What supplements are you taking while TTC?

[GenericDietCola]

DH and I have been TTC DC2 for a year now and, after two mcs last year, we're keen to maximise our chances of a healthy conception this time. I take antenatal vitamins as well as vit B complex whenever my LP is a bit short. DH takes zinc although we don't know if he has any problems with his swimmers or not.

I'm curious to know what supplements others take and why? Let's rattle our way to healthy 2012 babies!

Hi every one, [big wave from me] first poster.
I am facinated on the information that is available.
We are TTC for a year, and now decide to try to help things along with some supps. and vits.
DH has low'ish a&b swimmers, after a snip reversal op, so good information for him to start taking zinc.
His a&b swimmers are 4,5 million, which isn't great, but better than zero.
So I will start to take Pregnacare, so his swimmers will have the best chancers of finding my eggs.

Best wishes to all,,

FAY [hug]

Fay 30 there is a male equivalent of the pregnacare ones- something like wellman conception? I've seen them in boots. They contain essential vitamins such as high levels of zinc which will help your partner's sperm count and quality.

Hi Aworryingtrend, So happy you have took the time to give me such a nice reply.
So it looks like we shall both take a trip to our local Boots, and put our "red faces" one side while we buy our vitamins.
He is really very happy there are at least 4,5 million swimmers back, as he has heard some men get nothing back after the reversal op.
Thanks again Aworryingtrend
Fay [Hugs]

I take the following:

On consultant's recommendation:
Pregnacare + Omega 3
Vit D3
Low dose aspirin

Off my own bat:
Cinammon (taken for Raynaud's but may help ttc blood flow too)
B6

Other half takes Wellman Conception when he remembers (or I remind him) but he is pretty poor at this. These are quite difficult to find but sometimes my local Boots has them in a double pack with Pregnacare Conception.

FYI, I went to Tesco this morning and they currently have a 3-for-2 on all their vitamins, including own-brand, pregnancare and wellman. They also do an own-brand wellman vitamin :)

Hello - thought I'd add in Q10 for egg quality. Please google but I think it supports immune system and is an antioxidant. Also a MNer recommended wheatgrass (which she took as tablets). I'm trying the powder and it's disgusting but I'm used to martyring myself to the cause.

I'm on Viridian pro-fertility general vits. I'm also taking eve prim oil up to ov to increase fertile CM/oestrogen levels. But then I'm a bit of an old duffer.

Omega 3 Pops is supposed to be brill for building new cells, especially good for the brain. Might help with migraines you know. xxx

Back from my consultant of whom I asked some questions about vitamins.

He recommended taking vitamin D - there are studies been done and on going showing it is good for conception, and during pg. Can reduce the chance of pre-eclampsia and some other things.

For other mentioned supplements - including man and lady combo vits, he said don't bother. A decent diet should give you everything you need.

Vitamin B complex isn't something they would suggest for LP deficiency or anything, so again he just said he wouldn't bother.

However, he also said there's no harm in them.

I think I will take the vit-b complex and vitamin d, and put my DH on the wellman vits (he's got mild male factor problems). We're doing another SA in 3-4 months, so will be able to see if they seem to have made a difference. First two samples were almost identical.

P.S. I don't know if he's right, just reporting what he said :)

PreheatedOven Manuka honey supposedly increases blood flow to you reproductive organs.
All the 'proof' of it working is mainly hearsay. I am taking it as another mumsnetter told me that she had had her BFP on the first month after taking it. So I'm having two teaspoons a day since she said. Its almost certainly coincidence but it's worth a go.
Research told me that you can get it from Aldi for £4 a jar. It's about £10 - £25 most other places!

Worth a go pipbin thanks for replying. Hope you get your BFP soon. Let us know so we can raid Aldi for honey!

