Which vitamins?

[acrossthemultiverse]

At my booking in appointment today my midwife gave me NHS Healthy Start vitamins. Looking at them there's not much in them: Folic acid, vitamin D and vitamin C.

I've always taken my own vitamins. At the moment I'm 11 weeks pregnant and so far since finding out I was pregnant I've been taking folic acid, high dose vitamin D, omega 3 (safe for pregnancy kind), zinc, magnesium, and an iron, vitamin C and B vitamin liquid which I mix with orange juice to drink (tastes vile!!)

Midwife was adamant I stop taking these and just take the NHS vitamins.

What are your thoughts?

(Also- I've heard you should drop the folic acid after 12 weeks and then heard others say they took it through the whole pregnancy. What are your opinions on this?)

If I were you I'd keep taking vitamins. The only one they tell you to avoid in pregnancy is vitamin A (not on your list). I know they say there's no robust science to support taking anything other than vit D and folic acid in pregnancy but the research on dietary supplements is mixed in general and the negative press seems to mainly be about cost and whether you are wasting your money not that they could be harmful. If you think it helps you normally then the same would be true in pregnancy? Personally I took a pregnancy multivitamin because I could afford it, it was easier to take one thing, it might help and wouldn't do any harm as the quantities were approved for PG. I also made sure it had omega 3 because I saw some research (not yet verified) that shows fish oils can reduce risk of MC. I've kept taking the same vitamins the whole way through. It does include folic acid.

@BlueberryPancake21

If I were you I'd keep taking vitamins. The only one they tell you to avoid in pregnancy is vitamin A (not on your list). I know they say there's no robust science to support taking anything other than vit D and folic acid in pregnancy but the research on dietary supplements is mixed in general and the negative press seems to mainly be about cost and whether you are wasting your money not that they could be harmful. If you think it helps you normally then the same would be true in pregnancy? Personally I took a pregnancy multivitamin because I could afford it, it was easier to take one thing, it might help and wouldn't do any harm as the quantities were approved for PG. I also made sure it had omega 3 because I saw some research (not yet verified) that shows fish oils can reduce risk of MC. I've kept taking the same vitamins the whole way through. It does include folic acid.

Yes that squares with what I initially thought. I was taking vitamin A in the past but dropped it when I fell pregnant. Was surprised the midwife told me to stop taking everything and move to the NHS vitamins.

As long as your folic acid supplement is 400mg that sounds fine to me. During my first pregnancy I took the Boots prenatal vitamins and Higher Nature Omega 3, which is vitamin A-free. Currently in my second pregnancy and I took the Viridian prenatal for the first trimester and now Just Vitamins prenatal for the remainder (they're smaller tablets and don't seem to trigger my nausea) along with the Omega 3.

Vitamin D and Folic Acid are all you need. If you have a varied, balanced diet the rest are just expensive placebos (unless you have a specific medical need). Even vitamin C doesn't really have much science behind it unless you're not getting fruit and veg in.

If you want to spend your money on those bonus one, that's fine it won't do you any harm, but healthy start vouchers suggest a lower income, so you might be better saving the money.

Folic Acid used to just be recommended for the first 12 weeks to support spinal development during this time. Now they recommend you take for the full term as there are links to brain development. No risks in taking it.

I’ve been told by all health professionals vitamin D and folic acid - but I don’t think there’s any harm in taking a pregnancy multivitamin if you want to.

@Andthenanothercupoftea

Vitamin D and Folic Acid are all you need. If you have a varied, balanced diet the rest are just expensive placebos (unless you have a specific medical need). Even vitamin C doesn't really have much science behind it unless you're not getting fruit and veg in.

If you want to spend your money on those bonus one, that's fine it won't do you any harm, but healthy start vouchers suggest a lower income, so you might be better saving the money.

Folic Acid used to just be recommended for the first 12 weeks to support spinal development during this time. Now they recommend you take for the full term as there are links to brain development. No risks in taking it.

Thanks. I don't know what healthy start vouchers are. My partner and I are on high incomes.

I took Pregnacare Max throughout. It's a bit on the pricey side but I kept forgetting to take my individually selected vitamin pills at the beginning (5 or 6 i think) so this was great for convenience. Plus this was what most of my friends suggested too so I was sold.

Sorry - you said you got the healthy start vitamins, I assumed that was part of the voucher scheme - only available to people on certain benefits/low incomes.

@Andthenanothercupoftea

Sorry - you said you got the healthy start vitamins, I assumed that was part of the voucher scheme - only available to people on certain benefits/low incomes.

I haven't heard of those. I'm in Scotland. I think everyone here is given the same pack with pregnancy vitamins, children's toothpaste and some other bits and bobs. It's like the baby box, just handed out to everyone.

