At Carriage House Birth, we’ve always believed that pregnancy and postpartum care should be guided by evidence, not marketing. That includes the supplements we recommend to families. After reviewing countless prenatal brands, we’ve aligned with Needed and here’s why.

Even with widespread prenatal vitamin use, research shows that up to 95% of pregnant people remain nutritionally depleted. Many standard prenatal vitamins meet only basic nutrient recommendations and often fall short in key areas that are crucial for both parent and baby. This gap is especially concerning because nutritional needs increase during pregnancy, yet many people receive limited guidance on how to meet them.

Needed recently completed their first IRB-approved study on pregnant women taking commonly used prenatal vitamins. The results were eye-opening. Women taking a Needed Prenatal Multi had significantly higher blood levels of vitamins and minerals like Vitamin D, Vitamin B6, Riboflavin, Vitamin B12, Vitamin K2, and Selenium. They were also more likely to meet sufficiency thresholds for Vitamin D, Vitamin B6, Selenium, and Zinc compared to those taking standard prenatals. Nearly two-thirds of standard prenatals fell below sufficient ranges for Vitamin D and B6, compared to roughly 30% or less for Needed users.

These findings reinforce a simple truth: not all prenatal vitamins are created equal. While standard prenatals cover the basics, Needed is formulated to fill nutritional gaps and support real-life needs for pregnancy and postpartum. It’s research-driven, transparent, and aligned with our mission at Carriage House Birth: helping families thrive during one of life’s most transformative times.

If you’re curious about the full study and the data behind these findings, you can read the white paper here.