Key specs – Type: Capsule; Dosage: Two per day; Dietary: Suitable for vegans and vegetarians; from week 13, move on to Proceive Pregnancy Trimester 2 Your doctor will also recommend taking 10 micrograms of vitamin D each day. But don’t take more than 100 micrograms of vitamin D a day as it could be harmful. What is the most effective prenatal vitamin? I used it for my successful IVF cycle at age 40 (you need to use it for around three months before it has an effect). Obviously I can't say that this was what made the difference but I'm sure it contributed - there’s evidence to support that it helps egg quality in older women. Those called Kaneka Ubiquinol are generally the highest quality - and the most expensive!” (Recommended by Mumsnet user SamoyedFan123)

I'm trying Zita West vitamins Boost this month because I'd heard really good things about them.” (Tried by Mumsnet user A1b2c3d4e5f6g7) Eggs mature inside your body about three months before they are released into the womb, so you might like to start taking prenatal vitamins three months before you start trying for a baby. Folic acid is needed to help prevent birth defects called 'neural tube defects', including spina bifida. Official guidance is that you should take 400 micrograms (mcg) every day from the moment you start trying for a baby until the end of your first trimester (12 weeks).I'd recommend the Pregnacare Liquid as well. It has an orange flavour and you keep it in the fridge so it’s pretty palatable. I had hyperemesis and found it near impossible to swallow the tablets.” (Vetted by Mumsnet user Suite88) Our verdict These twice-a-day fertility supplements support egg production, cell division and boosts your immune system and energy levels.

The NHS also recommends that anyone pregnant, or trying to be, should take a folic acid supplement. It is advised that you take folic acid daily throughout pregnancy. This is very important as it can help prevent major birth defects in a foetus’s brain (anencephaly) and spine (spina bifida). Pregnancy Vitamin and Mineral Food Supplement Tablets Ingredients Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate Prep. (Calcium Carbonate, Maltodextrin), Microcrystalline Cellulose, Magnesium Oxide, Vitamin C Prep. (Ascorbic Acid, Hydroxypropylmethyl Cellulose), Tablet Coat (Hydroxypropylmethyl Cellulose, Colours: Titanium Dioxide, Anthocyanins; Talc, Acidity Regulator: Citric Acid), Ferrous Fumarate, Vitamin E Prep. (DL Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate, Silicon Dioxide), Hydroxypropyl Cellulose, Niacinamide, Stearic Acid, Silicon Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Sodium Selenite Prep. (Calcium Carbonate, Sodium Selenite), Magnesium Stearate, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulphate, Beta Carotene Prep. (Modified Starch, Beta Carotene, Corn Starch, Sucrose, DL Alpha Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate), Vitamin D Prep. (Maltodextrin, Ethylcellulose, Mixed Tocopherols, Cholecalciferol), Vitamin B12 Prep. (Mannitol, Cyanocobalamin), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Copper Sulphate, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Ginger Extract (Ginger Root Extract, Modified Starch, Silica), Vitamin K Prep. (Acacia, Sucrose, Phytomenadione), Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide, Biotin Although the Proceive Women vitamins have been designed with the average fertility of women under the age of 35 in mind, there is a Proceive MAX option with extra nutrients designed to support women aged over 35, or those who've been trying for a baby for over a year. Omega-3 fatty acids are important in pregnancy as they help to develop baby’s eyes and brain. But if you don’t get enough omega-3 in your diet, don’t worry, because fish oil capsules can help. This product contains iron which, if taken in excess, may be harmful to very young children - keep out of sight and reach.Mumsnetters rate the Bare Biology Mums & Bumps Pure Omega-3 Fish Oil Capsules highly, with each daily capsule providing more omega-3 than a whole tin of sardines. However, you will need a higher dose of folic acid if you have a child or close relative with a neural tube defect such as spina bifida (or if you or your partner do), if you have diabetes, take anti-epilepsy medicine or take antiretroviral medicine for HIV. If any of these apply to you, your doctor will write you a prescription for a higher dose of folic acid. Whether you’re pregnant, still eagerly awaiting that positive pregnancy test or undergoing fertility treatment, it’s important that you are healthy and well-prepared for what’s to come - physically, at least - and that's where the best prenatal vitamins shine. But with so many different types to choose from, it can be hard to know which one is right for you. Not only can standard multivitamins contain vitamin A, the dosage levels of vitamin D and folic acid may not be high enough for conception and pregnancy.

This supplement by Proceive is tailored to support you and your baby in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The supplement comes in capsule form and contains 29 vitamins, minerals and amino acids, including all-important folic acid. It also provides calcium and vitamin D support to help maintain normal bone development. It may be on the pricey side, but Mumsnetters swear by Zita West Vitafem Boost when it comes to trying to conceive (TTC). There are two things that every mum-to-be needs during pregnancy - folic acid and vitamin D. And Boots’ own-brand tablets deliver the recommended dose of both for just a fraction of the price of its competitors.

The best prenatal vitamins: at a glance

Proceive I've used and they were good, and also have methyl-folate in them - more absorbable than folic acid.” (Approved by Mumsnetter A1b2c3d4e5f6g7) Our verdict You'll need to take a supplement even if you eat foods containing the natural form of folic acid (folate), such as spinach, broccoli, granary bread, beans and pulses. When pregnant or trying to conceive, you shouldn't take supplements or multivitamins that contain vitamin A as in high doses can harm the development of an unborn baby's nervous system.