Should i take multivitamins when pregnant

But surely the more vitamins your developing baby gets, the better? This latest review agrees with guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Nice : there is no evidence that anything other than vitamin D and folic acid are needed as supplements in pregnancy. Folic acid reduces the likelihood of brain and spinal cord defects in babies anencephaly and spina bifida — and higher doses may be needed in women with greater risk of these conditions.

The evidence for folic acid is strong. The research to support vitamin D supplements in strengthening the development of bones and teeth in babies is not as strong, but good enough for the bulletin and Nice to recommend it. Save to my dashboard Sign in or Sign up to save this page. Saving Just a moment, please. You've saved this page It's been added to your dashboard.

In This Topic. What are prenatal vitamins? Which nutrients are most important during pregnancy? Before pregnancy take a vitamin supplement with mcg of folic acid every day. During pregnancy, take a prenatal vitamin each day that has mcg of folic acid in it. Check the product label to see how much folic acid is in it. You or your partner has an NTD. Your partner has a child with an NTD. What is iron? Good sources of iron include: Lean meat, poultry and seafood Cereal, bread and pasta that has iron added to it check the package label Leafy green vegetables Beans, nuts, raisins and dried fruit Foods containing vitamin C can increase the amount of iron your body absorbs.

This means you have too little iron in your blood. This means you feel really tired or exhausted. Premature birth. This means your baby is born too soon, before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Low birthweight. This means your baby is born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces. What is calcium? What is vitamin D? Good sources of DHA include: Herring, salmon, trout, anchovies, halibut, catfish, shrimp and tilapia Orange juice, milk and eggs that have DHA added to them check the package label What is iodine?

Good sources of iodine include: Fish Milk, cheese and yogurt Enriched or fortified cereal and bread check the package label Iodized salt salt with iodine added to it; check the package label Last reviewed September, Prepare for a healthy pregnancy and baby this year.

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Week by week Learn how your baby grows each week during pregnancy. Are you a cinemama? In fact, folate, which is naturally found in some foods, is argued to be a healthier option than the manufactured folic acid. So low vitamin D levels are associated with an increase in complications for mum. Other studies also show a positive effect on anxiety and depression. But always check with your midwife or GP before starting any supplements in pregnancy.

But improvements to the diet are far more beneficial in most cases than taking a supplement. See also gentlebirth. Folic acid: Folic acid is a B vitamin found in some foods as well as supplement form. If you have enough folic acid around the time you conceive your baby, then there is less risk of your baby being born with neural tube defects such as spina bifida.

All women who could become pregnant are advised to take a supplement of micrograms of folic acid each day. When you do become pregnant, continue to take the supplement each day for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Folic acid supplements are available over the counter in pharmacies and some supermarkets. If you take folic acid as part of a multivitamin supplement, make sure it contains micrograms of folic acid — and does not contain vitamin A, which could harm your baby. Folic acid is also found in green vegetables, brown rice, orange juice and some breakfast cereals check the label. Iron: You need extra iron when you are pregnant to make new blood cells for your developing baby.

Many women are low in iron even before they become pregnant, so be sure to eat iron-rich foods regularly throughout your pregnancy. Lean red meat is the best source of iron in the diet. Other good sources are chicken, turkey especially the dark meat and oily fish. Liver has lots of iron, but avoid eating it while pregnant because it has very high levels of vitamin A. Other foods that contain iron include peas, beans, lentils, eggs, wholegrain bread, dried fruit, green vegetables, and some breakfast cereals check the label.

Having salad vegetables, citrus fruits or a glass of fruit juice with meals will boost iron absorption. Some women are advised by their doctor to take iron supplements during pregnancy. So speak to your doctor if you have a history of heavy periods or anaemia. It's best to start taking folic acid as soon as you start trying for a baby, or as soon as you find out you're pregnant. Folic acid is very important for your pregnancy, as it can prevent birth defects known as 'neural tube defects', including spina bifida.

Certain foods contain the natural form of folic acid folate , such as broccoli, spinach and other green leafy vegetables as well as granary bread, beans and pulses. While it's good to include these foods in your diet, you'll still need to take your folic acid supplements. Everyone needs vitamin D — it helps us absorb the right amount of calcium and phosphate in the body.

It's that time of year when we cannot make enough vitamin D from sunshine. To keep bones and muscles healthy, it's best to take a vitamin D supplement every day between October and early March. Vitamin D supplements are available from most pharmacies, supermarkets and other retailers. Just 10 micrograms a day is all you need — it's the same for kids and grown-ups.

Some foods like oily fish salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines , eggs, red meat and fortified foods such as fat spreads and some breakfast cereals contain vitamin D.