I pinched this from another conception thread on here but I thought it might be useful, it's a woman's ttc plan based on supplements.
supplement info

Thanks bean and stasi - I'm going to have a supplement-a-thon this afternoon and order loads of B vits for my migraines; I will look into Q10 too. :)

Stasi did he recommend a level of vitamin D? Pregnacare already has 15mcg and I wonder if that's sufficient?

eurochick, I've got raynauds, does cinnamon work? I've never heard about that being used for raynauds before. How do you take it? just sprinkled on stuff or is there a pill? does it do anything for fertility too?

Hi gals just a note about THAT manuka honey thread, the poster had also taken clomid that cycle for the first time so I think that probably had more to do with her BFP than the honey. Still, it is yummy so no harm in trying it I suppose..
The zita west vits have d vits and Q10 etc in them already, in fact seems to be pretty comprehensive, ingredients below!

Vitamin D 3 1000iu 25ug 500
Vitamin E 9iu 6mg TE 50
Vitamin C 180mg 225
Thiamin (Vitamin B1) 60mg 5455
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 40mg 2857
Niacin (Vitamin B3) 45mg NE 281
Vitamin B6 10mg 714
Folic Acid 400ug 200
Vitamin B12 50ug 2000
Biotin 200ug 400
Pantothenic Acid (Vit B5) 60mg 1000
Vitamin K 100ug 133

Calcium 80mg 10
Iron 15mg 107
Magnesium 150mg 40
Zinc 15mg 150
Iodine 150ug 100
Manganese 1mg 50

Copper 1000ug 100

Selenium 150ug 273

Chromium 20ug 50

Alpha Lipoic Acid 50mg

N-Acetyl Cysteine 75mg

Inositol 2mg

Beta Carotene 3mg

Lycopene 2mg

Lutein 2mg

Coenzyme Q10 40mg

Bilberry 12.5mg

Blackberry 12.5mg

Blackcurrant 12.5mg

Blueberry 12.5mg

Pomegranate extract 50mg

Grapeskin extract 25mg

Prune juice extract 10mg

Dumb question: is it pregnacare or pregnacare conception? I think it's the latter am I right?

Hi preheated - I take the conception, yes, and the packet says that you can use up what's left when you're pregnant so that you're not wasting dosh :o

Bugger far, that is comprehensive - and I've just stocked up on pregnacare :(

Ooh Far that is comprehensive!

Me too Popcorn- got 3 months supply in my bedside drawer but it doesn't have as many ingredients in as the Zita West ones...

Hehe worrying
The Zita ones are kerching though - I'm going to use up my pregnacare and buy some Q10 tablets to go with them ;)

Oh now my head really hurts!
So pregnacare or zita?
I am worried about the price difference

Thank you popcorn for clarifying :)!

Sorry to be an old bore but diet is the first step towards that BFP. Go organic, eat TONNES of veg, especially leafy veg, oily fish, pulses and try to lay off refined/processed foods. Maybe sneak in a bit of organic choc if you need a treat.

I'll back to the nunnery shall I?

:) very sensible beangrower I hear kale is a good one.
In the link I posted there was some details about what she ate and why I believe.

The manuka honey recommendation came from a mumsnetter who was not on clomid or anything else.
Not that I'm saying there was anything in it but what harm can it do?

I'm going to give the honey a whirl
And that cough medicine for CM
On top of pregnacare, q10 and evening primrose and omega 3

Popcorn the dose I bought was 25mcg, which says on the box to seek advice if you're ttc, pg, or bf. I think 15mcg should be fine. I notice the Zita West has 25mcg, so it can't be bad for you when ttc! Consultant thinks vit D is one of those that you just wee it out if you overdose, so there's no harm in taking extra, same with folic acid (which is also in the b complex).

DH and I are going to change our diet and eat more fruit and veg, which I think will be a good lifestyle change irrespective of ttc. Also good to get the habit before we get pg so we bring DC up in a nice healthy household.

I take Omega 3-6-9, Iron, Folic acid, Zinc.