to support my body during pregnancy. When I started researching, I quickly discovered that the market is not only super saturated, but it’s really hard to figure out which key nutrients are important for our bodies, and which brands actually sell a clean multivitamin.
Lucky for me, Ritual released its Essential for Women Prenatal MultiVitamin ($39) and just like that, my decision was made.
The Prenatal That Packs A Punch
With 12 key nutrients, this prenatal multivitamin has what you want, and perhaps more importantly, nothing you don’t. The star? Methylated folate (as 5-MTHF), the active form of folic acid – an important nutrient to help support neural tube development. This ingredient was particularly important to me, and many prenatal vitamins don’t include it. You can read more about methylated folate here.*
Rounding out an all-star ingredient list are choline, also for neural tube development support; vegan Omega-3 DHA, choline and folate to support fetal brain development; iron, folate and methylated B-12 to help support red blood cell formation; and calcium-helper nutrients D3, K2, magnesium and boron to help maintain bone health. All pretty important, don’t you think?*
When It Comes To Transparency, More Is More
As a brand, Ritual’s big thing is transparency, and it’s one reason I love the company so much. Each ingredient is traceable back to its source material, so you really feel like you understand exactly what’s going into your body. Plus, the brand’s website contains critical information, like the form, source material and function of every labeled ingredient.
Take Omega-3 DHA for example. Here, you’ll discover exactly why it’s important and its final place of manufacture (down to an in-depth supplier profile).* With thousands of vitamins lining the aisles of your local drugstore, it’s hard not to wonder: where did these ingredients come from? Are they the best possible version available? Sourced responsibly?
And let’s not forget – what’s not in your vitamin is just as important as what is. Ritual’s 12 key nutrients are meant to help fill nutrient gaps in the diet, not overload the body with a bunch of stuff it doesn’t need.* And there’s no junk like artificial colorants, allergens, or other not-so-fun surprises. When it comes to transparency, more is definitely more.
Designed To Keep An Upset Stomach At Bay
Everyone knows that lucky mom who "felt perfectly fine” during pregnancy. Those are the lucky few. The rest of us spend our pregnancies curled up in a ball, vomiting into the toilet, and driving around with a barf bag. (It’s all worth it, I promise!)
That said, anything that can help keep an upset stomach stay at bay is a win in my book. Ritual’s delayed-release capsule is designed to be gentle on the stomach, and because it dissolves later in the small intestine, an ideal place to absorb nutrients, it can be taken with or without food.* Plus, you only have to take two pills per day. And you can choose whether you prefer lemon or mint essence. OK, I’m done – we can all share a round of applause now.
Obsessive, In A Good Way
If you haven’t yet realized, the team at Ritual is a bit obsessive. I mean literally, when it comes to product innovation and research, the brand leaves no stone unturned. Its Made Traceable campaign is one example of this, and the tagline, “for skeptics, by skeptics” pretty much sums it up.
Ritual’s not about the latest fad or TikTok craze. Instead, the brand is focused on working with experts like scientists, nutritionists, and medical doctors to ensure that nobody has to settle for a product they don’t trust. This kind of obsessiveness really speaks to me. I feel knowledgeable, more interested, and at the end of the day, more comfortable knowing that every single ingredient and formulation has been extensively researched.
With key nutrients, specifically formulated for pregnancy, transparently sourced ingredients, and a thoughtful approach to science, Ritual’s Essential for Women Prenatal Multivitamin is exactly that – essential.*
A Few More Reasons to Love Ritual
- The multivitamin is vegan-friendly, Non-GMO Project Verified, gluten-free and formulated without major allergens.
- The prenatal specifically is eligible for FSA/HSA reimbursement.
- Don’t forget to add a pack of Essential Protein ($40) to your cart – it’s great for pregnancy, postpartum, and lactation.*
- Another one for the soon-to-be mamas: Ritual is partnering with Poppy Seed Health, which offers on-demand access to resources like infant care, lactation, and sleep health for you and your infant.
Try it out for yourself here.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.