Pregnancy Vitamins and Supplements

What you will be able to do

• explain which supplements are advised in Australia at each stage of pregnancy and after the birth.
• start or catch up on folic acid and iodine if your pregnancy was unplanned.
• keep taking your vitamins through pregnancy sickness, and know when sickness needs medical help.
• check the folic acid and iodine amounts across all your products and avoid doubling up.
• explain when iron and vitamin D tablets are used, and how to get omega-3 and calcium from food.
• read a supplement label and spot vitamin A as retinol, fish liver oil, kelp and other things to avoid.
• find low-cost pregnancy care and support, and know when a baby may need vitamin D drops.

1. 1Your pregnancy supplement map

   See at a glance which supplements are advised in Australia at each stage, from a positive test to breastfeeding, and check where you are now.

   • What Australian advice says, stage by stage
   • Just found out? Starting late and catching up
   • Making your own supplement checklist

   Pregnancy supplement checklist

2. 2Weeks 0 to 12: folic acid and iodine when you feel sick

   Keep taking folic acid and iodine through the first trimester, even with sickness and tiredness, and know what changes at 12 weeks.

   • Keeping your vitamins down
   • Taking a prescribed higher dose
   • At 12 weeks: what changes

   Daily supplement trackerPregnancy supplement checklist

3. 3Iodine every day, and vitamin D when advised

   Understand why an iodine supplement is advised all through pregnancy and breastfeeding, how to get the dose right, and when vitamin D is checked or advised.

   • Why iodine, every day
   • Vitamin D, doses and not doubling up

   Daily supplement trackerSupplement label checker

4. 4Iron, omega-3 and calcium: food first

   Learn how Australian advice approaches the other key pregnancy nutrients, when iron tablets are used, and how to cover the gaps if you eat a vegan or restricted diet.

   • Iron, blood tests and iron tablets
   • Omega-3, calcium and caffeine
   • Vegan, vegetarian and restricted diets in pregnancy

   Daily supplement tracker

5. 5Choosing and checking products

   Decide between a pregnancy multivitamin and single supplements, read labels with confidence and spot products to avoid.

   • Pregnancy multivitamin or single supplements?
   • Reading a supplement label
   • Herbal remedies, 'boosters' and things to avoid

   Supplement label checkerPregnancy supplement checklist

6. 6Help with costs, after the birth and staying safe

   Find low-cost care and support in pregnancy, what changes for you and your baby after the birth, and how to store supplements safely.

   • Help with costs and support in pregnancy
   • After the birth: supplements for you and your baby
   • Keeping supplements safe at home

   Pregnancy support finder (signpost)Daily supplement trackerPregnancy supplement checklist

• CheckerPregnancy supplement checklistTick each point that is true for you to check that your supplements match national advice for your stage of pregnancy, and see what to sort out next.
• TrackerDaily supplement trackerTick off your vitamins each day, note anything that makes them hard to take, and build a steady routine through each stage of pregnancy.
• CheckerSupplement label checkerHold a supplement pack and tick what the label shows, to check whether it suits pregnancy and spot ingredients to avoid.
• CheckerPregnancy support finder (signpost)A quick guide to the free and low-cost care and support you may be able to use in pregnancy, with signposts to the services that can help.