Olly Prenatal Vitamins Review: Is Worth It

If you are staring at a horse-sized prenatal pill with a wave of morning sickness rising in your throat, stop. You do not have to torture yourself to have a healthy pregnancy. I know because I was there—gagging on “natural” earthy capsules that tasted like hay and regret.

If you are looking for a prenatal vitamin that you will actually want to take every single day without dread, Olly The Essential Prenatal Multi Gummies are the product you should buy. They are the delicious, nausea-free “easy button” for pregnancy nutrition that kept me consistent when nothing else could.

My Experience With Olly Prenatal Vitamins

Pregnancy is supposed to be a magical time of glowing skin and anticipating a new life. For me, it was mostly a time of relentless nausea and a distinct aversion to anything that wasn’t a carb. Early in my first trimester, my doctor handed me a list of recommended prenatal vitamins. I, being the overachiever I am, went straight for the “gold standard” organic, whole-food capsule that cost a small fortune.

The first morning I took it, it sat in my stomach like a brick.

Twenty minutes later, it came right back up. I tried taking it at night. I tried taking it with food.

Nothing worked. I started skipping days just to avoid the sickness, which then spiraled me into mom-guilt anxiety.

Was I already failing my baby because I couldn’t swallow a stupid pill?

I saw the square, colorful bottle of Olly Prenatal Gummies in the aisle at Target. They looked friendly.

They looked like candy. I’ll admit, I was skeptical.

Could a gummy actually be as good as those serious-looking medical bottles? But at that point, a vitamin I could keep down was infinitely better than the “perfect” vitamin I couldn’t.

I popped the first gummy—a “Sweet Citrus” flavor. It didn’t taste like a vitamin. It tasted like a legit fruit snack. It was tangy, sweet, and had zero metallic aftertaste. Most importantly, five minutes passed, then thirty, then an hour. No nausea. No brick-in-the-stomach feeling. It was a revelation.

I took them religiously for my entire pregnancy. It became a little treat I actually looked forward to. My hair grew thick and shiny (the biotin is no joke), and my energy levels, while never amazing during pregnancy, felt stable. I did have to add a separate iron supplement in my second trimester because the gummies don’t have iron (more on that later), but honestly? I preferred that. It meant I could control my iron intake separately without ruining the experience of my daily multi.

Now, looking back at a healthy baby and a (mostly) sane pregnancy journey, I credit Olly for keeping my nutrition on track when my stomach was fighting me every step of the way.

Pros Of Olly Prenatal Vitamins

Incredible Taste and Palatability: This is the number one reason to buy these. The “Sweet Citrus” flavor is genuinely delicious. It strikes a perfect balance between sweet and tart, masking the “vitaminy” flavor that plagues so many other chewables. When you are pregnant, your sense of smell and taste are heightened, and “off” flavors can be a trigger. Olly has mastered the art of making a supplement taste like a high-end gummy candy, which removes the dread from your daily routine.
Gentle on Sensitive Stomachs: One of the biggest hurdles with prenatal vitamins is that they often worsen morning sickness. This is frequently due to high iron content or heavy tablet coatings. Olly gummies are formulated without iron (which is a double-edged sword, but a pro for nausea), making them incredibly gentle. You can take them on an empty stomach without fear of immediate regurgitation. For women suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum or just general “all-day sickness,” this gentleness is a lifesaver.
Includes Essential DHA: Many standard gummy vitamins skip Omega-3s because they are hard to mask flavor-wise. Olly manages to pack in Folic Acid (for spinal development) and DHA (for brain and eye development) into the gummy without any fishy burps or aftertaste. Getting your DHA directly in your multi saves you from having to swallow a separate, giant fish oil pill.
NSF Certified for Sport/Purity: In the unregulated world of supplements, trust is everything. Olly is NSF Certified, which means an independent third party has tested the product to ensure that what is on the label is actually in the bottle, and that there are no unsafe levels of contaminants. This peace of mind is non-negotiable when you are growing a human.
Widely Available and Accessible: You don’t have to order these from a specialty website or wait for shipping. You can find them at almost any grocery store, pharmacy, or big-box retailer. If you run out unexpectedly, you can grab a bottle on your milk run. This accessibility makes sticking to the regimen much easier.

Cons Of Olly Prenatal Vitamins

Contains No Iron: This is the most significant drawback you need to be aware of. Iron is crucial during pregnancy to support the increased blood volume and prevent anemia. Olly gummies do not contain iron because iron tastes metallic and causes stomach upset, which would ruin the “gummy” experience. This means you will likely need to take a separate iron supplement or be extremely diligent about eating iron-rich foods (spinach, red meat, fortified cereals), especially as you enter the second and third trimesters.
Uses Folic Acid, Not Methylfolate: The formulation uses Folic Acid, the synthetic form of folate. While Folic Acid is the only form shown to prevent neural tube defects in major studies, some women have a genetic variation (MTHFR) that makes it difficult to process synthetic Folic Acid effectively. These women typically prefer Methylfolate, the active natural form. If you know you have the MTHFR mutation, this might not be the right choice for you without consulting a doctor.
Added Sugars: To make the vitamins taste like candy, they have to use sugar. A serving contains about 2-3 grams of added sugar. While this is a small amount in the grand scheme of things, women with Gestational Diabetes or those strictly watching their sugar intake might find this less than ideal compared to a sugar-free capsule.
Gummy Texture Can Change: Depending on where you store them or the temperature of your house, the texture can vary. I’ve had bottles where the gummies were soft and chewy, and others (usually near the end of the bottle) where they became a bit harder or stuck together. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it can be annoying to dig a clump of vitamins out of the jar.

