6 Prenatal And Pregnancy Safe Protein Powders
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We’ve tested dozens of natural and clean protein powders for women. These are our top picks for options that are pregnancy-safe with clean ingredients, low/no sugar, and quality protein.
Protein supports baby’s growth during pregnancy, but getting the recommended amount each day is much easier said than done. If your stomach is only tolerating carbs due to first-trimester nausea, or you’re simply craving anything else, hitting the recommended 71 grams per day is a challenge. For many parents-to-be, there’s a secret weapon hidden in their kitchen cabinets: prenatal and pregnancy-safe protein powder.
“Protein is a key macronutrient that provides the building blocks that are essential for tissue and organ development,” explains Alex Robles, MD, a fertility specialist at the Columbia University Fertility Center, who spoke to us for this piece. “As such, it helps with fetal growth, placental development, and maternal tissue expansion.”
“Protein is a key macronutrient that provides the building
blocks […] essential for tissue and organ development.”
–Dr. Alex Robles, fertility specialist
Mixed into smoothies or baked into an afternoon treat, protein powder is a simple (and often sweet!) ingredient added to hit those macros. But as with most products you use during pregnancy, you want to make sure it’s safe for both you and your growing baby. To take the guesswork out of your process, we’ve hand-selected six protein powders that are expert-approved and safe for pregnancy and postpartum.
Why are clean, tested protein powders important?
“Some protein powders have been found to contain heavy metals or other contaminants, which may pose potential risks to fetal neurodevelopment,” warns Dr. Robles. “Using products that are third-party tested may help reduce this risk.”
It’s virtually impossible to avoid these, but there are extra steps brands can take to limit your exposure, Lindsay Dahl told us. She’s the Chief Impact Officer at Ritual, a consumer safety and policy expert, and author of “Cleaning House: The Fight to Rid our Homes of Toxic Chemicals.” “Brands should work hard to source their ingredients from places with reduced risks and test their products carefully.”
What should you look for in a protein powder for pregnancy?
Pregnant individuals should seek out protein powders with a limited number of ingredients and an adequate amount of protein, says Dr. Robles. Pregnancy-safe protein powder should also come without excessive added sugars, caffeine, stimulants, and unnecessary herbal ingredients that aren’t backed by safety data for pregnancy. Dahl adds that chocolate protein powder is at a higher risk for heavy metal contamination, given the presence of lead in cocoa. She recommends sticking with flavors like vanilla, which is the reason why that’s the only flavor offered by Ritual.
“A brand claiming to be ‘clean’ is not enough.”
– Lindsay Dahl, author and consumer safety expert
“A brand claiming to be ‘clean’ is not enough,” Dahl says. “What do they mean by clean? Brands must clearly define this on their website and implement safety sourcing practices, raw material and finished good testing. Look for certifications, like Clean Label Project, which can verify this information. And brands that receive their Purity Award are the best of the best.”
Dr. Robles also reminds us that protein powders are particularly useful when nausea or food aversions kick in, but they are a supplement. “They should complement and not replace a balanced, whole-food-based diet,” he says.
Our criteria:
Our editors have personally tested and researched clean protein powders, as well as the best prenatals and pregnancy supplements on the market. For this guide, we chose science-backed natural and nontoxic formulations that are safe for those who are prenatal or pregnant. We update this list regularly with emerging favorites that meet the criteria below.
- CLEAN INGREDIENTS | All of the options on this list are free of additives, fillers, and harmful ingredients. These protein powders are natural and contain wholesome, organic ingredients that nourish the body.
- SCIENCE-BACKED | These options are all formulated to be safe for those who are prenatal and pregnant. We’ve prioritized brands that work with clinicians to create safe and supportive protein powders.
- LOW OR NO SUGAR | Avoiding unnecessary sugar is a must, and we’ve made sure each of these natural protein powder brands contains low or no sugar, and if sweetened, uses healthy alternatives like organic stevia and monk fruit.
- TASTE | We’ve tested all of the brands on this list make sure they taste delicious and you actually want to drink them!
Protein powder isn’t the only parent-recommended product for pregnancy. Check out our favorite organic prenatals for women and men.
