Do I have to get fleeced buying pregnancy vitamins?

[Andanotherthing123]

Midwife said no need to take frolic acid now just go to multi vitamins. The pregnancy ones are horrendously overpriced whereas the ordinary multi vitamins around 1.50. I object to

Hi there.. don't take ordinary one's anyway. There are problems taking certain vitamins (A I think).
I am just taking iron now (35 weeks) but mostly I took the Boots own brand pregnancy vitamins that I got on 3 for 2 and worked out great value.

They sell them in children's centres here for £1.50 or so

You don't need to take pregnancy vitamins except folic acid for 1st 12 weeks and vitamin D throughout unless there you have a specific medical need. You should be able to get what you need from a balanced diet. Don't use normal multi vitamins as too much vitamin A is bad for baby.

Sorry, pressed button too soon...

...getting fleeced because the manufacturers pretend they're selling a magic, life giving elixir.

Or are the other ones really not suitable (in which case I'll shut up.)?

Rant over.xx

Thank you for your sensible advice. You've been most helpful!

Own brand ones, which are much cheaper, contain the most important, medically proven supplements like (as mentioned) folic acid and vit D. The rest is all a matter of opinion and personal preference, but you would be fine with own brand!

Yy,just take folic acid and vit D3. I hate the way pg vits all have added iron now, I don't need it!

you only need folic acid, really, if you have a balanced diet.

you might also find you need iron.
so, you could have folic acid and floradix or spatone, which makes it cheaper, or get a general mulitvitamin.

i got the sainsbury's home brand, which are quite often on 3 for 2 offers or such like.

in sainsbury's the general Mum and Bump multi-vit is the same price as the normal one (it's got no vitamin A in, as described in previous posts), but has more folic acid and iron.

and i don't believe in the need for extra vitamin D - stuff you get in vitamin tablet form isn't as easy for the body to convert, and it's much better just to go outside more often.

My pharmacist tried to convince me to buy pregnancy multi vitamins when I only wanted Vit D. She was really quite pushy about it!

You only need D so long as you have a good varied diet.

Don't take normal multi vits though

Robot - you might not need the iron, but I did!
By the time I gave birth, my iron level was below 10, and then I PPHd, which took it down to 5.

Midwife told me at my 16 week check that they now recommend women take a muliti-vit throughout pregnancy, which I was a bit about.

Although I did end up anaemic last time so maybe the iron bit is a good idea.

unique - no tablet form vitamins and minerals are as available to the body as those found in foods

don't take ordinary ones - too much of some things.

but if you want you can read up and make your own from individual supplements - folic acid, vitD and iron to start with... but i'm no expert.

i got my preg vitamins on 3for2 so they weren't that expensive. also look for boots or supermarket own-brand.

unique - the OP will be physically unable to get enough vitD in the UK after September, the sunlight just isn't strong enough.

My midwife told me Boots have a different (and much cheaper) pregnancy multivitamin behind the counter but you have to ask for it! It's cheaper than their own brand pregnancy multivitamin apparently. I haven't tried this yet but it's worth a go!

Boots sell Vit D for about 99p a bottle. I was also told to take Omega 3 - which also has a Boots own brand cheapo version.

Pregnancy multivitamins are just a way of giving you very expensive pee.

Those who don't believe in vit D - read up on it a bit first. Its actually really hard to get all the vit D you need (though this summer may be the exception)

And you should be able to buy pg vits without iron in too. It just makes people constipated and there are less harsh versions if you do need it.

I think the Superdrug pregnancy multivitamins don't contain iron.

Though when I told my midwife I was taking the Superdrug own brand ones she did a tilty head at me and said "aww, is Pregnacare too expensive?".

My hubby bought me some Pregnacare vitamins today - they are huge!!
And he wasn't impressed with the price either....

Argh wish I'd known that a few months ago maja00 :)

I was massively allergic to pregnacare - they even turned my wee bright orange! They also had iodine in them which is not a good ingredient when you already have a medicated thyroid problem

I got the sanatogen ones and so far no constipation or issues that some people report plus they aren't expensive

I took frolic acid whilst ttc then took preggo vits for 3 months then stopped, don't hink necessary if you eat a balanced diet. have anaemia now though so have to take iron now. x

you can physically get vitamin D in the UK after September.

the sunlight is strong enough.
(you do have to stay out longer, but it is perfectly possible)