As a 32-year-old expecting mom just wrapping up my first trimester, I’ve become obsessed with researching everything I put into my body. If you'd told me a year ago that I'd become that person hyping up a prenatal multivitamin on the internet, I probably would've laughed.
But here we are. Ritual's Essential Prenatal truly deserves the hype.
Let me tell you why this became my non-negotiable from the moment my husband and I started trying to conceive again and why it's still in my routine now.
1. I Started Taking It Before I Got Pregnant
Most people wait until they see two lines on a pregnancy test to start taking prenatals. I did too with my first attempt at conceiving years ago. But here's what I didn't know then: your baby's neural tube (what later becomes the brain and spinal cord) develops in the first 28 days, before many realize they’re expecting.
By the time I got my positive test, crucial neural tube development was already underway. I needed nutrients like folate, iron, omega-3 DHA, and choline already in my system during those early weeks. That's why doctors recommend that women start taking a prenatal multivitamin while trying to conceive, not after.
I started taking Ritual’s Essential Prenatal three months before we even began trying, so when we did get pregnant, those nutrients were already in my system.
2. It's the Only Leading Prenatal Backed by Its Own Human Clinical Trial‡†
Trust me, I fact-check everything. So, the fact that Ritual's Essential Prenatal is the only leading prenatal backed by its own human clinical trial proven to support a healthy pregnancy‡† matters.
Ritual conducted rigorous clinical research, partnering with Cornell University, Brooklyn College, and Maimonides Medical Center in a 24-week randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical study comparing Essential Prenatal to a leading prenatal.
Ritual designed Essential Prenatal with bioavailable key nutrients, meaning my body can actually absorb and use them effectively. The study results confirm this: Essential Prenatal is clinically proven to deliver key nutrients, including folate, biotin, and vitamin D for mom and baby during pregnancy, so I have confidence I’m getting key nutrients I need for my baby. †*
That level of transparency and commitment to human clinical studies are reassuring, especially now that I’m growing a human.
3. The Delayed-Release Capsule Saved Me During Morning Sickness
During my first pregnancy, morning sickness hit me hard around week six: nausea, food aversions, the whole nightmare. I couldn't stomach my previous prenatal, which made me gag just looking at it, adding to the misery. This time around, I decided to prioritize a prenatal that was designed with morning sickness in mind.
Ritual's patented delayed-release capsules are designed to be gentle on the stomach. I can take it with or without food, and it dissolves later in my digestive tract where it's less likely to make me feel nauseous (and is a more optimal place for nutrient absorption). It's made with a gentle form of iron shown to be well-tolerated and easy on the stomach.
I still had some morning sickness during those brutal first weeks of this pregnancy, but at least my prenatal wasn't adding to it. That alone made Ritual worth it.
Plus you can choose between a mint or citrus essence. I chose mint!
4. It's So Easy to Take Consistently
Prenatal vitamins only work if I actually take them. And I'm not great at remembering pills.
Ritual makes it simple, though: two capsules, once per day, with or without food. No complicated timing. Just two lemony- or minty-fresh capsules—way better than the fishy situation other brands give you!—and I'm done.
I keep mine on my nightstand and take them before bed. It's become part of my wind-down routine, and I haven't missed a day in over a year.
5. Made Traceable® Means I Know Exactly What I'm Taking
Ritual's Made Traceable® promise sold me immediately. I can literally see the science and sourcing behind each ingredient: where the folate and B12 are sourced from and how the Omega-3 DHA is extracted (it’s from microalgae!).
Most brands hide behind proprietary blends and vague “natural sources” claims. Ritual puts it all out there. The formula includes 12 clean, vegan, traceable key nutrients. No fillers. No synthetic dyes. Just what Baby and I actually need.
For someone like me who reads labels obsessively, this was non-negotiable.
6. It Felt Proactive When TTC
Taking Essential Prenatal while trying to conceive felt proactive in the best way. I wasn't just hoping to get pregnant: I was actively preparing my body for whenever it happened.
And now that I'm pregnant, I have peace of mind knowing that those essential nutrients were already in my system, available as soon as my baby needed them.
My Honest Take
Whether you’re just thinking about starting your family, actively TTC, or already expecting, I can't recommend Ritual's Essential Prenatal enough.
I started taking it 3 months before getting pregnant, and I'm so glad I did. A baby's development starts earlier than you think, and having these nutrients already in my system gave me confidence.
Ritual made something I used to dread (remembering vitamins, dealing with nausea, validating ingredient safety) into something I actually feel good about. Clean, vegan, traceable, science-backed, and gentle on my stomach.
If you're serious about your preconception or pregnancy journey, it's worth considering.
†Based on a 24-week, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial on 62 second and third trimester pregnant women.
‡Based on net sales from industry data including Nielsen IQ and Stackline as of August 2025 and top 5 products.
*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.