1. WeNatal
Best For | Prenatal replacement
Clean Ingredients | Grass-fed whey protein, bovine collagen, chia protein, coconut milk, vanilla bean, sea salt, organic cinnamon, monk fruit extract
Protein per serving | 20 g
Prices starting at | $79 for 20 servings
WeNatal was founded by Vida Delrahim and Ronit Menashe, two moms and best friends who both experienced fertility challenges. “What was even more confusing was the lack of answers I received as to WHY,” Ronit shares on the company website. She was healthy and took a standard prenatal, but still struggled to have a healthy pregnancy. This experience led to WeNatal, a doctor-backed company that makes thoughtful and effective prenatal products for both men and women.
All of WeNatal’s products are gluten-free, non-GMO, and third-party tested for “potency, purity, heavy metals, and contaminants.” Perhaps the biggest reason to choose WeNatal Protein + For Her is that it’s designed to replace a prenatal vitamin. A win-win for anyone who can’t stomach a pill, especially during those particularly nauseating first 12 weeks, the three-in-one design supports your protein, collagen, and other prenatal needs. WeNatal products have an optional subscription, which can help you save roughly 16% per order and comes with a free nutrition consultation.
Customer Review | “I am 38 weeks pregnant now, and I have been drinking this every day this month, and I feel better than ever in my pregnancy. It is so nice not to take pills—delightful to just mix it with some fruit every morning in the blender.” – Chessa S. (Read more reviews.)
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2. Needed
Best For | Minimal ingredients
Clean Ingredients | Pure hydrolyzed bovine collagen
Protein per serving | 14 g
Prices starting at | $50 + $7 U.S. shipping for 30 servings
Needed’s co-founders Julie Sawaya and Ryan Woodbury are mothers to five children and self-proclaimed “nutrition nerds,” who joined together to support women through fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond. They spent three years developing their Nutritional System, and they’ve built a collective of more than 10,000 practitioners to create their products. Each product is third-party tested, including best-selling protein powder: Prenatal Collagen Protein.
It doesn’t get much purer than the Needed Prenatal Collagen Protein, which is made with just one ingredient: Grass-fed and sustainably sourced hydrolyzed bovine collagen. Unlike many of the other protein powders on our list, this one is flavorless, making it an even more versatile addition to your diet. Happy customers frequently share that it’s the perfect addition to their morning coffee, and some even add a scoop to water. For a one-time purchase, you can get a 30-day supply for $57 (including the cost of shipping). When you subscribe, you can save as much as 20% off your order when you purchase a 30, 90, or 180-day supply.
Customer Review | “I’ve been using Prenatal Collagen Protein from for a few weeks now and love how easily it blends into my morning smoothies and coffee without changing the taste. I like that it’s clean and specifically designed to support pregnancy needs. I’ve noticed it helps me meet my protein goals and keeps me feeling fuller for longer.” – Bezawit A. (Read more reviews.)
3. Ritual
Best For | Traceable ingredients
Clean Ingredients | Organic pea protein, vanilla bean extract, choline, L-methionine
Protein per serving | 20 g
Prices starting at | $44 for 15 servings
Ritual started with a very relatable experience for anyone seeking out pregnancy-safe protein powder: CEO and founder Katerina Schneider was pregnant and felt compelled to eliminate any unsafe ingredients from her home — down to her cleaning supplies and deodorant. While weighing her prenatal vitamin options, she struggled to find one she could trust. So, she created her own. Since 2015, the line has expanded to include the Daily Shake. Made for pregnancy and postpartum, the vanilla protein powder has 20 grams of protein per serving and 0 grams of sugar. The product is third-party tested for heavy metals and microbes, and it’s earned the Clean Label Project Purity Award. The organic regenerative peas found in the protein are sourced from North America, and Dahl says they can trace them to the exact zip code of the farm growing them.
“There are no federal limits on heavy metals in protein powder or supplements, which Ritual sees as a huge opportunity to help make the category safer. We need consumers to push their favorite brands to be more transparent about heavy metal testing and openly share results and we also need policy that helps make the whole category safer,” Dahl adds. “Ritual has been lobbying in Washington asking for health protective heavy metal limits and you can join us by filling out this form to send an email to Congress. Navigating this complex market should not be on a pregnant woman or busy mom’s to-do list.”
Customer Review | “This protein shake has become my morning routine, I mix it with organic, no sugar added soy milk and it is a delicious way to start my day. I have energy and am not hungry right through lunch. I’ve tried other shakes that were lumpy and hard to mix, this one mixes super smooth, very easily. I highly recommend.” – Rebecca R. (Read more reviews.)
