What prenatal vitamin should I take?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
The one with the proven core: 400 mcg of folic acid daily, per the CDC - it prevents neural tube defects, which form in the first weeks, so the CDC recommends it for all women who could become pregnant. The rest of the standard core: vitamin D, iodine, iron, and DHA. What you can ignore: megadoses (excess vitamin A in retinol form is harmful in pregnancy) and premium pricing, which buys packaging. Timing beats branding: start at least a month before trying and continue through pregnancy and breastfeeding. Prior neural-tube-defect pregnancy, epilepsy medication, or bariatric surgery: you need a doctor's higher-dose plan.
What to do
- Anchor on 400 mcg folic acid. The proven core, per the CDC.
- Check for D, iodine, iron, DHA. The standard supporting cast.
- Start before conception. The neural tube closes in the first weeks.
- Skip megadoses and retinol vitamin A. More is worse here, not better.
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