@acrossthemultiverse I'm in Scotland too and I didn't take the vitamins they offered because I already have my own heavily researched vitamin plan (which is fairly similar to yours). They put that I declined them in my notes (maybe I should have just taken them home with me 😂) but then noted the vitamins I do take

[quote Daffodil21]@acrossthemultiverse I'm in Scotland too and I didn't take the vitamins they offered because I already have my own heavily researched vitamin plan (which is fairly similar to yours). They put that I declined them in my notes (maybe I should have just taken them home with me 😂) but then noted the vitamins I do take[/quote]

Thanks for the reply. Encouraging to hear you are taking similar vitamins to me. Anything else you find helpful to take?

Yes I took them partly out of politeness and partly because I was so bamboozled with all this information and getting bloods and checks that I just nodded and took the big pack of stuff that was handed to me !

First pregnancy obviously so this is all a bit overwhelming sometimes!

Would definitely just take the Healthy Start ones unless you have a medical need for other vitamins or your diet is rubbish. It's much better to get your vitamins through diet if possible. Also the Healthy Start ones are so tiny and easy to take which I really appreciated in the first trimester when everything made me boak.

Women have been growing babies successfully for millennia before Pregnacare et al spotted a money making scheme...

If you've got a varied diet, vitamin d and folic acid are all that's recommended. Everything else, unless you have a deficiency, is unnecessary. I take a combined folic acid and vitamin d and one tablet a day is enough for me to remember!

@acrossthemultiverse I think I got judged a little for not taking them, but I don't need to. There's nothing in them that I'm not already getting from my vitamins and food. The only additional thing I take it choline because apparently it's supposed to be good for brain health (recommended by Rebecca Fett who has several books on conception/baby development). I also eat 2-3 Brazil nuts per day because of the selenium content, but I can't actually remember why this is good!

The midwife told me I'd be peeing out most of the high dose vitamin d. I politely said 'yeah probably' and carried on taking anyway!

@acrossthemultiverse apparently calcium is super important too (according to the Flo app you should have 1000mg per day). If you don't it doesn't mean your baby won't get enough calcium, it just means they'll take it from instead so you could be at risk from osteoporosis. Again this is all all according to the Flo app

[quote Daffodil21]@acrossthemultiverse apparently calcium is super important too (according to the Flo app you should have 1000mg per day). If you don't it doesn't mean your baby won't get enough calcium, it just means they'll take it from instead so you could be at risk from osteoporosis. Again this is all all according to the Flo app [/quote]

That's interesting thanks for the info. I considered taking calcium but I get through an incredible amount of milk and yoghurts so I think I'm ok. I do need to try to up my leafy greens now that my appetite is coming back and the nausea is calming down.

@acrossthemultiverse I considered taking a supplement too, but didn't because I definitely get through enough milk (and cheese )

Glad your appetite is coming back! I'm actually the opposite 😂

[quote Daffodil21]@acrossthemultiverse I considered taking a supplement too, but didn't because I definitely get through enough milk (and cheese )

Glad your appetite is coming back! I'm actually the opposite 😂[/quote]

I've gone off cheese and taken up yoghurts which is something I never used to bother with.

Hope your nausea passes how far along are you?

@acrossthemultiverse just over 17 weeks. It's not too bad, and I haven't been sick (yet!). I had a very easy first trimester in terms of nausea - I was on steroids (to help support the pregnancy) and they can mask pregnancy symptoms. I've stopped them now so I think it's catching up with me! It's mostly appetite changes - normally I love veggies etc, these days I just want all the carbs! I find that I feel a bit queasy before dinner so I'm wondering if it's actually because I'm hungry and we should start eating a little earlier!

Oh no, I can't imagine going off cheese!!

[quote Daffodil21]@acrossthemultiverse just over 17 weeks. It's not too bad, and I haven't been sick (yet!). I had a very easy first trimester in terms of nausea - I was on steroids (to help support the pregnancy) and they can mask pregnancy symptoms. I've stopped them now so I think it's catching up with me! It's mostly appetite changes - normally I love veggies etc, these days I just want all the carbs! I find that I feel a bit queasy before dinner so I'm wondering if it's actually because I'm hungry and we should start eating a little earlier!

Oh no, I can't imagine going off cheese!!
[/quote]

I've had a terrible first trimester with nausea and sometimes vomiting. To be honest I prefer the vomiting as it brings a relief. When I'm not sick I'm just left feeling like I need to be sick for hours on end.

I feel it finally starting to calm down now. But you're right I do notice that I feel sick if I leave myself to get hungry. Light snacking before hunger sets in does help.

@acrossthemultiverse that sounds awful! Glad it's starting to settle down. Hope it starts that way for you!