Pregnancy vitamins - are they necessary?

[Ngala]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts on this topic! I have been taking folate since I started TTC 4 months ago now, I think they are 500mg. The recommended is 400mg so am I getting too much of the folate? My bottle is nearly empty so will be getting some more.

Liz - that is an interesting read on the children's asthma risk linked to the folic acid taken in late pregnancy. It would make sense that there is no need to take as much folic acid once the baby is fully developed?

I do like the idea of taking 1 vitamin a week, just incase I am deficient in something. I am going to stick to a healthy diet and this should be enough.
How much calcium and iron is recommended in pregnancy?

[Winter]

My doctor told me to take folate until 12 weeks and then its ok to stop (neural tubes have developed by then) and that you don't need preg vits if you are eating a healthy diet. I personally have a bottle that I take one of here and there but I too think they are a big marketing scam made to guilt mummies into buying expensive vits they probably don't need.

[emc2]

I've been taking Elevit, with food. Although since I got to the second trimester I don't take it daily, just every two or three days instead. It now has iodine in it which is important too. I eat really well, I think there's nutrients in food that they haven't discovered the properties of yet, but also I need the iron from Elevit anyway. I've been eating loads of calcium inadvertently through the guidelines for avoiding Listeria.

Yes you need a truckload of calcium in pregnancy but even more when breastfeeding. The thing with that though is it could deplete iron, so with your iron you have to make sure you're getting Vitamin C to absorb the iron.

[Curlygirly]

Hey Ngala,

Ok so I'm a massive fan of vitamins Plus I'm a naturopath so it's how I make my bread and butter.lol No but seriously the reason why vitamins are beneficial is because they fill in any nutritional gaps that aren't being met as food these days are lacking so many nutrients. So I figure better to be safe then sorry and besides all vitamins working together can only benefit you and bub eg: Energy levels, cardiovascular, heart health....If you aren't gonna take a multi at least folate for baby sooo importantt All the best.x

[LizLemon]

Re the folate - yes I had read the same info that Liz referred to. I asked my OB at 13 weeks and he advised that no it's not necessary to take it beyond the first tri and that I should stop. I took Elevit with the first bub but haven't with this one, and will probably just start taking a normal multi as I'm starting to feel run down.