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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Did you take pregnancy multi vitamins past 12 weeks?

31 replies

LucyT87 · 13/05/2024 20:51

I'm just under 13 weeks pregnant and still have quite a few blister packs of Pregnacare Max vitamins left. I've read really conflicting reports about whether you should keep taking these beyond 12 weeks, but it feels like a waste to throw them away.

Some people say it's great to get all the vitamins (iron, omega 3 etc) throughout the pregnancy, but I've also read things saying all the neural tube development is complete and taking folic acid for more weeks is pointless or could have negative effects. I've also read the iron in them can make constipation worse.

Did anyone ask their midwife or consultant about this?

(I would ask my midwife team but they're worse than useless and never get back to me - I'm switching hospitals !)

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

WarriorN · 13/05/2024 20:55

I did for the vit d and iodine. But that was a decade ago. May be more info now.

I was told by a consultant gyne who gave a talk at a local British thyroid foundation meeting that Vit d needs to be taken orally and iodine is important besides the folic acid. Follow gov guidelines for food in pregnancy to get appropriate iodine (mostly the recommended dairy, and some fish. Organic dairy has less iodine ) if not taking in a supplement .

Olika · 13/05/2024 20:56

I kept taking them to the end. I didn't even realise you should stop them until reading about it on MN.

Peonies12 · 13/05/2024 20:56

I never took those multivitamins, I am finishing up my folic acid now at 21 weeks, thought I may as well finish the bottle (midwife said no benefit after 12 weeks). I’m still going to take Vit D throughout, and I have been taking iron but only 1 every few days as they do cause some constipation

Sara1988 · 13/05/2024 20:59

I'm taking a 2nd trimester multivitamin, omega 3 and vit d. I've had no issues with skin, hair, teeth, blood tests for far and I put it down to this (especially since I've struggled to keep food down and survived on carbs)

TheTicklishPoster · 13/05/2024 21:01

Keep taking them, every little helps. Folic acid also increases iron absorption, helping to prevent anaemia later on.

readyforroundthree · 13/05/2024 21:03

I'm not bothering with folic acid past 12 weeks. I always avoid the multivitamins pregnant or not because iron makes me not poo for what feels like months and I always end up having to go on laxatives. Not worth the hassle.

I take vit D when not pregnant so will continue taking that.

Lemonademoney · 13/05/2024 21:04

I took them all the way through, I didn’t realise you should stop them? I also took a good quality fish oil which I continued to take through breastfeeding.

DemelzaRobins · 13/05/2024 21:05

I've been taking mine throughout (now 37 weeks). I've seen 4 obstetricians, 3 midwives and numerous foetal medicine doctors at my scans and none of them have said I shouldn't be taking the multivitamins throughout.

I also take prescribed high dose folic acid which I was told I need to take from TTC until birth (I'm on medication which means I need extra folic acid). As I was told I needed that until birth I figured there was benefit to taking the multi vitamin until birth.

AimeeLou84 · 13/05/2024 21:17

I’ve been taking vitamins all the way through (now 30+5) and when I go to see midwife they ask if I need more. So must be safe

JRTfan · 13/05/2024 21:40

I have been taking the pregnacare ones all the way through and I'm 34 weeks now..the consultant asked me what I was taking and didnt say I should stop..don't see how it can do any harm.

BeautyAndTheBump1 · 13/05/2024 21:42

I've spent alot of time in hospital with HG and a week ago I was in hospital again and they decided to prescribe me folic acid at 20 weeks pregnant and told me to take them everyday! I didn't ask why...but just thought I'd say as I don't imagine they'd prescribe them if they were bad to take at this point in pregnancy!

Lillers · 13/05/2024 21:51

I’m nearly 21 weeks now and still taking the Pregnacare. The only thing now is I’m not bothered if I miss one, whereas in the first trimester I was really careful about making sure I took it every day.

CaribouCarafe · 13/05/2024 23:14

I'm at 28 weeks and still taking Pregnacare Max - it's advertised as being suitable for the whole pregnancy so hadn't considered that there's any benefit to stopping taking them?

Midwife hasn't voiced any concerns over my bloodwork etc and is aware I'm still taking the vitamins so I don't think there's any harm to it?

SarahB88 · 13/05/2024 23:49

In Scotland they give you multi vitamins to take for your whole pregnancy, you just get more at your midwife appointments like you do with iron tablets if you need them. I’m 39 weeks and have really needed the extras with having HG earlier on and very low ferratin/heamoglobin. Never heard that you shouldn’t take them throughout.

Nocoffeenotalkie · 14/05/2024 06:58

I am consultant led and 30 wks. I was specifically asked if I was still taking folic acid (I take Pregnacare Max) and when I said yes, her reply was "Good".
I am older not sure if that has any bearing.

fuckingbastard · 14/05/2024 07:02

My obgyn told me up to six months after finishing breastfeeding. But that was decades ago.

Brandnewskytohangyourstarsupon · 14/05/2024 07:05

I did carry on as I was just so sick until about 18 weeks so probably nutritionally deficient because of that.

Also the iron from the multi vits was crucial to me as I am vegetarian and couldn’t hope to get enough into me.
Wanted to avoid anaemia in prep for the birth and post birth.

Toddlermum2024 · 14/05/2024 08:59

Is fish oil okay to take during pregnancy @Lemonademoney ? I wasn't sure and I'm holding off until I have my hospital visit in a few weeks

LizzeyBenett · 14/05/2024 13:30

I've taken zita west vital essence and DHA the whole way through almost 35 weeks now I don't know anyone that has just stopped taking everything after 12 weeks.

OnNaturesCourse · 14/05/2024 13:33

OP - with my previous pregnancies I took pregnacare all the way through my pregnancy... Didn't cause any harm, but I did have some constipation.

I've been told by my midwife this time round that all the stuff in pregnacare is not needed after 12 weeks, she has suggested I take the NHS pregnancy vitamins after 12weeks. It continues Vit D and some other things that are recommended.

Katherina198819 · 14/05/2024 13:44

I took folic acid, vitamin D, vitamin c, zink and iron (I always have low iron) before 12 weeks.

From 12 weeks, I took multivitamin with both of my pregnancies.
As far as I know, you should take them, at least that is what all the midwifes I've seen told me.
Never heard you shouldn't!

Likemyjealouseel · 14/05/2024 14:08

Are you seeing information from reputable sources that folic acid is potentially harmful in the 2/3 trimester? That would be surprising.
You get it from food too so you’ll be consuming some level of it anyway.

RedRobyn2021 · 14/05/2024 14:09

I'm not taking them at all

Didn't in my last pregnancy either

Moveoverdarlin · 14/05/2024 14:10

I took Pregnacare all the way through. Then took the breastfeeding ones too. I found they helped.

Blue2020 · 14/05/2024 14:15

I took vit d throughout because it was an autumn-spring pregnancy. I stopped folic acid maybe half way through maybe a bit longer.

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