Maintenance Tips For Olly Prenatal Vitamins

Pair with a Slow-Release Iron Supplement: Since we established the gummies lack iron, talk to your OB-GYN about adding a separate iron pill. My tip? Take your Olly gummies in the morning to get your day started on a good note, and take your iron pill with dinner or before bed. Taking iron with food (and Vitamin C!) helps absorption and reduces the stomach upset that Olly helps you avoid in the morning.
Store in a Cool, Dry Place: Gummies are sensitive to heat. Do not leave these in your car or on a windowsill that gets direct sun. They will melt into a singular, giant vitamin blob. Keep them in your pantry or a medicine cabinet that stays room temperature. If you live in a very hot climate, you might even consider the fridge, though that will make them chewier.
Chew Thoroughly: It sounds like common sense, but it’s important. To ensure your body breaks down the gummy and absorbs the nutrients effectively, chew them completely before swallowing. Don’t treat them like a pill you just gulp down. The chewing process signals your digestion to start working.
Treat Them Like Medicine, Not Candy: Because they taste so good, it can be tempting to eat more than the recommended dose of two gummies. Don’t. While water-soluble vitamins are peed out if you take too much, fat-soluble vitamins (like Vitamin A and D) can build up toxicity. Keep the bottle out of reach of other children in the house who might mistake them for fruit snacks.

Comparison With Other Brands

When shopping for prenatals, you usually end up comparing Olly against two other heavy hitters: SmartyPants and Ritual. Here is how they stack up.

Olly vs. SmartyPants Prenatal Formula

SmartyPants is the closest direct competitor in the gummy space.

Ingredients: SmartyPants generally uses Methylfolate instead of Folic Acid, which gives them the edge for MTHFR carriers. However, the serving size for SmartyPants is often 4 to 6 gummies compared to Olly’s 2 gummies. Eating six gummies every morning felt like a meal in itself.
Taste: Both taste great, but SmartyPants tends to have a more “sugar-coated” texture, whereas Olly is a smooth gummy.
Price: SmartyPants is typically more expensive per serving because you have to eat so many of them to get the daily value. Olly wins on value and convenience of dosage.

Olly vs. Ritual Essential Prenatal

Ritual is the “Instagram-famous” capsule brand.

Form: Ritual is a capsule, not a gummy. It uses a “beadlet-in-oil” technology that is slow-release. If you absolutely cannot do pills, Ritual is out immediately.
Nutrients: Ritual focuses on specific, high-quality traceable ingredients (including Methylfolate and Iron). It is a more “complete” all-in-one than Olly because it includes iron. However, Ritual has a distinct “lemon” or “mint” essence tab that is supposed to mask the fishy smell. For some women (like me), that fake citrus scent combined with the fish oil burps was actually more nauseating than the Olly gummies.
Verdict: If you want perfect ingredients and can swallow a pill, Ritual is “better” on paper. If you prioritize actually keeping the vitamin down and enjoying the experience, Olly wins.

Also Read: My Thoughts On Theralogix Solo Multivitamin

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Olly a good brand for prenatal vitamins?

Yes, Olly is a reputable and trusted brand in the supplement industry. They are known for making vitamins accessible and palatable. Their prenatal vitamins are NSF Certified, ensuring they meet strict safety and quality standards. They are an excellent choice for women who struggle with swallowing pills or experience severe morning sickness.

Are Olly vitamins FDA approved?

No dietary supplements are “FDA approved.” The FDA does not approve vitamins before they go to market. However, Olly manufactures their products in facilities that adhere to the FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs), which ensures safety, quality, and accurate labeling.

Are Olly vitamins safe while pregnant?

Yes, Olly Prenatal vitamins are specifically formulated to be safe for pregnancy. They contain the recommended amounts of Folic Acid and DHA for fetal development. As with any supplement, you should always show the bottle to your OB-GYN or midwife to ensure it aligns with your specific medical needs.

What is the best prenatal vitamin?

The “best” prenatal vitamin is the one you can take consistently. While some brands might have higher levels of specific nutrients, they are useless if you throw them up or forget to take them because you dread the taste. For compliance, taste, and gentle digestion, Olly is often considered the best choice for women with nausea or pill aversion.

Conclusion

Pregnancy is hard enough without fighting your vitamins. Olly The Essential Prenatal Multi offers a compassionate, realistic approach to prenatal nutrition. They taste amazing, they stay down, and they provide the critical nutrients your baby needs without wrecking your stomach. While the lack of iron is a trade-off, it is easily managed with a separate supplement. If you want to reclaim your mornings and actually enjoy your prenatal routine, grab a bottle of Olly. You (and your tummy) will be grateful.