Comparison
Best prenatal vitamins in the UK
The most important thing a prenatal vitamin must cover is the NHS advice for pregnancy: 400 micrograms of folic acid daily (ideally from before conception until 12 weeks) and 10 micrograms of vitamin D daily, with no vitamin A. Below we compare named UK pregnancy multivitamins on format and who each suits. A prenatal is a top-up, not a substitute for a healthy diet, so discuss yours with your midwife or GP. This is information, not medical advice.
At a glance
| Brand and product | Format | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Pregnacare, Original | Tablet (multi) | Wanting a widely stocked all-in-one |
| Wild Nutrition, Food-Grown Pregnancy Complex | Capsule (food-grown) | Preferring a food-grown format |
| Boots, Pregnancy Support Multivitamins | Tablet (multi) | Wanting a lower-cost high-street option |
| Zita West, Vital Pregnancy | Capsule (multi) | Wanting a fertility-focused brand |
The shortlist
Before you buy, read the NHS-aligned basics in our trying to conceive and pregnancy guides, plus our vitamin D and iron guides, since those nutrients matter most around this stage. Recovery afterwards is covered in our postnatal guide.
How we compared
We shortlist real, named UK brands in each category by desk research: product form, typical dose against NHS and EFSA reference intakes (our dose and evidence constants are dated on the research index), who each product suits, and value for money. We have not hands-on tested these products and don't claim to. No brand pays for inclusion or placement, and we do not rank by commission: as of July 2026 no affiliate link on this site earns us anything; if that ever changes it will be disclosed where the link appears.
One thing worth settling before you choose: labels use folate and folic acid as if they were interchangeable, and they are not quite the same thing. We set out the difference, and which one NHS advice actually refers to in pregnancy, in folate vs folic acid. You can also check what any of these products costs per effective dose with our prenatal cost-per-dose calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What do prenatal vitamins need to contain?
The two supplements the NHS specifically advises in pregnancy are 400 micrograms of folic acid daily (ideally from before conception until 12 weeks) and 10 micrograms of vitamin D daily. A good prenatal product covers these clearly, so check the label for both amounts rather than relying on the name.
How did you choose these?
We shortlisted real UK pregnancy multivitamin brands, then compared them on format and who each suits, checking each covers the folic acid and vitamin D the NHS advises and contains no vitamin A. We do not rank by commission, and we add a buying link only once it is live. See our methodology below.
Do I need a prenatal vitamin or just folic acid and vitamin D?
For many women, the NHS folic acid and vitamin D recommendations are the core, and a separate folic acid plus vitamin D can meet them. A prenatal multivitamin is a convenient way to cover both, but it is not essential as long as you meet those two. Discuss your situation with your midwife or GP.
Which prenatal vitamins should I avoid?
The NHS advises avoiding supplements containing vitamin A (retinol) in pregnancy, so choose a product designed for pregnancy that states it is vitamin A free. Do not double up on multiple products covering the same nutrients, and check anything with your midwife if you take other medication.
This is information, not medical advice, and is not a substitute for a registered clinician. Always read product labels and speak to your GP, midwife or pharmacist before starting a supplement in pregnancy.
Editor, Her Vitals
Oliver leads Her Vitals's editorial coverage of women's life-stage health and supplements. He curates and reviews existing branded products across trying to conceive, pregnancy, postnatal, perimenopause, menopause and the senior years, weighing what the evidence supports against guidance from bodies such as EFSA, the NHS and NICE, and is clear that the content is information rather than medical advice.
Last reviewed: 8 June 2026
Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Editor. Editorial review against published guidance; not a clinical review.