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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

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Original poster

Pre-Conception Vitamins ?

27 replies

PieMistress · 13/05/2011 09:20

Hi Ladies,

I was just wondering how many of you are taking pre-conception vitamins? I've recently had a miscarriage and would like to make sure my body gets off to the best start possible when we start TTC again.

I know about folic acid and vitamin D but after a quick google have seen quite an array of pre-conception vitamins available ie/ Pregnacare and a premium brand by Zita West (Vitafem).

Do you think they are worth it? Have read good things about B6 vitamins helping with the reproductive system and figuring anything is worth a shot?

GP says I don't need anything apart from folic acid so part of me wonders if they can do more harm than good?

Any thoughts?
Thanks Pie xx

OP posts:

kat2504 · 13/05/2011 10:26

No they can't do any harm, there are millions of people who take multi vitamin supplements every day. You don't need to take them if your diet is sufficient in theory, but they won't do you any harm. I've had mc recently too and I am just carrying on with pregnacare to get the folic acid.
They are a bit pricey and you can get the folic acid on it's own much cheaper.

Original poster

PieMistress · 13/05/2011 10:53

Cheers, that's what I thought :-)

Think i'll get some his 'n' her vitamins!

OP posts:

wolfhound · 13/05/2011 10:56

I think you're supposed to be taking folic acid from 3 months before conception - so taking a special pregnancy vitamin like Pregnacare which contains it can't do any harm. I did. In fact, I am keeping them in business as I have been taking it continuously for over 4 years (pregnancy, BF, pg, BF and pg again...)

eurochick · 13/05/2011 11:10

I take Pregnacare Conception 9which contains folic acid among other things) and have done since TTC. I was taking folic acid for a bit before I started. It's expensive, but I it can't do any harm.

starkadder · 13/05/2011 11:42

Hi there - in Lesley Regan's book about miscarriage, she mentions that there is some evidence that a separate dose of folic acid (i.e. not combined with a multi vitamin) may be more effective. I have had several MCs but this time round, have been taking folic acid on its own since a few months before, and then since realised I was pregnant, have been taking pregnancy multivits (from Boots) AND the separate folic acid. Have got to 13 weeks so can't be all bad :-)

Also, don't take "normal" multivits, as they contain Vitamin A and that's not supposed to be good.

Original poster

PieMistress · 13/05/2011 11:47

Thanks peeps, I know about the folic acid before hand and no vitamin 'A', I just wasn't sure about the specialised 'conception' vitamins.

I can't seem to find Vitamin 'D' tablets separately though and seeing as I live in North Scotland i'm probably not getting nearly enough!

startadder - interesting what you say about taking the separate folic acid AND a pregnancy multivitamin. I read somewhere that your body just flushes out any extra folic acid so am guessing it's not doing any harm by having 800mg a day instead of 400mg.

OP posts:

starkadder · 13/05/2011 11:53

Yeah, that's what I thought..! And I know people with a likelihood of spina bifida etc are told to take shedloads without it being a concern, plus I have heard of doctors prescribing extra folic acid to people with history of MC.

My own (very scientific) findings are this: I've had 4 MCs, 2 before my DS and 2 since. I wasn't taking folic acid before conception for any of them, but I was for DS (because I got pg with him just after 2nd MC), and I have been this time (because decided not to be in denial).

But actually, the thing about it being separate is probably nonsense - I've just gone and checked her book again and her reason for taking it separately is just the Vit A thing.

LoveInAColdClimate · 13/05/2011 13:13

I have switched from Pregnacare to Boots own brand as I hated the taste of Pregnacare. The Boots ones taste fine and are about a third of the price - I can reccommend them!

no1childminder · 13/05/2011 13:57

Hi, Im so sorry to hear of your loss. I recently had a miscarriage too, a mmc. I took pregnacare conception before i conceived, but it was only for 1 month as we got pregnant first month! I went onto pregnacare original and since the miscarriage i have gone back onto pregnacare conception. Im hoping it takes just as quick this time, but i do wonder if it happened because i didnt take folic acid for 3mths, only 1. but then i think some people dont take any so it cant be that.

kat2504 · 13/05/2011 14:46

Thanks for the recommendation! I hate the size of the pregnacare, they are hard to swallow and they do taste vile. I used to take really cheap Asda ones but they seem to have stopped selling them. So I will be trying Boots version next month.

