As I sit here writing this, I am pregnant with my fifth baby. I’ve been a perinatal chiropractor for 12+ years and supported hundreds of women trying to conceive and thousands during pregnancy. There’s a problem during pregnancy that barely anyone talks about and even my patients are hesitant to talk to me about it: not being able to stomach prenatal vitamins.
With my first baby, I didn’t experience much nausea and I was able to nap a lot more, which helped keep my nausea at bay. When I was pregnant with our second baby, I couldn’t stomach my regular prenatal vitamins and opted for a gummy. Was it the most nutrient dense choice? Nope, but I was able to stomach it and that felt good enough. Sometime before I got pregnant with our third baby, I found Needed and started taking their prenatal powder. Anyone that knows me, knows that I hate taking capsules so finding a prenatal supplement that didn’t involve 3+ capsules and contained optimal nutrition was HUGE. I continued taking Needed’s prenatal powder with my fourth baby, but during this pregnancy, Needed launched their 3-capsule Prenatal Multivitamin. I bounced between the Needed Prenatal Multivitamin (3-capsule) and their Prenatal Multivitamin Powder, leaning more on the Prenatal Multivitamin Powder during the first trimester. I will be completely honest, even though I have been pregnant and/or breastfeeding for 9.5 years, and I know how important taking a prenatal is before and during pregnancy, I was guilty of not taking it consistently- even when I wasn’t feeling nauseous. Recently, Needed announced their Prenatal Multivitamin Gummy (and launched it September 1!). I had the opportunity to try it out before the launch and this is the first time in years that I am actually taking a prenatal consistently.
Is a gummy “good enough”?
The reality is, it is difficult to formulate a gummy that is packed with the same amount and variety of nutrients as a prenatal capsule, however, the best prenatal for you is the one you will actually take. Needed’s New Prenatal Multivitamin Gummy contains 8x more nutrition than the leading prenatal gummy* making it the most nutritious** prenatal gummy on the market. It also contains 4x more nutrition than the average of leading prenatal capsules. (4x more nutrition refers to the average amount of vitamin and minerals compared to the average of the leading prenatal brands as of May 2026. Brand A: 8x, Brand B: 4x, Brand C: 4x, Brand D: 4x.)
Needed Prenatal Multivitamin Gummy delivers optimal nutrition in forms that your body can use. It contains 17 nutrients including:
920mcg DFE Methylfolate
4000IU Vitamin D3
40mg Vitamin B6
75mcg Vitamin B12
70mcg Selenium
6.5mg Zinc
55mg Choline
Plus Magnesium, Biotin, Niacin, and Thiamin (and MORE!)
Looking for more Choline? (Choline is super important while TTC and during pregnancy as it supports your baby’s brain and nervous system development*.) They’ve thought of that, too! They have a bundle containing their Prenatal Multivitamin Gummy and Choline+. This additional dose of Choline is 500mg and is only one additional capsule.
*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
You may also notice that Iron and Omega-3s aren’t included. Across all of Needed Prenatals, they intentionally keep omega-3s and iron separate, each for its own reason. Omega-3s are separated out to allow for a meaningful optimal dose that wouldn’t fit within a multivitamin. Iron is separate because needs vary too much person to person to treat as one-size-fits-all; it is best dosed individually.
Why are prenatal vitamins hard to take when you’re nauseous?
It isn’t uncommon for patients, especially during the first trimester, to come into the office and share that they haven’t been able to take their prenatal because it makes them nauseous (or even vomit after taking it).
When you’re already nauseous, the last thing you want to do is swallow a handful of capsules. Most prenatal vitamins, especially the leading ones, have a dose that is a 3+ capsules (even Needed’s most comprehensive prenatal, Prenatal Multivitamin Pro, is 8 capsules daily. This can be tough when your gag reflex is already heightened. I have heard from many patients that they can barely tolerate brushing their teeth! Often during pregnancy, taste and smell are more sensitive, which can trigger nausea when taking capsules. Many women struggle to figure out what foods they can keep down or foods that they aren’t having aversions to, which can make taking a prenatal even harder.
Who I think Needed’s Prenatal Multivitamin Gummy is best for:
If you have nausea. Honestly, this is my #1 reason. Nausea during pregnancy can make looking at a handful of capsules when you are already nauseous challenging.
If you have supplement fatigue. Pregnancy can come with a lot of pills to take (especially if you were taking additional supplements while TTC). Many women get tired of taking capsules day after day, so if you find yourself dreading taking your supplements, are regularly skipping supplements, or want to reduce the number of capsules you take, a gummy may be the best fit for you!
If you have difficulty swallowing pills. This isn’t necessarily pregnancy-specific. If taking a prenatal vitamin feels like a chore, you’re probably going to forget to take it. There are some people that have difficulty swallowing pills in general and a gummy offers a convenient alternative.
You tried a gummy vitamin before and want a more effective formulation. Needed’s Prenatal Multivitamin Gummy contains 8x more nutrition than the leading prenatal gummy. Based on a comparison of each brand’s labeled daily serving amounts of vitamins and minerals relative to pregnancy Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs), calculated as an average across those nutrients. As of May 2026.
Five pregnancies in and consulting with thousands of women during preconception and pregnancy, I’ve learned that sometimes the best option, is the option that works for your actual life and is the supplement you will actually take consistently.
In health,
Dr. Candace
This post is sponsored by Needed, a brand I genuinely recommend to my patients and use personally.
*Based on a comparison of each brand’s labeled daily serving amounts of vitamins and minerals relative to pregnancy Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs), calculated as an average across those nutrients. As of May 2026.)
**Based on total nutrient content (%DV) per serving vs. other prenatal gummy vitamins in the US. Needed provides 174–709% more. Nielsen data, May 2026.