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If you are trying to conceive or are pregnant, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends taking a prenatal vitamin, as they typically contain all the nutrients—such as folic acid and iron—you need to support a healthy pregnancy. Additionally, prenatal vitamins may actually help reduce nausea and vomiting if you start taking them before you’re pregnant, according to ACOG.

Rainbow Light Prenatal Vitamins are a popular choice, and they’re available at most drugstores and online retailers. But are Rainbow Light Prenatals the right choice for you? We have all the information you need to help you decide.

What I didn’t like

Founded in 1981 in Santa Cruz, California, Rainbow Light received its name from the very first product the company sold, spirulina, which refracts all the colors of the rainbow when put under a light spectrophotometer, according to the company. Now, spirulina is an ingredient in every one of its multivitamins, including its prenatals.

Rainbow Light offers multivitamins to support prenatal health, women’s health, men’s health, children and teen health, as well as multivitamins designed to support healthy aging. All multivitamin bottles are made with 97% recycled plastic, and its supplements are manufactured in compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), with manufacturers being required to thoroughly evaluate each product’s purity, strength, composition and identity, according to the company. The company also claims to have donated 69 million prenatal tablets worldwide since 1994.

Rainbow Light offers three prenatal and postnatal vitamins at the following prices, according to its website (note prices are accurate as of publication):

In addition to the 45-capsule bottles, the company offers many of its vitamins in larger quantities and has an auto-delivery option on its website.

Rainbow Light offers five different prenatal vitamins, all of which contain slightly different vitamins and minerals depending on their goal.

The Prenatal Petite, for example, has over 20 key vitamins and minerals, but it’s smaller and easier to swallow (and the serving size is three tablets) than the Prenatal One. The 35+ Mom & Baby Pre and Postnatal Vitamin is specifically formulated for those over 35, while the Postnatal Multivitamin aims to support people in the postpartum period with ingredients like moringa, which has been traditionally used to support breastfeeding.

The vitamins and minerals in Rainbow Light’s Prenatal One Multivitamin include the following:

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(Note: Product details and prices are accurate as of publication and are subject to change.)

Like all supplements, Rainbow Light Prenatals are not regulated as medication by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, all of Rainbow Light’s supplements are made in compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), a system set forth by the FDA that ensures all products are produced and controlled in accordance to quality standards. If put into practice correctly, this helps prevent contamination, while ensuring quality.

Still, Labdoor, a company that tests supplements, gives Rainbow Light’s Prenatal One Multivitamins a C rating, with seven key nutrients having label claim variances in excess of 10%. Of these variances, vitamin A was the worst offender—it measured at just 37.23% of its label claim, according to Labdoor.

In 2020, the company also reached a $6.75 million settlement in a lawsuit alleging that its dietary supplements contained heavy metals. The class action lawsuit alleged that claims the company made about the third-party testing verifying the lowest detectable amounts of heavy metals in its supplements compared to other brands—among other statements—were false and misleading.

Rainbow Light Prenatal Vitamins can be purchased at most major drugstores and retailers, such as Amazon, Target, Walmart, Walgreens, CVS and more.

There are some important factors doctors pay close attention to when it comes to prenatal vitamins. “Prenatal vitamins for pregnant patients should contain folic acid, vitamin D, calcium and iron,” says Wilnise Jasmin, M.D., medical director for behavioral health with the Chicago Department of Public Health.

With 100% RDA for folic acid, vitamin D, and iron, this one passes the test for the most part—but it’s important to note that it only includes 4% RDA for calcium, so anyone taking this prenatal should make sure to get calcium from other sources like milk, yogurt or green leafy vegetables.

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On Amazon, Rainbow Light Prenatal One has 5,492 global ratings and an average score of 4.7 out of 5—so the majority of ratings are positive. “I just finished my first bottle—currently 19 weeks pregnant—and just ordered my second bottle,” one reviewer wrote. “These were recommended to me by my sister in law. These were the only prenatal vitamins she found that did not make her nauseous…I feel great, my baby is healthy, [and] they do not make me nauseous.”

Another reviewer writes, “I had other issues at the beginning of my pregnancy with prenatals, I basically had to buy a bottle and toss it or return it (if possible) after a day or two. Others would enhance morning sickness, or just make me feel yucky, issues, constipation, you name it. I found these in my first trimester and I never went back!”

However, one reviewer complained of a bad smell. “I couldn’t even finish the bottle because they stunk SO badly and had mold all over them,” the reviewer wrote. “I only had about 20 left but these are too expensive for them to go bad so fast.”

While other reviewers complained of mold issues, a reviewer who spoke to Rainbow Light customer service cleared it up: It’s not actually mold.

“I just got off the phone with the company and it’s the iron and vitamin C in the product reacting to the moisture in the air but they assured me that it is not mold,” the reviewer wrote. “He compared it to an avocado that’s been cut open and will slowly turn brown. I’m happy with their response and will continue to use them.”

If you’re looking for an affordable prenatal vitamin that will provide you with the most important nutrients—folic acid and iron—Rainbow Light is a solid choice. It will support you throughout your pregnancy, and you may even experience less nausea taking it than when taking other prenatal vitamins. However, be aware that, based on Labdoor’s analysis, the nutrient information might not be entirely accurate, particularly vitamin A.

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(Note: All prices are accurate as of publication and are subject to change.)

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Leigh Weingus is a New York-based freelance writer and former senior editor at HuffPost, Elite Daily and Mindbodygreen. Her work has been featured in Well+Good, Glamour, Parade, Bustle, NBC News and more. When she's not writing, Leigh can be found taking a (virtual) yoga class, running in Central Park or whipping up her latest smoothie creation.

Sarah is an experienced writer and editor enthusiastic about helping readers live their healthiest and happiest lives. Before joining Forbes Health, Sarah worked as a writer for various digital publications including LendingTree, theSkimm, CNBC and Bankrate. When she isn’t writing or editing, you can find Sarah with her nose in a book or enjoying the outdoors with her French bulldog, Honey.