In this article, I'm going to share my 8 week experience with ritual prenatal vitamins and my other 8 week experience taking needed prenatal vitamins.
So, if you've narrowed your prenatal vitamin choices down to Ritual vs Needed, I would like to help you decide by sharing my story. Both are outstanding, trustworthy brands that offer an elite prenatal vitamin. So, right off the bat, going with either will beat going with an amazon prenatal vitamin any day of the week. I don't believe this is a particular supplement that you want skimp out on.
I tried each prenatal vitamin for 8 weeks and provided my notes week-by-week. Let's get started!
Feel free to jump to any section using the table of contents feature below!
BIG Takeaways
- Needed nutrients are all selected with bioavailability and absorption in mind.
- You can choose between Needed Prenatal vitamins in powder or capsule form.
- Needed includes higher doses of vitamin D to aid in the absorption of calcium and other nutrients.
- Ritual’s essenced capsules are easy to take even if you’re dealing with morning sickness and nausea.
- The formula that Ritual uses has been reviewed by more than 150 OB/GYNs. That being said, this isn’t the panel of professionals that created this product.
- Iron is included in Ritual’s formula. Some brands choose to leave this out so you can dose according to your specific needs during pregnancy.
All About Ritual Prenatal Vitamins
Ritual sells an Essential Prenatal Multivitamin that includes twelve nutrients that are needed by mom and baby during pregnancy. You can even use this product prior to becoming pregnant to prepare your body and support healthy fertility. The formula used by Ritual is a bit unique compared to other products, especially when you take into consideration the natural and healthy sources where the nutrients are coming from. For example, Ritual has included omega-3s from algae and vitamin D3 from lichen (a much better-tolerated form of D3).
Ritual’s Prenatal Vitamins are formulated in a delayed-release capsule that will break down at an appropriate point in your digestive tract. This enhances absorption, so you and your baby get all of the support that you both need.
My 8-Week Experience With Ritual Prenatal Vitamins
When I first learned about my pregnancy, I knew I needed to prioritize my health and the health of my growing baby. So, like any expecting mother, I embarked on a journey to find the perfect prenatal vitamin. I read countless reviews, spoke to friends, and scoured the internet for recommendations. That's when I stumbled upon Ritual Prenatal Vitamins.
What piqued my interest about Ritual was their commitment to transparency and quality. Their website was filled with information about the ingredients, sourcing, and the science behind their vitamins. With skepticism in check, I decided to give it a try and placed my order.
The 8-Week Experience
The day my Ritual Prenatal Vitamins arrived, I was excited. The sleek, eco-friendly packaging gave a sense of sophistication, and it was unlike any vitamin bottle I'd ever seen. Inside, the vitamins were displayed in clear capsules, which allowed me to see what I was putting into my body.
Now, let's talk about my eight-week journey with Ritual Prenatal Vitamins. Here's how it went:
Week 1-2: I started taking the vitamins as directed – two capsules daily. One thing that immediately struck me was the lack of a fishy aftertaste, which is common with other prenatal vitamins. I also experienced a boost in my energy levels.
Week 3-4: My hair and nails began to show signs of improvement. They were growing faster and appeared healthier. I had fewer cravings, and the vitamins were gentle on my stomach.
Week 5-6: My digestion improved, and I felt more confident about my nutrient intake. Ritual's commitment to using high-quality ingredients made me feel like I was giving my baby the best start in life.
Week 7-8: At the end of the eight weeks, I felt like I was on the right track to a healthy pregnancy. The Ritual Prenatal Vitamins gave me peace of mind, knowing that I was nourishing my baby with essential nutrients.
What I Like
- The capsules are essenced with a mild citrus or mint flavor. This helps a lot with pregnancy-induced nausea.
- Made from traceable and safe ingredients
- Supports healthy brain, neural tube and bone development thanks to ingredients like choline, iron, folate and vitamin B12.
- Includes the active form of folate (methylated folate as 5-MTHF), which is most commonly tolerated and absorbed.
What I Don’t Like
- Only 12 key nutrients are included. Most prenatals include more ingredients than that.
- Some nutrients are dosed above the daily recommended limit.
What Could Be Improved
- We would like to see an iron-free version for moms who don’t want or need this ingredient.
- Being able to formulate all of the ingredients into one capsule per day instead of two would be ideal for women who are having trouble stomaching food and supplements.
Cost and Where to Buy
You can purchase Ritual Essential for Women Prenatal Vitamin for $39 on the Ritual website. The brand frequently offers discounts that can save you as much as 25% on your first order.
All About Needed Prenatal Vitamins
Needed has formulated their prenatal supplement so it can be safely used prior to, during and after pregnancy. With a much different formula than Ritual’s product, Needed has included 24 different vitamins and minerals in their supplement. Vitamin D3 has been added along with calcium for bone growth. Your taxed immune system receives support from vitamins C and A. Choline supports the healthy development of stem cells.
Needed’s Prenatal Multivitamin comes in two different forms: powder and capsules. The powder option is unique and actually quite beneficial. You can mix your prenatal vitamin into your food or beverage to make it easier to stomach. It has a mild vanilla flavor.
