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Ritual Prenatal vs. Postnatal Vitamin: Which One Should You Take?

woman in striped sweater taking postnatal vitamin

Curious whether you should take the Ritual prenatal or postnatal? This article covers their main differences, who should take what, and why you need a multivitamin after birth.

Supplementation is critical during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, and postpartum, and your needs can vary. If you’re curious about the Ritual prenatal and postnatal supplements – and which one you should take – this review covers everything you need.

woman in striped sweater taking postnatal vitamin

Ritual prenatal vs. postnatal vitamins: who should take what?

Take the Ritual Prenatal Multivitamin if…

You are planning to start trying to conceive in the next three months or are currently trying or pregnant. Shop now.

Take the Ritual Postnatal Multivitamin if…

You have given birth and are less than six months postpartum or are more than six months postpartum and still breastfeeding. Shop now.

bottle of prenatal supplments

What is the Ritual Prenatal?

According to Ritual’s website, the Ritual Prenatal Multivitamin is a vitamin supplement for those “thinking, trying, and when it’s time.” More on these specifics are below.

The Ritual prenatal contains 12 high-quality ingredients in a flavored, time-delayed capsule (great for queasy stomachs) with no artificial colorants. It’s also gluten-free, major allergen-free, and vegan.

Who should take it?

According to studies, you should take prenatal vitamins at least three months before conception. That’s because it takes time for your nutrient reserves to reach ideal levels, and three months will provide a significant amount of time for this to occur.

Also, adequate levels of iron are critical in the development of the fetus and placenta, which is another reason a prenatal is essential before conception. It’s also been shown to help fertility and increase your chances of getting pregnant.

Of course, you should continue your prenatal multivitamin through pregnancy until your baby is born. This will continue to help support your nutrient reserves (remember, your baby is taking what it needs from what you eat and your reserves) and can help ensure you get the nutrients you need to support a healthy pregnancy and baby.

Bottle of ritual postnatal supplments

What is the Ritual Postnatal?

The Ritual Postnatal Multivitamin is a vitamin explicitly designed for postpartum mothers. It contains 15 high-quality ingredients in a time-delayed capsule with no artificial colorants. It’s also gluten-free, major allergen-free, and vegan.

Who should take it?

You are considered postpartum when you expel your placenta from your uterus. Your body will undergo a rapid series of changes, often caused by changes in hormone levels.

Also, your body will begin breast milk production and healing. These processes require energy and specific nutrients, so a targeted postpartum multivitamin is essential.

You can take the Ritual Postnatal Multivitamin after birth and continue taking it for the first six months of postpartum. If you are breastfeeding, you should continue taking it as long as you produce breast milk.

Why should I take a vitamin during postpartum?

As mentioned above, childbirth recovery uses nutrient stores to help fuel healing and breastfeeding. A targeted multivitamin can help replenish depleted nutritional stores and support your recovery.

Generally, it’s agreed that a postpartum person should take a postnatal supplement for as long as they produce any amount of milk or at least six months.

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pregnant woman sitting taking supplements

What is the difference between Ritual prenatal and postnatal vitamins?

For a clearer picture of how the Ritual prenatal and postnatal vitamins compare, here’s a side-by-side comparison of their ingredients.

IngredientRitual PrenatalRitual Postnatal
Folate1000 mc DFE1000 mc DFE
Omega-3 DHA350 mg350 mg
Vitamin B128 mcg10 mcg
Choline55 mg55 mg
Iodine150 mcg200 mcg
Biotin300 mcg300 mcg
Vitamin D50 mcg (2000 IU)50 mcg (2000 IU)
Iron18 mg8 mg
Boron0.7 mg0.7 mg
Vitamin E7 mg10 mg
Vitamin K1290 mcg90 mcg
Magnesium32 mg32 mg
Vitamin AX500 mcg RAE
Vitamin CX25 mcg
ZincX3 mg

As you can see, the main differences between the prenatal and postnatal vitamins from Ritual are:

  • The Postnatal contains Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Zinc (not found in the Prenatal)
  • The Postnatal has higher levels of Vitamin E, Iodine, and Vitamin B 12
  • The Prenatal has higher levels of Iron (a critical mineral for pregnancy)

It’s safe to say that Ritual designed both their prenatal and postnatal multivitamins to support the specific nutrient requirements during pre-conception, conception, pregnancy, and postpartum phases. Read more.

woman breastfeeding her baby
infographic outlining the difference between pre and postnatal vitamins

Is the Ritual postnatal safe for breastfeeding?

Yes! They sure are. Adding Ritual’s postnatal to your supplementation routine is an excellent idea if you are breastfeeding. That’s because lactation requires a higher demand for micronutrients than any other stage of life, including pregnancy.

Some readers are concerned about the peppermint-enhanced tab in the Postnatal supplement bottles and its impact on breast milk production.

Rest assured, Ritual has done extensive research on this particular concern using a third-party firm and concluded, “A toxicological assessment of exposure to peppermint during both pregnancy and lactation, which confirmed our own rigorous research findings: that the levels of peppermint in our minty tab do not pose any safety risk.” Shop the Ritual postnatal now.

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