Vitamins - help me stop being so confused!

[FairyLightFiend]

I’m sure that this is all embarrassingly simple, but I just can’t get my head around what vitamins I should and shouldn’t be taking while trying to conceive...

Currently I take folic acid, a combined zinc and vitamin C tablet and a high dose vitamin D3 oral spray (as I have low Vit D levels). I looked at prenatal vitamins, but the only additional thing I could see that they have are B vitamins. Is this right?

I’ve also discovered that I should be taking Omega 3, but I’m vegetarian and so won’t take fish oil. Should I go for a vegan version?

Honestly - I’m embarrassed that I can’t work this out! I think I’m just paranoid that I’m going to miss something or take something I shouldn’t!

I think you're sorted. Folic acid and vitamin D are what the NHS recommend. You should avoid vitamin A (so don't take regular multivitamins if ttc/pregnant) but anything else is up to you.

Thanks! It’s a minefield...

Yes, it can be confusing! It may be better to speak with a Dietitian or healthcare provider that understands supplementation in order to get recommendations specific to you. Another common supplement is a water anf fat-soluble CoQ10 or ubiquinol.

Do you have plenty of dairy?

I don’t drink much milk, but I do eat a heroic amount of cheese...

That's fine! Iodine can be an issue if you don't have much dairy or white fish esp early pregnancy. It's becoming a bit if an issue for pregnant and bf mothers as so many people are becoming vegan and the uk doesn't add it to anything. The us adds iodine to salt.

All pregnancy/ conception specific multivitamins have the rda in but you can easily get it from heroic amounts of cheese! And just take the ones you've already got.

www.bda.uk.com/foodfacts/Iodine.pdf

I took ubiquinol but I'd had a few mcs and was over 40 (good for eggs and sperm of older ttcers!)

Though I looked at that sheet again, perhaps add regular yoghurt to your diet if you don't already? I must say I ate lots of live yoghurt as it helps to combat any thrush and keeps my tummy happy.

That’s so interesting Neurotrash - not something I knew anything about! I’m trying to eat more fermented food (jumping on the gut health bandwagon) and am making sauerkraut and toying with the idea of making my own yogurt. Perhaps I’ll do that and get my iodine levels taken care of. (Smug idiots who make their own yogurt get extra life points don’t they? )

Did you find that the ubiquinol helped with your energy levels? I have CFS and am always looking for ways to help me feel less knackered!

Lol deffo extra life points there! Though please note that organic milk doesn't have as much iodine in.

Interestingly im on another thread about vitamins/ ubiquinol . I think It kind of did but actually it was the muscle pain I think it helped with - I have hyper mobility which got quite bad for a while and I do think it might have helped with the fibro type pains associated with it. I took it as I was over 40 and I'd had miscarriages. There's research it helps sperm and egg quality.

There's apparently a trial at the moment on ubiquinol and cfs but the but if googling I did indicated it's showing evidence of helping fibromyalgia rather than cfs.

I must say pregnancy was the main thing that helped with any cfs / fibro/ hypermobility syndrome symptoms. I put on an awful lot of weight that was really key I think as a lot of it was muscle. I've retained it too; gradually lost all but half a stone of the weight at 7 months (breastfeeding does this to me, I have to actively eat loads) plus a very heavy baby and lots of slinging due to his reflux has helped me to stay strong. There were times that were hard and I've done a lot of cosleeping to maximise sleep and rest.

There is a vegan society multivitamin that has iodine in or you could just take pregnacare which has everything! (Or boots cheaper version). Iodine (like folic acid) is most important in the first trimester as mums thyroid grows and pumps out extra hormones to cover baby's and it's important for foetal brain development.
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Thread

What supplements do people take if they have any (or all) of IBS, CFS, FM, HM and menopause? www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/3447526-What-supplements-do-people-take-if-they-have-any-or-all-of-IBS-CFS-FM-HM-and-menopause