4. Perelel
Best For | Fiber
Clean Ingredients | Pea protein, monk fruit extract, sea salt
Protein per serving | 20 g
Prices starting at | $55 for 15 servings
Like several other founders mentioned on this list, Los Angeles-based moms Alex Taylor and Victoria Thain Gioia bonded over their dissatisfaction with prenatal vitamins. Victoria wanted an alternative to the “one-size-fits-all approach” — particularly after her daughter was born with a type of cleft lip associated with folic acid deficiency — and Alex felt overwhelmed and exhausted researching the best options on the market. They soon realized they weren’t the only moms-to-be experiencing these challenges, and they decided to partner with Victoria’s OBGYN Banafsheh Bayati, MD, FACOG, to “create vitamins that would adapt to support women through each unique stage of their hormonal journey.”
Perelel’s Triple-Support Protein provides you with 20 grams of plant-based pea protein per serving, along with prebiotic fiber to reduce any digestive discomfort. The third key element is creatine, which is designed to support both brain health and strength. The product is $55 for a one-time purchase of 15 servings, or you can subscribe and save 15% off your first three months. At the time of writing this, the brand was offering 30% off your first three months with the code HELLO2026.
Customer Review | “The ingredients, the flavor, the consistency. It is so satisfying and kept me full in a way smoothies typically do not. It’s so delicious you almost can’t believe it is healthy!” – Alex B. (Read more reviews.)
5. Ora
Best For | Most protein per serving
Clean Ingredients | Organic pea protein, organic acai and other superfoods, organic monk fruit extract
Protein per serving | 23 g
Prices starting at | $60 for 20 servings
Ora is on a mission to return to nature with what they call Performance Enhancing Plants. “Think: protein that doesn’t bloat you, energy that doesn’t crash and formulations that don’t make your taste buds tremor,” the company shares on their website. Referred to as a “chef-crafted plant protein,” this best-selling formula packs more protein than others — 23 grams per serving — and no added sugar. The brand’s proprietary protein, superfood, and greens blend comprises organic pea protein, organic acai, and much more. Digestive enzymes are also included in the formula, so it’s easier to digest and helps reduce bloating.
You can purchase this one time for $60, subscribe and save 20%, or save 25% when you bundle a variety of flavors. While most companies have vanilla only, Ora offers four to choose from: vanilla, vanilla chai, chocolate, as well as an unsweetened and unflavored powder. Keep in mind that the brand says pregnant and breastfeeding customers use this product, but they recommend asking your doctor before adding this supplement to your diet.
Customer Review | “Blends easily, tastes delicious, and doesn’t upset my stomach!” – Lisa R. (Read more reviews.)
6. FullWell
Best For | Most affordable
Clean Ingredients | 100% collagen peptides
Protein per serving | 14 g
Prices starting at | $44 for 30 servings
Ayla Barmmer, MS, RD, LDN spent nearly 20 years working on complex fertility cases, and used her learnings and findings to start FullWell. “My approach looks at the whole person, in the context of their environments, peeling back the layers until we grasp root issues,” Barmmer shares on the FullWell website. Another pure source of protein comes from FullWell’s Collagen Peptides, a pregnancy and breastfeeding-safe powder sourced from “pasture-raised, grass-fed cattle and then rigorously tested to ensure purity, safety, and Prop 65 compliance,” according to the company’s website. It’s unflavored, so you can easily mix it into any drink.
Purchase a tub of the brand’s Collagen Peptides for $44 for 30 servings, or subscribe for a monthly delivery and save 10% on your order. You can also use the company’s Build a Bundle feature to shop for all the supplements you need and cut costs along the way. For people who are always on the go, the powder stick packs are pre-measured, portable protein sources.
Customer Review | “I really love that the Fullwell Collagen Peptides is in easy travel packs and mixes in perfectly with my morning coffee! Third party verified too- must for this Registered Dietitian!” – C.F. (Read more reviews.)
Featured image is from WeNatal
Blake Bakkila is a freelance writer and editor with eight years of experience covering topics including baby and parenting, food, health, pop culture, and interior design. In addition to The Good Trade, her work has appeared in the digital publications of Architectural Digest, Sunset, Good Housekeeping, and more. She highlighted the best, most game-changing baby and parenting products as the former senior commerce editor at What to Expect and BabyCenter, and she’s also held editorial positions at Good Housekeeping, Health, Real Simple, and People. Blake holds a bachelor’s in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. When she’s not typing, you can usually find her watching anything on Bravo, entertaining her son Rhode, and conducting field research on the best ice cream in Southern California.
