Vitamins confusion - advice please!!

[Dontgetmewrong87]

Hello,
I am 17 weeks. Before getting pregnant I took the pregnacare TTC vitamins. Then I took folate (natural folic acid from Holland and Barrett, recommended dose, says for pregnant women on box) for the first 3 months as well as vitamin D (extra strong dose until midwife told me to take weaker ones).

Stopped at 14 weeks after a friend said to only take folate/folic acid for first trimester (I double checked this on NHS website which said to take for first 12 weeks and carried on with Vit D). But now midwives have recommended their healthy start vitamins which contain folic acid. Was surprised as nhs website says only take for 12 weeks. Am very confused! Did not have a chance to ask midwife as only realised they contained folic when I went to pick them up.

Should I take them? They contain folic acid, vitamin d and vitamin c? Or should I just carry on with my vitamin D? I eat loads of green veg, beetroot etc. It’s very confusing and I feel a bit annoyed that the NHS is giving out conflicting information. Any advice appreciated!

I think the folic acid is only beneficial in preventing birth defects for the first 3 months. You don't need to be taking vitamin supplements after that - apart from vitamin d which is recommended to all adults in the winter. If I was pregnant again I would take a vitamin that contains iron as I always get anemic towards the end - but that's probably just me!

I took prenatal vitamins every single day of my pregnancy. You don't have to but in my opinion your body works extra hard to build a whole new human, diet alone might be enough normally but what your body is doing atm is extraordinary! 😀 it's hard to know at what point you might become deficient of anything so it won't hurt taking extra precautions and keep on taking a tablet daily. I took pregnacare extra with omega. I've felt amazing and full of energy (now 39 weeks) my blood tests always came back great, my hair is absolutely beautiful- coincidence? Maybe....

By 12 weeks the neural tube will have closed and folic acid isn't needed for that anymore, but it isn't harmful to keep taking it. Most pregnancy specific vitamins contain it through the whole pregnancy.

And I agree with PP that iron should be included somewhere, during pregnancy we need more of it than normal and many pregnant women end up anaemic.

I’ve got a high BMI and the consultant has me on higher dose folic acid for the entire pregnancy. So I think it can’t hurt to keep taking it.

I hadn’t thought of pregnancy specific vitamins as only being for first three months. Perhaps I will take one every other day beyond this. I am taking quite a comprehensive multi, ‘ Nutri Advanced Pregnancy Multi Essentials’.

My consultant had me taking extra folic acid on top of my pregnancy multivitamin for the duration of my last pregnancy.
Imo it's better to take vitamins to ensure you do not become deficient.

My consultant advised me to take my pregnancy vitamin (pregnacare) all the way through my pregnancy and during breastfeeding - no idea if this is right or the method of thinking behind it but I’ll do as she says.

I would encourage you to take the Healthy Start vitamins all the way through pregnancy, then continue on them (or another generic multivitamin) for a year after birth too, especially if you end up breastfeeding. Folic acid in the first trimester can help reduce the risk of neural tube defects, but given that many women can develop folate deficiency anaemia during pregnancy it is worth continuing it throughout, hence it being part of the Healthy Start vitamins.

In terms of vitamin D, given that we're now in autumn, personally I would recommend taking a higher dose than that in the Healthy Start tablets. Through my pregnancy I took my Healthy Start vitamins, plus additional vitamin C (1000 mg) and high dose vitamin D (4000 iu). My levels of iron, Hb and folate were great at the end of my pregnancy.

Thanks everyone. I will take the Healthy Start vitamins. Generally have very good iron and vitamin D so they seem like the best option (Tommy’s says not to take iron tablets unless you’re anaemic). Really appreciate the info as it was very confusing!