Vital vitamins
It is best to get vitamins and minerals from the food you eat, so a healthy, varied diet is important. But when you're pregnant, you'll also need to take some supplements to make sure you get everything you need.
The recommended daily amounts for pregnant women are:
- 10 micrograms of vitamin D throughout your pregnancy, and if you breastfeed
- 400 micrograms of folic acid – take this from before you are pregnant until you are 12 weeks pregnant.
You can get these from pharmacies and supermarkets, or your GP may be able to prescribe them for you.
Do not take vitamin A or any supplements containing vitamin A (retinol), as too much could harm your baby. Also, if you want to get your folic acid or vitamin D from a multivitamin tablet, make sure it doesn't contain vitamin A or retinol.