The first months of postpartum are called “the fourth trimester” for a reason; it’s a period of major physical and hormonal change for mom and baby. Studies show that adequate and targeted nutrition during this time is essential for:¹

• Breastfeeding and providing the essential nutrients for your baby’s growth and development
• Your overall mental and physical recovery, including mood and sleep
• Avoiding common postpartum complications like hair loss, loose skin, scarring, and sleep problems.

To ensure you’re getting the most vital nutrients during this period, we reviewed the top two Postnatal Supplements –  Perelel’s Mom Multi Support Pack and Ritual’s Postnatal Multivitamin. We compared each supplement head-to-head, talked to real customers, and enlisted the help of Jess Kimball (CLC, PMH-C, CPT), an expert in postpartum care and nutrition, Certified Lactation Consultant, Perinatal Mental Health Coach, and Doula.

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Read on to learn what nutrients are crucial during this period, and why Perelel was the clear winner in our hands-on comparison test.

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Choosing a Postnatal Supplement

Kimball, our postpartum care expert, walked us through the critical components of the best postnatal supplements.

🍒Breastfeeding Nutrition

Moms need to replenish nutrients following pregnancy and ensure that they get enough to support their baby’s growth while breastfeeding.

The most important vitamins and minerals for breastfeeding and recovery are Folate, Iodine, Choline, Omega-3 DHA and EPA, Iron, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D (just to name a few!).^1,2 “These ingredients are absorbed by the baby and are essential for growth and development,” adds Kimball.

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😓Stress, Sleep Deprivation, and Postpartum Depression

According to the NIH, 1 in 7 women can develop Postpartum Depression (PPD). Risk factors include stress, poor sleep, history of depression, and of course, diet & nutrition.³ “Lack of sleep and poor nutrition during this period are common in my new clients – managing these inputs can help decrease the risks of developing a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder,” adds Kimball.

Studies show that Omega-3 DHA and EPA, Vitamin B6, Vitamin D, Zinc, Riboflavin, and other mood-boosting ingredients, like Ashwagandha and L-Theanine, can help support symptoms of PPD in new moms. ^4,5,6,7,8,9

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💁‍♀️Physical Changes

“Postpartum skin and hair changes can leave mothers feeling less like themselves,” says Kimball. On top of weight gain and stretch marks, many women also experience hair loss, bleeding, acne, and other conditions caused by childbirth, hormonal changes, and nutrient deficiency.¹⁰

Look for supplements with plenty of breastfeeding-safe ingredients, like Biotin and Collagen, to help strengthen hair, skin, and healing!^11,12

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Now, let’s take a look at how Perelel and Ritual compare.

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Ingredients - Perelel Wins With More Essential Vitamins + Minerals

We reviewed the ingredients in Perelel’s Mom Multi Support Pack and Ritual’s Postnatal Multivitamin, summarized by the table below:

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Perelel contains 19 essential vitamins and minerals, while Ritual contains just 11. Ritual’s formulation notably lacks Vitamin B6 and Riboflavin, both of which are crucial to serotonin and energy production. Perelel also contains more than 4x the Vitamin C, 2x the Choline, and 1.5x the Iron - all of which are essential for babies’ growth and development during breastfeeding.²

Perelel’s Mom Multi Support Pack also contains the following targeted add-ons:

🚨Stress Support: Perelel fortifies its Postpartum Depression-targeting ingredients with L-Theanine and Ashwagandha, which work to reduce your stress and anxiety and are safely dosed for breastfeeding.^8,9 The dosages are supported by historical and traditional uses of these ingredients.^13,14

💅Beauty Blend: Perelel includes both Biotin and Collagen to help strengthen your hair, tighten skin, and heal scarring from pregnancy.^11,12

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With all of these thoughtfully targeted ingredients, the Mom Multi Support Pack is clinically proven to boost mood and energy, brighten skin, and make hair healthier and shinier.¹⁵ “Perelel is the most well-rounded postnatal supplement on the market,” affirms Kimball (CLC, PMH-C, CPT).  

