Not taking my pregnancy tablets - worried

[wondering7777]

I'm 15 weeks pregnant (almost) and took folic acid daily from the point I got my BFP up until week 12.

Since finishing the course of folic acid I've bought a general pregnancy multi-vitamin but haven't been taking it for the last few weeks. I've had quite bad nausea and swallowing tablets in general just makes me feel horribly sick.

I feel really guilty that I've been neglecting this - could I have harmed my baby?

I never took any supplements when I was pregnant and my children were all born perfectly healthy. Your unborn child will take whatever nutrients to needs from you and in all honestly it will be you who suffers if anyone does. Don't worry about it and just try to eat as healthily as you can.

Folic acid which you managed till the right number of weeks is the important 1 vit D is also importqnt get some of that and don't worry too much about the multivit.

Thanks Apollo. I will start taking them as soon as the sickness subsides, but I can't face making the nausea worse for now.

I didn't bother in either pregnancy, before during or after. Babies are both fine, healthy, happy little things.

I didn't bother with my previous two pregnancies... this one I took them up untill 12 week along with folic acid then stopped taking them... only thing my midwife has said is because I'm suffering with rls that the vitamins should help because I might not be getting enough of some things but it's not harming baby not taking them x

I had to drop mine as they gave me a horribly upset stomach. 36 weeks now and he's a big strong boy from what we can tell.

Was told today that folic acid is important until 12 wks only (but must have dating scan to confirm) other than that just vitamin d (I have historically low levels which stay in normal due to a daily dose) assuming good diet

If your vitamins are making you sick, can you just take a daily dose of vitamin D? I take a 10mcg tablet each day (from Holland and Barrett) and it goes down with water or orange juice. It’s a tiny tiny tablet, not one of the nasty big ones.

I think the only thing the NHS advises is vitamin D (apart from folic acid for the first 12 weeks), so I shouldn’t worry that you haven’t been taking a full prenatal vitamin. I haven’t bothered with pregnacare or the like as I absolutely hate swallowing large tabs and the liquid gives me a tummy ache. Saying that, from about 24 weeks onwards I’ve needed more iron so have been taking liquid Blue Iron for pregnancy, which is really soft on the tummy.

My nausea lasted until week 21 and so I took to having my tablet at night before a little snack. But if I’m honest the tablet is so small, I would just have to watch how much water/OJ I was drinking alongside my tablet as that could set me off.

Good luck and I hope your sickness subsides soon. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

You won’t hurt baby my midwife described them as parasites, they suck everything they need from you! And remember, they are teeny tiny so don’t need a lot.

But you could level yourself feeling a bit (more) rubbish from low vitamins, especially is the nausea is stopping you eating. I have HG & I fully understand where you are coming from! If you can, take vitamin D3 as a stand-alone, it’s the only one the NHS recommend! I’m 21 weeks now & feel well enough to swallow pills but pregnancy vitamins don’t agree with me. It’s the iron. So I take a B complex, vitamin D, vitamin C & omega 3. All separate! They don’t upset my stomach at all. Hope you feel better soon OP 🧡

Vitamin D is available in a mouth spray.

Pregnacare does gummy vitamins, maybe they could help?

Thanks so much for the advice everyone. I started taking the big tablets again yesterday (Seven Seas) but am still feeling sick. I will look into the other options suggested. I’m just glad to know I wouldn’t have harmed the baby!

The big tablets gave me constipation - now just doing little vit d ones. The big ones are a bit of a catch all and most likely unnecessary