My 8-Week Experience With Needed
My eight-week journey with needed Prenatal Vitamins was very similar to my 8-week Ritual prenatal experience!
Week 1-2: I began taking the recommended daily dose, and within days, I noticed increased energy levels. Unlike some other prenatal vitamins I'd tried, these were gentle on my stomach.
Week 3-4: My hair and nails started to show marked improvement. They seemed to grow faster and appeared healthier and shinier than ever before. These little changes gave me a sense of empowerment and well-being.
Week 5-6: As I progressed in my pregnancy, digestion issues can be common, but these vitamins seemed to help with that as well. I felt less bloated and more comfortable throughout the day.
Week 7-8: After eight weeks, I could confidently say that needed Prenatal Vitamins could easily become an integral part of my daily routine. I felt a sense of reassurance, knowing that I was providing my baby with the best nutrition possible.
What I Like
- Comes in both powder and capsule form.
- Includes an impressive 24 vitamins and minerals in its formulation.
- The form and dose of each ingredient have been meticulously chosen for optimal bioavailability and absorption.
- You can use this product before, during and after pregnancy. You don’t have to worry about having extra product that goes to waste or having to find new products while you’re busy preparing for or taking care of your baby.
What I Don’t Like
- This is an expensive product, especially if you choose the powdered form.
- Iron and omegas are not included.
- One serving size is eight capsules.
What Could Be Improved
- The serving size of the capsules needs to be revised. Asking a pregnant woman to swallow that many supplements per day is excessive.
- Lowering the cost a bit or offering incentives/discounts would be beneficial.
Cost and Where to Buy
You can purchase both the Needed Prenatal Powder and capsules on the Needed website. The cost of the powder can be broken down to $52.49 for a 3-month delivery option. The capsules cost $44.99 per month.
Comparison Section
Let’s compare Needed Prenatal Multivitamin (capsule and powder forms) to Ritual’s Women’s Essential Prenatal Vitamin to see which one is the better option.
Comparing Formulas
The formulas of these two products are quite different. Needed provides double the amount of nutrients that you’ll find in Ritual’s product. You’re definitely getting a more versatile product with Needed Prenatal Multi, giving you peace of mind that there aren’t any nutritional gaps that will exist.
As we mentioned, Ritual does include iron in their formula, which is something you might be looking for in a prenatal.
Comparing Price and Overall Value
To fairly compare the price of these two products, we’ll consider the value of the capsule options. Ritual sells a one-month supply of their product for $39. The cost of Needed’s supplement is $44.99 per month. It’s understandable that the price point of Needed’s prenatal vitamin would be higher since it has more ingredients in it. It’s not a bad value considering it’s a very well-rounded supplement.
Comparing Two Clean, Powerhouse Brands
Both Needed and Ritual have product lines that are complete with clean, reputable and beneficial products. You can trust the ingredients that they use, as a great deal of research has gone into not only what nutrients are in each dose but where those nutrients come from.
Needed uses third-party testing to check the safety and potency of their product. The brand was started by nutritionists and mothers who realized there was a serious nutrient deficiency issue going on during pregnancy. This is a very research-backed company that takes its time creating some of the best products on the market.
Ritual understands that not every ingredient is created equal. They go to great lengths to source their ingredients from reputable suppliers. Everything is traceable and transparent. Third-party testing is used, but the brand also tests on its own for identity, purity, strength and composition.
What Is the Difference Between Ritual and Needed Prenatal?
The nutrients included in each dose of these prenatal vitamins are what stand out the most when comparing them. Ritual is lacking vitamins A, C, and B6, in addition to copper, zinc and manganese.
Every woman needs a prenatal supplement when she is pregnant or looking to become pregnant. It’s a good idea to speak with your doctor to determine what the key nutrients are that you should be supplementing with. This isn’t necessarily the same for all women, so it’s important that your diet, lifestyle and genetic factors are considered before you invest in a prenatal supplement.
Which Is Better: Needed or Ritual?
If you have a very well-rounded diet and your doctor doesn’t feel that you need a prenatal vitamin that includes up to 24 different ingredients, then you may want to opt for Ritual Essential for Women Prenatal Vitamin. It includes iron, if that’s something you’ve been advised to supplement with.
If you and your doctor are concerned that your diet isn’t as clean as it can be, you should consider Needed’s more extensive formula. This is also a good supplement option if you’ve been experiencing morning sickness and feel your diet is limited.
This Mom Recommends
For starters, kudos to you for taking the initiative to find the best-quality prenatal supplement out there. You’re not only investing in your own health and wellness now, but also in your unborn baby. I think that both of these supplements are sold by reputable companies that care about the products they are producing. You can’t really go wrong with either.
That being said, some women require an iron supplement during pregnancy. Iron transfer to the fetus is most prevalent during the third trimester, so that may be something you’re only advised to do during that time period. Ritual’s prenatal vitamin would be the obvious choice in this regard. You’ll need to speak with your doctor about the specific nutrients you should be taking based on the current phase you’re in (pre-pregnancy, first, second or third trimester, postnatal, etc.).
Prenatal vitamins
