How much difference do vitamins make?

[Superslinger]

Anybody know? I've been taking preg multivitamins religiously since the start, but can't help wondering can that it really be that easy? Take a tablet a day and you're covered? I mean, I know they're supposed to be an add on to a healthy diet rather than an instead of, but I've had pretty bad ms and my diet has been not the best as I've eaten what I can basically, but anyway, looking for the truth - does anybody know - how much diff do the vits make? TIA

They definitely help to maintain your iron levels, if nothing else

Agree - you'll need the iron and folic acid.

some have iodine too - pregnacare do. We need a little more but iron and folic (in first 3 mo) are the main ones

Folic acid in first 12 weeks is pretty essential. It helps prevent neural tube defects, such as spina bifida.

Vitamin D is essential throughout, especially October-April. Our bodies make vitamin D from sunshine, but a big percentage of the UK population is deficient. The sunshine in winter months is just not strong enough to have any effect (even if you were naked) and it's parctically impossible to get sufficient from food. The reason for recommending the supplement throughout, including in Summer months, is because most people's vitamin D status is low. In winter it's essential. Pure drops or tiny tablets are available cheaply online from Holland and Barratt. It's the 10ug dose.

Apart from that, the rest should come from a balanced diet, including iron. Generally speaking vitamins & minerals in food are better absorbed than supplements.

I had Pregnacare throughout and my diet was precarious - two lovely children.
I did try to be good - wholemeal bread, pasta, rice, fruit, veggies, spinach - but also ate copious amounts of chocolate, pizza and curry.

The vitamins are worth it imho until someone tells me otherwise to asuage my guilt and protect my milk (am still on vits now while bf)

as in: I ended up with two lovely children not i ate them did eat lots of jelly babies though

What I did do though was not touch a drop of alcohol throughout and was a non-smoker in any case

I agree with MarkGruffalo - take mine to try make up for copious amounts of pizza and choc I am consuming. I try to be healthy but it is not easy for similar reasons to MarkGruffalo - however I do enjoy wine in moderation! Did exactly the same with DD1 although possibly diet was worse and she is very happy and healthy!

Oh yes vit d, knew there was another one! I probably would just get that, folic in 1st 3 months separately but I've got a thyroid problem plus living with no kitchen (or barely a house) so diet not as great as id like right now. They do say don't take iron unless you're diagnosed with anemia. When in early 20s I began bringing up my 'a-z' multivit everyday and was told probably don't need the iron. Water soluble vitamins are literally weed out if not needed, non soluble such as iron are not.

I also wouldst class this summer as anything other than winter so I guess extra vit d needed!

I take pregnacare and have been told I've had good iron levels throughout my pregnancy.