Pre conception vitamins for a vegetarian

[Catlady31]

Hi
Newbie here.
We have just began trying, for our first.And being a typical over worrying first time hopeful mammy to be, I have some concerns regarding vitamin intake for pre conception and early pregnancy.
I’m a
vegetarian so I take lots of supplements but I eat a good balanced diet anyway, lots of veggies, fibre, dairy, egg...
I am currently taken:
Evening primrose oil,
Magnesium citrate,
Vitamin d (oral spray),
Seven seas pre conception (folic acid, vit d and iron)
Vitamin c, every so often.
Is there anything else I’m missing??
I am not run down or in bad health or anything like that.

The only supplement you need is folic acid which you are already taking so you don't need to add anything else.

You should STOP primrose oil as it can be linked to pregnancy complications quote

and breast-feeding: Taking evening primrose oil is POSSIBLY UNSAFE during pregnancy. It might increase the chance of having complications. Don’t use it if you are pregnant.

And are you taking TWO vitamin D supplements? One in the preconception and the spray?

I don't think you need to add supplements, but refuse the ones you are taking. If you are eating a colourful plate , reduce the white stuff (white bread, white rice, potatoes such as crisps and chips, ...) eat healthy oils and not those in industrial products such as junk food, biscuits, snack, ready meal, .... you get all the vitamins from the diet.

reduce not refuse

Thankyou for the reply! I didn't know that about primrose oil and was just reading up on it before posting the op
Yes I will reduce the vit d spray since I am getting it with the folic acid.

Also, unless you have an iron deficiency, you shouldn't take iron supplements. Too much iron is a bad thing.
Maybe you should only take the folic acid which is super important in the first 30 days of conception, usually when women not even know they are pregnant.
So maybe switch to single supplements not mixed ones, and the only one you really need is folic acid.
Vitamin C , if you eat your veggies, you don't need. The recommended amount is 90 mg, with just 100gr of kale your get more than that.

I understand your wish to give your baby the best start ever, but spend your money at a vegetable market. Eat a great variety of vegetables, try aiming at 20 different veggies every week prepared in different ways and your vitamins and minerals will be mainly sorted. As I said, folic acid preconception and early weeks is a must, vit D , because it is winter in Uk and unless you eat a lot of eggs and fortified food, it is hard.

Anything else is greedy marketers profiting from mother's angst.

What I recommend is a visit to your GP and request blood test so you can see where you stand on vitamin and minerals , especially iron. If you have an iron deficiency, you should supplement.

Having a colourful and varied diet will be a crucial factor for your baby's life and determine his health in adulthood. Don't rely on supplements, they will never reach the gut microbiota in the same way.

Thanks so much for your great advice.
Definitely must spend more on veg and less on supplements. Not currently on iron as I am not deficient at the moment but I do be from time to time.
I find magnesium much better for energy anyway, I take it for lots of reasons including mood.
Thanks again for your help. I will be experimenting with lots of veggies these coming weeks

Hi @Catlady31 the fertility clinic told me just vitamin D and folic acid

I've had iron deficiency in the past but got told not to take it as when I'm pregnant they need to monitor my iron levels without supplements.

Other than that just lots of veggies!

Nhs advise folic acid and vitamin d

@Catlady31
I thought you were taking the seven sea supplement that has folic acid+vitD+ iron.

If you are interested in exploring this new gut health topic, I recommend this free university course www.coursera.org/learn/microbiome
I watched the videos while cooking or tidying up the kitchen and I think new mums should really know about it. I was given 4 months non-stop of antibiotics while pregnant and DS2 was bombarded with antibiotics as a baby and I wonder if his asthma, allergies and skin issues are the result of this. Had I know about the gut bacteria and their role in the immune system, I would have questioned the doctors. But 12 years ago, bacteria were still bad guys.