Pregnancy Vitamins and Supplements

What you will be able to do

• explain which supplements the HSE advises at each stage of pregnancy and after the birth.
• start or catch up on folic acid and vitamin D if your pregnancy was unplanned.
• keep taking your vitamins through pregnancy sickness, and know when sickness needs medical help.
• check the vitamin D dose across all your products and avoid doubling up.
• explain when iron tablets are used and how to get iodine, omega-3 and calcium from food.
• read a supplement label and spot vitamin A as retinol, fish liver oil and other things to avoid.
• find out what help with pregnancy costs you may be entitled to, and know the vitamin D advice for your baby.

1. 1Your pregnancy supplement map

   See at a glance which supplements the HSE advises at each stage, from planning a pregnancy to breastfeeding, and check where you are now.

   • What the HSE advises, stage by stage
   • Just found out? Starting late and catching up
   • Making your own supplement checklist

   Pregnancy supplement checklist

2. 2The first trimester: folic acid and vitamin D when you feel sick

   Keep taking folic acid and vitamin D through the first trimester, even with sickness and tiredness, and know what carries on after 12 weeks.

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

   Daily supplement trackerPregnancy supplement checklist

3. 3Vitamin D all the way through

   Understand why the HSE advises vitamin D every day in pregnancy, how to get the dose right and how to avoid doubling up.

   • Why vitamin D, every day, all year
   • Getting the dose right and not doubling up

   Daily supplement trackerSupplement label checker

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

   Learn how the HSE 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
   • Iodine, omega-3 and calcium
   • 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 vitamins?
   • 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 out what help with pregnancy costs is available in Ireland, what changes for you and your baby after the birth, and how to store supplements safely.

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

   Pregnancy costs help finder (signpost)Daily supplement trackerPregnancy supplement checklist

• CheckerPregnancy supplement checklistTick each point that is true for you to check that your supplements match the HSE 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 costs help finder (signpost)A quick guide to the help with pregnancy and baby costs that may apply to you in Ireland, with signposts to the official services that decide.