Pregnancy vitamins - are they worth it?

[missorinoco]

I don't normally go for vitamin supplements, I eat a fairly healthy diet and am basically a stingy cynic.

But I'm on my second bout of gastroenteritis in ten days and am probably also a little run down; although I'm aware bump will take all the nutrition before me, I'm starting to get a little concerned for it.

Opinions - is Pregnacare and the like worth it, or should I just buy decent OJ and a bag of salad etc.

TIA

[missorinoco]

Are Pregnacare and the like........sorry.

[nannyl]

well the folic acid is essential IMO

[missorinoco]

Sorry, I should mention I am 33 weeks.

[TheArmadillo]

stick to the decent diet and don't bother. Apart from folic acid in the first 3 months.

Just an expensive waste of money.

Hope your feelign better - vegetable soup should be easy on the stomach and full of vitamins.

[LoveBeingADaddysGirl]

At 33 weeks I wouldn't bother tbh

[1Catherine1]

They made me sick. I forced them down until my morning sickness got that bad that they were setting it off and then I stopped. I did just take the folic acid though. It is such a tiny tablet and didn't make me feel any different.

As long as you are eating well then you will be fine without them (unless your doctor says otherwise because of your condition ofc). If they aren't making you ill then I'd take them for the first trimester at least. You only need 1 tub which costs about £10.

Although... "a bag of salad", I read somewhere that you should be avoiding pre-prepared bagged salads because of how they are prepared. I don't know how reliable that is though.

[1Catherine1]

oh... I was typing and missed the "33 weeks bit".

No, I wouldn't bother now. It is the first trimester they're the most important.

[clareanna]

Folic Acid is most vital in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. your MW should be checking your iron levels for anaemia which can be another cause for supplementation which can still occur in late pg. But if they are fine up to now you're probably OK. I've been taking Boots Advanced Preg Vitamins with Probiotics, am now 37 weeks pg and haven't had a single cough / cold illness all pregnancy, even though my DS and DH have - so would recommend a probiotic as they seem to have helped maintain my immunity in my opinion.

[nomoreheels]

I took folic acid while TTC and then started normal Pregnacare as soon as I found out I was P.

I'm 21 wks now and all my blood tests etc have come back absolutely fine. No anemia, nothing. I've not had any flu or colds either, apart from a sore throat for a couple of days this week - and normally I get 1-2 dreadful bouts of flu this time of year.

I haven't been that brilliant with my diet either. I've tried when I can but I'm afraid I've been pretty carb/comfort food heavy a lot of the time because that's what my appetite has demanded. So I'm hoping the vitamins are making up for some of that.

Can I prove they've really helped? No... but I'm not going to stop now just in case.

[laylasmummy09]

deffinitely agree pregnant women should take folic acid in the 1st trimester as it helps prevent spinabifida, i have a hole at the bottom of my back where it started with me when my mum didnt take it thenkfully it doesnt affect me, also pregnacare contains b vitamins wich help with nausia so i think its worth taking just for that, doctors would advize its worth starting anytime as the vitamins will be beneficial at any stage hth.

[clarabella18]

I've been taking them as I feel I need the iron. Also the latest advice is that all pregnant women should take vitamin d supplements especially during the winter when we don't get enough sunlight.
I've just been taking the asda ones which have the same
Content as thenpregnacare ones.

[sh77]

Some preg multi-vits are better than others. Solgar's have better absorption than cheaper brands. I would say multi-vits are def worth it. I haven't suffered any iron deficiency even though I don't eat meat.

[cupcakebakerer]

I shelled out for Pregnacare once but it's too pricey I reckon for the whole nine months. As my diet's not been great I've just bought Tesco's own (very cheap) as a backup. I've felt fab but will never really know if they've made an ounce of difference.

[babynelly2010]

Yes, prenatal vitamin is very important in my opinion especially folic acid (throughout whole pregnancy not just first trimester) and DHA. I started to take mine months before I actually did get pregnant. I felt great through out my pregnancy so far and had good blood results. My due date is in one week. The vitamin will not work right away for you it usually takes 2 weeks to a month to actually be beneficial to your system. I would suggest to begin taking them (preferably a brand with DHA) especially if you plan to breastfeed. I would not settle for a cheaper brand either, the vitamins have to be purified without any nasties, its good to do some research and read labels.

