How Pregnacare Plus Affected My Pregnancy
Wednesday 11th of April 2012 | Category: Pregnancy News | Written by: Siobhan Thomas
When I was first trying to get pregnant I took folic acid as a standalone supplement as it was the only vitamin that thought was important whilst trying to conceive. It wasn’t until I fell pregnant that I started to read more about the requirements for a “good” diet before and during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
I have to admit, there was a lot more to it than I had presumed! I wanted to make sure that I was giving myself and my baby the best possible diet during pregnancy but I was almost overwhelmed with the list of requirements. Ensuring that I had 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day, plenty of wholegrains and regular helpings of oily fish, protein and dairy was quite a challenge on top of working full time and coping with the usual side effects of pregnancy (including cravings for food with none of the aforementioned nutrients!).
I have never taken a multivitamin before, but my midwife said that it would be beneficial. There are so many different vitamins and minerals that are needed to aid the baby’s development and keep you healthy during your pregnancy that it is actually quite hard to get your diet right all the time.
Initially I bought a basic pregnancy multivitamin but then I came across Pregnacare Plus which contained a greater amount of vitamins and minerals when I compared the labels. I compared quite a few different brands and whilst many seemed similar, they seemed to have one or two of the basic minerals left out, whereas Pregnacare Plus had them all. It also included a daily Omega-3 tablet. I am not a great lover of fish, and although I do try to include it in my diet I felt happier knowing that I was getting the advised RDA with the supplement.
The supplements include all the vitamins and minerals that I was advised to consume, such as vitamin C, zinc and iron. It includes folic acid which helps to reduce the chances of some serious birth defects – so a separate folic acid supplement wasn’t needed. There has been a lot of talk in the media lately about the importance of vitamin D, so I was relieved when I realised that this was also in Pregnacare Plus. We also hear about the importance of Omega 3 in our diets all the time, during pregnancy it is really important for the development of the baby’s eyes and brain. For me, Pregnacare Plus was just an easy way of ensuring that I had all of these nutrients included in one product.
I ended up taking the supplements throughout that pregnancy and whilst I breastfed my baby. With my second baby I took it right from the time we started trying to conceive and I wholeheartedly recommend it. Both my babies and my pregnancies have, fortunately, been healthy ones and I have felt great whilst taking the supplements. I know that some people might be put off taking supplements because it’s more money to spend, but a box lasts a month and you can get them for around £10 on Amazon. They are £15 per box in Boots but they are nearly always on a 3 for 2 offer. I appreciate that a pregnancy multivitamin is no substitute for a healthy balanced diet but they are a sensible addition - and it is reassuring to know that I am getting such a range of vitamins and minerals every single day, even if my healthy diet goes off the rails sometimes!
I should add, another bonus with Pregnacare Plus is that the capsules come in blister packs labelled with the day of the week – a helpful way of knowing you have taken them if, like me, your memory is a little jaded from pregnancy or small children!
About the author
Siobhan Thomas
Siobhan left the corporate world behind when she had her first daughter in 2010. After that she got involved in Mum.co.uk and became Senior Editor in 2012. She now has two little girls and loves being a mum.share this page with friends and family
|
|
|
