Which preconception tablets?

[katieak]

Hi all. DH and I have agreed I should come off the pill so we can shortly TTC! Not looking to get pregnant immediately as I want to get my body sorted and healthy before we do so have a few pounds to lose, need to cut down on my coffee intake 😭 and take some vitamins! Just wondering whether I should just go for folic acid/vitamin D on their own or whether a prenatal combined one is best. Any success or stories or ones to avoid? TIA!

Personally I think you’re best just taking a folic acid and vit d supplement. The one and only month I tried taking a multi vit tablet it delayed my period and I’m not even sure I ovulated that cycle. Never had any trouble when just taking the folic acid and vit d. Those are all your body really needs in preparation. I also take ubiquinol but that’s because I’m older and it supposedly helps to improve egg quality.

Good luck when the time comes!

It's really tough, because a lot of people on here say the specialist ones delay cycles. But all my friends found pregnacare was perfect when you are just off the pill to regulate your cycle! I think maybe if you're not using any contraception and have perfect cycles then it might impact them, but if like me you've just come off the pill then maybe start with them and drop down to just folic acid and vit D? That's what I am doing anyway. Haven't started trying yet, but have come off the pill about 2 weeks ago x

It's difficult to know what will happen with my cycles as I've been on the pill for about 18 years! 😕

@katieak It is good you are getting ahead of the game. I originally wasn't going to TTC until December but I think we will start from next month. When do you plan to start?

I can't compare my situation with yours directly as I wasn't on the pill but have always have regimented cycles for years. Started Pregnacare and it didn't effect my regular cycles at all and think you only really hear it from people who did have a bad time so likely that most people it was actually fine for. I'm 6 weeks preggo now
Good luck op

Ah congrats! And good to hear a positive story to too!

Going to start TTC in the new year all being well...

@katieak exciting!!! ♥️♥️

Pregnacare with extra Vit D & folic acid separately. If your cycles are irregular try agnus cactus- all above worked a dream for my 2 x DC & just got a BFP with DC3! xx

I was on the pill until last year. Just took folic acid and vit d separately when started TTC properly and got my bfp Saturday. You don't need anything fancy, just supermarket brand x

Actually just realised with my recent BFP was taking Conception Plus by Vitabiotics for past few months not pregnacare x

Op I'm in a similar situation to you. I'm planning to lose some weight this month and also will be taking pregnacare conception from Holland and Barrett.

I need to lose loads of weight but I don't want to hold off having a baby so will attempt what I can this month and start trying whilst being healthier

@katieak Hey! Thought Id add my experience, came off the pill in June and been taking Boots own brand of Folic Acid and VD, all the same amount of dosage as the expensive brands so worth having a shop around :)

Didn't try anything fancy in case it played with my cycles but like a few have said, I also agree that you only hear the bad stories and most people will be fine xx

Quite a mix of thoughts then! Is there anything I need as well as folic acid and vit D?

@katieak I don't take anymore but I try and make sure my diet is good and eating lots of fruit/veg, fibre etc and also switched to de-caff tea most of the time

@katieak I say that while drinking a Latte 😂 all in moderation...

I take pregnacare pre conception tablets now and they work fine for me, i used to struggle with long cycles and spotting for about 4 days before my period but that's stopped since i started taking pregnacare in June after a MC. Some ladies say they lengthened their cycles but I've not found that.

I hope you snap back quickly into normal cycles :)

Also, you can have up to 200mg of caffeine a day so you don't have to totally give up coffee and there's some lovely decaff stuff now! it tastes the same so its a win win!

I used Pregnacare the month before starting TTC and I felt it delayed AF -had a 32 day cycle, which is out of the norm for me albeit not unheard of. Flow was also heavier and with more clots than usual.
On the first month of actual TTC I switched to the Seven Seas one and I ovulated on CD13 (confirmed with sticks, BBT and CM) but this time I got a shorter than normal cycle -24 days! Go figure!! However, the flow was textbook -minimal cramping, started light pink, went on to bright red, no clots, tailed off to light brown. Honestly, it felt like the best period I've had in a while! So I'll keep taking them and see how it goes. I'm really not sure whether either of them truly affected my cycle, but that was my experience so far.

@Flowerkm I love fruit and veg fortunately so will happily eat plenty of that!

@unicornpower if I can have coffee that will be amazing! I usually have about 4 a day so weaning myself off it will be a challenge. Caffeine headache anyone? But if I can get down to and keep one cup a day then amazing! I was always led to believe it is the devil when it comes to TTC and pregnancy!