Written By Claire Rifkin, MS, RDN, LDN
As a registered dietitian, I’m often asked a version of the same question: “Aren’t all prenatal vitamins basically the same?”
It makes sense why this belief exists. Prenatal vitamins are often framed as a checkbox, something you grab once you’re pregnant and assume you’re covered. But in practice, prenatal nutrition is far more nuanced, and not all prenatals are formulated to meet the actual physiological demands of pregnancy.
This is where understanding nutrient dosing, bioavailability, and the limitations of outdated RDAs becomes critical.
Why RDAs Fall Short During Pregnancy
Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) were designed to prevent frank nutrient deficiencies in the general population. They were never meant to represent optimal intake for pregnancy, a time when nutrient needs increase dramatically to support maternal physiology and fetal development.
In fact, many leading prenatal vitamins dose at or even below RDAs, particularly for nutrients like choline, vitamin D, B12, selenium, and zinc. This leaves a significant gap, especially for pregnant people who start pregnancy already undernourished, which is far more common than we like to admit.
Pregnancy is not the time to rely on bare minimum nutrition. It is a period of sustained, increased demand, and supplementation should reflect that reality.
What I Look for in a Prenatal as an RD
When evaluating prenatal vitamins for my patients, I focus on a few key criteria:
- Clinically informed dosing, not just RDA-level coverage
- Active, bioavailable nutrient forms
- Key nutrients often missing or under-dosed, like choline and vitamin D
- Third-party testing and transparency
- A formulation that supports nutrition needs across preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum, not just one trimester
This is why I often recommend Needed Prenatal Multi.
Why I Recommend Needed Prenatal Multi
When patients ask me what prenatal vitamin to take, I recommend Needed Prenatal Multi because it provides methylated folate (not folic acid), active nutrient forms for better absorption, and clinically studied dosages of vitamin D3, choline, and more nutrients that support neural tube development, maternal health, and fetal brain growth throughout pregnancy.
Needed’s Prenatal Multi Essentials (their 3-capsule prenatal) was designed to address nutritional depletion, not just meet minimum standards. Compared to many leading prenatals, it delivers significantly more total daily nutrition and includes nutrients that are often missing entirely. In fact, Needed Prenatal Multi Essentials provides 8x more nutrition than leading prenatals.*
For example, Needed’s Prenatal Multi provides substantially higher levels of choline, B12, vitamin D, zinc, and selenium than many conventional options. These nutrients play essential roles in supporting normal fetal development and maternal nutrient status throughout pregnancy.
You can learn more about the formulation and dosing of Needed’s Prenatal Multi directly here.
Thoughtful Formulation Matters
Another reason I trust Needed is their intentional formulation choices. Their prenatal does not include iron or omega-3s, which is a feature, not a flaw. Iron needs vary widely based on lab values, and omega-3s are best taken separately to preserve potency and reduce oxidation.
This approach allows for personalization, something I strongly support in my clinical work. Prenatal nutrition should not be one-size-fits-all.
Needed’s products are also third-party tested, backed by 15k+ practitioners, and designed with long-term maternal nutrition in mind, not just pregnancy alone.
The Bottom Line
Prenatal vitamins are not interchangeable, and meeting the minimum is not the same as meeting physiological needs.
If you are looking for a prenatal that goes beyond outdated RDAs, prioritizes bioavailable nutrient forms, and is formulated to support maternal nutrient status where many prenatals fall short, Needed Prenatal Multi is a strong option to consider.
You can explore Needed’s Prenatal Multi and see the full nutrient breakdown here.
FTC / FDA Disclaimers: This post is sponsored by Needed, a brand I genuinely recommend to my patients and use personally. 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.
**Based on the total daily dosage of nutrients provided compared to leading prenatals as determined by IRI sales data as of December, 2025.