[Oneof4]

Pregnacare made me nauseous too - had to stop taking it. Baby is fine and iron levels have actually increased, so I'm not sure I missed out on anything!

[Cadmum]

Synthetic vitamin are not easy to absorb and they can be hard on your kidneys. Iron (especially when not required) can upset your stomach and lead to constipation.

In an ideal situation, your blood can be tested for vitamin and mineral levels. This is routine in Austria and Switzerland and prevents expectant mothers from taking unnecessary medication.

I personally take folic acid pre-conception straight through the pregnancy but even this is synthetic so part of me questions the benefits...

I have also taken an organic multi-vitamin (Burgerstein) in a past pregnancy but I cannot find its equivalent here so I will do my best to eat healthfully.

At the end of the day, you need to do what feels best for you and baby. Every study that suggests a product is beneficial will be funded (in part) by someone who manufactures such a product. It is a mine-field out there!

[SMummyS]

Pre pregnancy I took multi vitamins and I could tell a difference when I stopped them. I've been taking sonatogen ones with fish oils in the evening before bed and I've had no sickness, and feel pretty good. Il be carrying them on throughout, I'm 10 weeks now.

[Chandon]

BIL, who is a GP, says that with a normal healthy diet (including meat and eggs, for iron)it is better not to take vitamin pills.

[Ilovekittyelise]

iv been taking pregnacare plus, as well as additional zinc and folic acid supplement for 6 months. i have always eaten a very healthy and well balanced diet, everything fresh, no junk etc, yet in the past 6 months i have developed an incredible immunity to every cough cold and flu out there; im very much convinced this is the zinc and in fact my midwife sent me a link to a paper extolling the virtues of zinc; its excellent for any person, pregnant or not. im not sure how much difference all the other supplements are making but i must say i feel incredibly healthy and have had several comments about how well i am looking (and im 7 weeks pregnant and feel awful!). id say diet, exercise, supplements and rest are the best medicine!

[Longtalljosie]

Normally, you should be fine, but you're run down so it might be worth a go to see if they do give you a boost. And you would want prenatal ones rather than ordinary ones as you shouldn't have as much vitamin A when you're pregnant. After all that gastro I'd also suggest Yakult or similar to support your digestive system.

I'm not the least bit woo about vitamins and don't normally take them. But if I've been ill for a bit I do take them for a week or so, so would in your position.

[MainlyMaynie]

I take pregnacare and a vegetarian Omega acids supplement. I definitely wouldn't be getting enough omega acids if I didn't take a supplement. Vitamin D v important too, with the weather so miserable I don't think I can be getting enough naturally. The iron is good too, I've certainly never been constipated from it! I've also avoided a couple of nasty viruses that have gone round work, though that might just be luck.

[anonMum2]

I think they're pretty good but that's probably because my diet is so appalling during pregnancy. Boots ones seem to be the best for me as all the other brands make me really sick.

[Mahraih]

I take Pregnacare - not religiously at the moment to be honest as my diet is ok, but when I felt sicky and wasn't eating much apart from toast, the vitamins were a godsend.

The Omega 3 make me feel ill but are great - most people don't seem to get enough essential fatty acids and I'm one of them!

[lilly13]

Some vitamis made me feel unwell. I take Viridian and also tried Bio Care which are more expensive than Pregnacare but are better quality.

[dcb]

Current advice is folic acid pre-conception and at least first trimester. Even if it is 'synthetic' folic acid, the studies all show a reduction in spina bifida so it doesn't matter that it is synthetic as that is what was used in the study (iyswim).

Also recommended at present is Vitamin D supplement (10mcg) which is present in most ante-natal supplememnts but you need to check. It is really difficult to get your rec daily amounts through food alone (and not enough sunshine in the UK 'til May at the earliest to make in your skin).

High levels of ricketts (childhood vit d deficiency) in the UK at the moment so good to get a headstart.

Also my dd is on a multivit, mainly for the vit d for the same reason. She asks me for her 'vitamin sweet' every morning after b'fast.

Maybe I do have a skewed view as I work on a trauma unit and see the results of vit d deficiency, osteoporosis etc.

Sorry - strayed off the path there a bit.... May still have some benefit from taking vit d at 33 weeks into postnatal period esp if you are planning to breastfeed. Hth x