Vitamin supplements when trying to conceive

For many years before meeting Lee all I dreamed and hoped for was to find my true love and settle down and have a family. Whilst I tried to keep the faith and believe that it would happen at the back of my mind was a lot of doubt. Worry that I would not find someone to love and who would love me for who I am in return. Fear that when I found my partner for life that I would not be able to conceive.

My fear about not being able to conceive stemmed from the fact that I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) when I was a teenager.

As PCOS can cause fertility issues and infertility, when I met Lee and it was apparent that we both wanted the same thing in life - to settle down and have our own family - I decided to get conception advice from my GP and do my upmost to be healthy to increase my chances of conceiving. Alongside healthy eating and exercise part of my trying to conceive plan was to take specially formulated pre-pregnancy vitamin supplements.

Thankfully we were blessed and got pregnant with Bug during the first month and then when we decided to try for another baby I made sure to get back on my trying to conceive plan and once again take pre-pregnancy vitamin supplements (unfortunately that time around we had to wait a little longer as it took three years to conceive Jelly Bean).

When we decide to try for a third baby to complete our family I will once again take pre-pregnancy vitamin supplements such as Nature’s Best conception supplements as they have been expertly developed to contain the most important nutrients to help conception, support pregnancy and beyond if breastfeeding.

Whilst eating a healthy, varied diet can help you get the most of vitamins you need before and during pregnancy, taking vitamin supplements can be beneficial. Here are a few things to consider if trying to conceive -

* It is important to take a 400 micrograms (mcg) folic acid tablet every day when trying to conceive and up until you are 12 weeks pregnant. If pregnancy is not planned and you did not take folic acid before conception, it is important to start taking it as soon as you find out you are pregnant. The reason why folic acid is important for pregnancy is that it can help to prevent birth defects known as neural tube defects, including spina bifida.

* Do not take vitamin A supplements or supplements containing vitamin A (retinol) as too much can be harmful to baby.

* The Department of Health advises to take a vitamin D supplement (10mcg a day) as vitamin D regulates the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body which are important to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy.

Taking specially formulated conception and pregnancy vitamins such as StrongStart for Women ensure that you are getting all the vitamins and minerals to support conception and a healthy pregnancy. StrongStart for Women contains the highest level of folic acid recommended by the Department of Health, along with micronutrients such as vitamin d, zinc, B12, calcium and Omega 3 fish oil.

When trying to conceive it is also worth making sure the man also takes vitamin supplements such as StrongStart for Men. StrongStart for Men formula include vitamin C, selenium, grape seed extract, turmeric, green tea and a separate high dose Omega 3 fish oil capsule, all of which help aid conception.

Have you or are you taking vitamin supplements when trying to conceive?