best brand of multi-vitamin to take?

[luckylam81]

i'm looking to take a multi-vitamin to help boost my immune system while pregnant and through breast feeding, but have no idea which 'make' are best,there must be some better quality than others,anyone got any recommendations for me pls x x

I take the Tommy's research charity capsules because they combine vitamins/minerals/omega 3 rather than having a separate capsule and tablet. I don't think there is a "best" one to take - anything specifically designed for pregnant and breastfeeding mums has the right levels of everything (although some have more than others e.g. Pregnacare has higher levels of most of the vitamins and minerals than Tommy's) to be safe for you and the baby.

Go to an actual health shop instead of chemist (cheaper ingredients).
Solgar, higher nature or viridian are all good.
As for your immune system, it's a very very good idea to get probiotics such as acidulphus ffrom the refridgerator in those types of shops. They will boost yours and the babies immune system and keep thrush and infections in the gut at bay. They have even been said to possibly bennifit GBS carriers although this has not been proven.
500mg extra Vit C is a very good idea too (Ester C) won't upset your stomach. There's only 50g of vit C in the multi's which is not really going to make a difference.
Lastly a 3 in one (pmega 3,6,9) vegan complex, taken from seeds not fish are great in the last trimester when your babies brain is growing the most.
Yes I know, Im sad!

Ooh and a rubbish typer

whensmydayoff - you sound like you know your stuff, so i thought i'd ask, why omega from seeds, rather than fish (are you a vegetarian?). i heard a report on radio 4 a few weeks back about omega 3,6,9, saying the 6s and 9s aren't that useful (providing some cooking with olive oil) and that fish derived omega 3 is much easier for humans to convert (and that algae derived cannot be converted by our bodies). just interested really - thanks!

thanks whensmydayoff-very informative!!

sheeplikessleep - Omega 3 is the hardest to come by in our western diet so in any decent EFA supplement (essential fatty acid) it will have tiny amounts of 6 and 9 but loads of 3. Something to do with the fact that if you heavily supplement in one and not the other at all, it has some sort of detremental effect (can't remember what). It's basically a healthy balance.
It is better to take the vegan supplement in PG due to the mercury etc found in fish nowadays although the fish oils will be well sorced oil, it's better to be safe.
I take the EFA in oil formula, a 5ml spoon a day but the OP is only 8 weeks PG, this will make her gag! Im sure there will be capsuals but she can wait until later in PG anyway.
The omega in olive oil is lost in cooking, storing etc.
God, i wasn't aware of what an anorac I am until now!
Im no expert though.
Have read some books, did a short course in nutrition and have a friend who is a nutritionist. There my knowledge ends.

wow, thank you! the article i heard wasn't specific to pregnancy, just saying about how omega supplements tend to be dominated by plant derived omega and often the 6s and the 9s (as they're cheaper to source). so in essence, they weren't worth taking (pretty much the point you're making about being detrimental i guess?). but yours is much more from a pregnancy perspective. i guess is worth checking the 3,6 and 9 balance though on a specific brand?

you've definitely got me thinking about taking a supplement (although i am making sure i am eating salmon twice a week).

thanks for the detail.