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Quality - It’s a Tie Between Perelel and Ritual

We feel confident in the quality and transparency of the ingredients behind both Perelel and Ritual. Although the FDA does not regulate dietary supplements, both brands follow the FDA’s current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs) and utilize third-party testing. Both brands are Clean Label Project™ certified and have won the special Purity Award.

Ritual focuses on the traceability of its ingredients: where they’re from and what they’ve gone through before arriving at your door. Ritual tests their products during each production stage.

However, like many other brands, Ritual completes “skip lot” testing, meaning they only inspect and test a fraction of their product batches before they make it to consumers. Perelel, on the other hand, triple-tests each batch of its product for purity, safety, and quality. Each Perelel order contains clinically-backed ingredients that exceed USP microbiological standards.

Additional ingredient info can easily be found on each brand’s website.

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Expertise - Perelel Wins as an OB/GYN Founded and Formulated Brand

Each brand we reviewed has a unique story behind their mission.

Ritual was founded by a mother who became upset with the pseudoscience of mass-produced products - hence the focus on traceability.

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Perelel was founded by Dr. Banafsheh Bayati, an OB/GYN. She developed trimester-specific products alongside registered dietitians, maternal-fetal medicine doctors, reproductive endocrinologists. They recognized that nutrition before, during, and after pregnancy is not one-size fits all. Women experience physiological changes in each trimester, meaning their nutritional needs change, too.^16,17

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Convenience - Perelel Wins With Daily Supplement Packs

The first few months of caring for a newborn are especially time-consuming. We found that Perelel’s daily supplement sachets were more convenient - which made it easier to stay on track and consistently take the 5 postnatal pills. Take them on-the-go, or keep several packs in your purse, baby bag, car, etc.

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However, If taking many pills is difficult for you, consider Ritual’s 2-pill-per-day plan. It is less convenient, with a month’s supply of pills arriving in one plastic bottle. It also includes a scented plastic insert that helps mask the “algae odor” common to supplements with Omega-3 DHA.

Both products offer a subscription model that automatically ships every month, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to refill!

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The Verdict is in - Perelel is the Best Postnatal Supplement

Perelel’s Mom Multi Support Pack is the best option for postnatal supplements due to its well-rounded ingredients and formulation, top-notch quality, and day-to-day convenience. It is also the first and only postnatal supplement to be created by an OB/GYN, and is clinically proven to improve mood, skin, and hair health.¹⁵

Jess Kimball (CLC, PMH-C, CPT), our postpartum nutrition expert, agrees. “Perelel is the best postpartum supplement because it supports the mental, physical, and emotional changes a mother experiences postpartum - things that other brands often overlook.”

Ready to try Perelel? With TCD, save 20% on your first order!

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1. ^{Lancaster General Health: Breastfeeding Nutrition}
2. ^{UCSF: Breastfeeding Nutritional Needs}
3. ^{NIH: Postpartum Depression}
4. ^{NIH: Vitamin B6 and PPD}
5. ^{NIH: Omega-3 and PPD}
6. ^{BSW Health: Vitamins and Minerals for PPD}
7. ^{NIH: Study on Riboflavin and PPD}
8. ^{NIH: Study on L-Theanine and Mental Health}
9. ^{NIH: Study on Ashwagandha and Stress}
10. ^{Byram HealthCare: Skin and Hair Changes Postpartum}
11. ^{NIH: Benefits of Biotin}
12. ^{NIH: Benefits of Collagen}
13. ^{UTEP: Herbal Safety of Ashwagandha}
14. ^{NIH: Black Tea (Contains L-Theanine) Amount Safe for Breastfeeding}
15. ^{Based on an 8-week independent study of 30 women, ages 25+ who have at least one child under the age of 5 years old.}
16. ^{NIH: on Physiological Changes by Trimester}
17. ^{BioMed Central Journal: Changing Nutritional Needs During Pregnancy}