Bexamundo · 13/05/2011 21:58

Yup I started on the pregnacare bit with extra magnesium. I started taking magnesium recommended by my GP bit the pregnacare only has 400 micrograms and I found the 1000 micrograms from.boots had more effect on minimizing my pms and sore boobs.

Superunknown · 30/05/2011 21:30

I'm taking the Zita West vitamins, they're more expensive but gave more ingredients than some of the other brands. You have to take them 3 times a day which is a bit if a pain bug I hope increasestgd abdorbtion. I'm also taking Zita West's DHA tablets. I started taking them both 3 months before TTC. Only started TTC this month, so not sure they're worth it yet!!!

Original poster

PieMistress · 03/06/2011 19:27

I got some of the Zita West ones, the ingredients between all of the pre-natal brands do differ quite a lot (especially the B vitamins and vitamin E) will see how I go. x

OP posts:

ShoeJunkie · 05/06/2011 11:00

Sainsburys had all vitamins on 3 for 2 (including mum-to-be ones). Not sure if they still are but might be worth looking at.

wrighty2010 · 05/06/2011 12:53

Hi, I took folic acid alone whilst trying to conceive along with Zita west Vitafem, it was supposed to support fertility as had a range of vitamins etc in it. I bought it online from a website called Pride Angel as was a big jar and lasted a while! Good luck, hope things work out for you soon xx

mrsmellow · 06/06/2011 09:30

Hi - we're waiting to TTC for a few months, but are overseas and I just made DH bring back loads when he was in the UK last week (they're so expensive here) -went for pregnacare as they were the only ones I knew - I really wanted the folic acid, but figured the rest couldn't hurt -so now they're sitting in the bathroom cabinet taunting me - can't wait to need to take them !!

DonnaP86 · 12/07/2011 16:18

I recently bought Pregnacare Conception, was diagnosed with PCOS today and my blood tests showed that I had a low Iron and folic acid count so I mentioned buying the vitamins to the Doc and she said they would really help so taking my first one tonight! They are quite expensive but at this stage I am trying to do everything I can to help get that BFP!

lalabaloo · 12/07/2011 19:16

Mrsmellow Would it be worth starting to take the tablets a little bit in advance? I had heard that if you can you should try to take folic acid for 3 months before ttc (although I know this rarely happens in practice). Could anyone correct me if I am wrong please

Original poster

PieMistress · 12/07/2011 19:46

I also believe you should take folic acid before TTC ?

OP posts:

havealittlefaithbaby · 13/07/2011 09:45

That's correct you should aim to take folio acid three months prior to conceiving or ASAP after you realise you are upduffed.

faz121 · 27/09/2017 22:32

hi ladies i just wanted to comfirm that if your taking the pre conception pregnacare tablets whuch contains folic acid...would it or wont it do any harm if you take extra folic acid

Mummyme87 · 28/09/2017 07:09

I was takin folic acid and vitamin d initially, then after 3months added zinc, vit b and vit c into the mix. For last two months I took aspirin and selenium also.. I continued all these tablet until about 6weeks when the vomming kicked in

Daffodil77 · 28/09/2017 08:03

I take the boots pregnancy ones. The content is almost the same as the conception ones but they're cheaper.

Snoozycat · 30/09/2017 02:09

My GP (NZ based) recommended either just folic acid 800mcg, and then if pregnant they add iodine later. Or take Elevit which has everything else like iron, iodine and other vitamins (incl all the B's).

She seemed to indicate it was absolutely fine just taking the folic acid. I initially did but switched to Elevit just to give it a try. It is More expensive though.

StepAwayFromGoogle · 30/09/2017 11:59

Not sure of your age, OP, but ubiquinol has been shown to improve egg quality and prevent miscarriages, especially in older Mums.

In America they routinely prescribe 5mg of folic acid pre and during pregnancy, which is waaaay more than in the UK. Folic acid is a B vitamin so you just wee out what you don't need.

Only caveat is that you need to be taking them for 3 months before ttc so they have had a chance to get to work on your eggs!

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