Vitamins for Trying to Conceive?

carinska

Hi! Spoke to my GP recently about the possibility of trying to conceive, and the only thing she advised other than staying generally fit and healthy was to invest in vitamin supplements especially created for pregnant and ttc ladies...does anyone have any advice regarding these, especially in terms of where they can be found cheaply?!
To say this will be getting done on a budget is an understatement, so looking to save pennies wherever possible!
Thanks.

andy74656

Depends what you class as cheap, but my Mrs takes, http://www.pregnacare.com/uk/ its for before, during and after pregnancy. Its about £5 for a months worth, they were a bit chepaer in Morrisons i noticed.

Justie

if you really need to save money then avoid the pregnacare etc all in ones and just take folic acid tablets - check with the pharmacist if you're unsure - folic acid is necessary to help prevent spina bifida (as I understand it). the rest of the make up of pregnancy vitamins includes a mixture of multi vits but restricts the vitamin A intake as that can cause problems (so don't just take a normal multivit). It's easier to take an own brand or pregnacare (about £12 for 90 days supply) all in one as it takes the thinking out of it and I always stock up when Boots have a 3 for 2 as then I get points and I can use Pigsback vouchers if I have any. I also take a fish oil supplement for pregnant women which is also very expensive but supposedly helps with brain function in the growing baby - if you're going to take it you only need to do so from when you're actually pregnant.

mummytomoo&roo

I agree with Justie, eat plenty of fresh fruit and veg, have oily fish a couple of times a week and take folic acid tablets - stock up when they are on BOGOF or 3 for 2. Start taking them now and continue to take throughout the pregnancy. Good luck!

india

Do you get free prescriptions? I get my prescription free through Child tax credit and when I told my GP I was trying to conceive she gave me 4 months worth of folic acid on prescription and told me if I needed more to come back.

Maia261

Morrison's have their own brand of Pregnancy vitamins that contains identical quantities of all the vitamins that are in Pregnacare, including the all important Folic Acid. If I remember right they cost about £1.97 for 1 months supply as opposed to the £4 or £5 for Pregnacare. I'll double-check the price on my way home tonight and update this post.

crispeater

you can get folic acid from the poundshop, i took it when pg with my 2nd and one bottle was enough for my 1st 3 months and there were still some left over.

Gem_

Boots own brand multivits are £9 ish for 90 days surply and are currently on 3 for 2 (they are in a red bottle but can't remenber the name) don't have vitamin A in them so are fine to take when you are trying to concieve. You might want to just top up the folic acid as I am not sure they have enough in them.

Once you are actually pregnant then the folic acid will be free on perscription.

inkie

If you have a balanced diet - the only extra thing that you need is Folic Acid.

Janepig

The only thing I found with pregnacare type things was that when I went to the toilet, what came out was green (tmi I know). It was even worse when I had to have iron as it went black (definitely tmi). So I just took folic acid for a bit.

Jxx

Ted_Hutchinson

Dr. Bulmer and his group from the Royal Victoria Infirmatory produced evidence that vitamin D may play a role in allowing fertilized ova to implant in the uterus and thus enhance fertility

there is other work showing that having higher vitamin d status ensures a full term pregnancy and better weight baby.

Vitamin d council

shows that sperm need Vitamin d


Also plenty of research showing omega 3 is needed for sperm motility.
Shows carnitine and zinc may also be worth taking

Apart from the fact it misses out vitamin d (because diet isn't really an effective source of vitamin d, sunlight/supplements are) The Worlds Healthiest foods website has some useful science based advice.

A215 Zipvit
Pregnancy Multi-Vitamins RDD 1 per Day Two additional supplements to consider are Omega 3 Fish Oils for brain development, and Acidophilus for healthy digestion. - 90 (size M)
3.95Microcrystalline cellolose magnesium oxide zinc gluconate granular ascorbic acid folic acid ferrous fumerate beta carotene natural vitamin E nicotinamide stearic acid potassium iodide pyridoxine hydrochloride cellulose coated
thiamin hydrochloride cupric sulphate anhydrous vitamin D2 (d2 is rubbish ignore it and use D3 cholecalciferol) riboflavin cyanocobalamin vitamin K

Healthspans offerings

Ted's selection.

iron - from green leafy vegetables, lean red meat, dried fruits, nuts
calcium - dairy products, fish such as sardines, nuts, green vegetables
vitamin C - citrus fruits, broccoli, blackcurrants, potatoes
vitamin D - sunlight, margarine, oily fish (sardines in tomato sauce NETTO's 18p) cholecalciferol vitamin d3 until April then spend at least 20 mins in sun every day or at least 3 times a week.
Folic acid