成人快手

When you鈥檙e pregnant, you should be able to get all the nutrients you and your baby need from a healthy diet.

This means eating a regular, balanced diet and avoiding certain foods.

But there are also some pregnancy supplements you鈥檙e advised to take so that your baby develops well and you have a healthy pregnancy.

Pregnant woman eating out of a bowl
Image caption,
Eating healthily is especially important when you're pregnant

Here is our list of which vitamins to take when you're pregnant

What is folic acid? And how much folic acid for pregnancy?

Folic acid is the man-made version of a nutrient called folate (a B vitamin), which helps your body make healthy red blood cells and ensures your baby has a healthy brain and spine.

Because it鈥檚 hard to get from food alone, you鈥檙e recommended to take a folic acid supplement when you鈥檙e trying to get pregnant and also during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Why do I need to take vitamin D when pregnant?

Vitamin D is needed for healthy bones, teeth and muscles, and although it鈥檚 found in some foods, we get most of our intake from sunlight.

Given good weather鈥檚 not guaranteed in the UK and that it鈥檚 not safe to spend too long in the sun, you鈥檙e advised to take a vitamin D supplement throughout your pregnancy.

Pregnant woman holding out a handful of vitamin supplement
Image caption,
A healthy diet will give you the nutrients you need during pregnancy but some supplements are recommended

How much calcium do I need during pregnancy?

Calcium is vital for making your baby's bones and teeth.

You don鈥檛 necessarily need to increase your intake when you鈥檙e pregnant, just make sure that you are getting enough of it from healthy sources like dairy products (or non-dairy alternatives with added calcium), nuts, green leafy vegetables such as kale and bread made with 鈥榝ortified鈥 flour (which has nutrients added to it).

How can I make sure I鈥檓 getting enough iron?

During pregnancy, the amount of blood in your body increases, so iron is a really important nutrient. You鈥檒l find it in foods like red meat, dried fruits, nuts, leafy green vegetables and pulses.

As well as eating iron-rich food, get plenty of vitamin C, as it helps your body absorb iron, and avoid tea and coffee 鈥 there鈥檚 a chemical in it that blocks absorption.

If you鈥檙e low on it, you may feel tired and look pale, and could develop anaemia. This should be picked up when you have your routine antenatal blood tests and you might be prescribed iron supplements.

Where to get pregnancy supplements

The pregnancy vitamins you need should be available in pharmacies and supermarkets but a GP may also be able to prescribe them for you.

If you鈥檙e receiving Healthy Start vouchers you are entitled to free vitamins 鈥 .

What vitamins should you not take during pregnancy?

You are advised to take folic acid and vitamin D supplements, but aside from these, a healthy diet should give you and your baby everything you need.

If you do take a multivitamin, make sure it doesn鈥檛 contain vitamin A: too much could harm your baby. The NHS also recommends not taking Cod Liver Oil when you're pregnant.

For more information on which nutrients you need during pregnancy and how to get them, visit the .

Find loads more pregnancy tips and advice on our website, click the link here.

Article produced with help from Pamela Mills, an NHS midwife based in Greater Manchester.

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