Can I take this supplement?

[Mvmfly]

Hello! I have only just found out I am pregnant and because of the diet I am eating I want to take some supplements. I am taking Pregnacare and I will also take B12 supplements which I'm buying today. These are listed as fine on the NHS website, but it doesn't mention the type of Omega 3 supplements I have bought. I will obviously ask my midwife about it, but seeing as I only found out yesterday I am not sure how long it will take to get my first appointment. In the meantime I was hoping that the Mumsnet hive mind might know... Here are the ingredients: Flaxseed oil, capsule shell (modified potato starch, glycerol, potato starch, sorbitol syrup, gelling agent: processed eucheuma seaweed; emulsifier: mono and diglycerides; glazing agent: carnauba wax), vitamin E acetate.
Values are as follows:
Vit E: 10mg a-TE
Linseed oil (flaxseed oil): 1000mg
Providing Omega 3 (ALA): 450mg

It looks ok to me, though I have read that Vitamin E can be dangerous in large amounts. The pregnacare already has 4mg a-TE of Vitamin E included in the capsule. If I am to ake 1-5 of the Omega3 supplements a day, that could be up to 54 mg a-TE in total, right? Is that safe? I have no idea! Would love some insight if anyone knows.

Thank you!

[JoJoSM2]

I think you'll be fine with these supplements- it's extremely unlikely that you'd overdose on vit E (unlike vit A that you need to watch in pregnancy).

As you're taking B12 and the Omega 3, is it because your vegan or something? If you don't eat fish, then the Omega 3 you need to replace is the EPA and DHA rather than ALA. So having your flaxseeds or walnuts won't hurt but I'd recommend an EPA and DHA supplement. I take one from Vegetology - it's vegan but it's made out of the same weeds that fish eat so you get the right type of Omega 3.

[Mvmfly]

Amazing, thank you JoJoSM2, yes I am vegan. I'll look up Vegetology, that sounds great. Thank you for the extra information re EPA and DHA, these are the kinds of things I just wouldn't know and want to make sure I'm getting it right. I was vegetarian during my last pregnancy and didn't worry since I was still eating eggs and dairy, but now I know there may be certain things lacking in my diet that the baby will need. Are you also veggie / vegan? Is there anything else you take? Thank you again!

[Glitterandunicorns]

I'm also vegan and have recently learned I'm pregnant. I'm taking pregnacare vitamins but stopped taking my B12 supplements as the pregnacare box says it provides 100% if my RDA. Do we still need to take B12 supplements too?
I have a GP appointment on Monday so I'll ask her then, but wondered if anyone happened to know in the meantime!

[JoJoSM2]

I'm veggie but have gone off eggs and beans so my diet is a bit out of balance while I'm feeling sick and fussy in the first trimester

I'm not sure about extra B12 on top of Pregnacare but think there might be a case for it. I know that I get low on vit D in winter and the 100% is nowhere near enough. It's probably because all those supplements don't get perfectly well absorbed so if it's stuff like B12 for vegans, you might need more to put through the system to make sure.

[Mvmfly]

Hi JoJoSM2 and Glitterandunicorns - hope you're still watching this and sorry for my really slow response! I am feeling pretty bleurgh with morning sickness so don't have much energy to come online at the moment.

I read my pregnacare packet and didn't think it was 100% RDA for B12, but I may have misread it (I am at work now, so I will check when I am home) however I don't suppose it will hurt to take the additional supplements. Let me know what your GP says please, would be interested to hear.

I have my booking in appt on the 27th, so I will ask the midwife then as well and see what she says. I don't imagine they have much experience with vegan pregnancies, but you never know!

Thanks both.