When trying to conceive, my doctor advised me to take folic acid for at least three months before becoming pregnant and for at least the first trimester, in order to minimise the risk of birth defects such as spina bifida. On my way home I stopped by Asda and noticed Pregnacare Plus in the medicine aisle. It was distinctive as it comes in a white bottle with a pink lid and pink label, or a white box with green and pink text as the above picture. It was described as being the "original fully comprehensive multivitamin tablet, which delivers all the essential nutrients for pregnancy including the recommended level of 400mcg folic acid plus an additional Omega-3 capsule to provide a rich source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) which contributes to normal brain and eye development of the foetus" and to be honest it did seem to contain the highest amounts of some of the vitamins compared to other brands.

The box contains 28 multivitamins with 400mcg folic acid and 28 omega-3 tablets with 300mg DHA. (DHA is basically a fatty acid). You can expect to pay around £10 online, up to £15 in shops but in supermarkets they are often on offer for around £10. Widely available in chemists like Boots, Superdrug, independent chemists and supermarkets.

Pregnacare Plus is well known and described as the leading supplement for conceiving and expecting mothers and the one midwives recommend most, so I knew immediately that this would be the one I chose. You can start taking it at any time during pregnancy, but ideally you should begin three months before falling pregnant (basically as soon as you start trying for a baby, as it would be difficult to pinpoint exactly three months before you conceive), during pregnancy and right up until the end of breastfeeding (if you breastfeed) or until after birth if you bottle feed.

Each multivitamin tablet includes the exact recommended dose of folic acid (400mcg), vitamin B12 and Zinc, which support neural development and cell division in the early stages of pregnancy. The tablet also contains a wide range of vitamins at the exact level recommended for the foetus so it is moderate, not excessive (too much of certain vitamins can actually be harmful to a pregnancy so it is recommended that you use a pregnancy specific supplement such as this). They also contain Vitamin D,E,C,B1,B2,B3,B6,B12,K,Iron, Selenium, Magnesium, Iodine and Copper.

Each Omega-3 tablet contains 300mg of DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid), which helps brain and eye development and nervous system development in the foetus and newborn. These do not smell fishy, though they do have a slight taste so better to be washed down as quick as you can!

You are supposed to take one of each tablet once a day (so one multivitamin and one omega-3 tablet) on a full stomach, swallowed with water. The multivitamin is quite big, bigger than your average paracetamol and it can be difficult to swallow (and will leave a nasty taste if you make several attempts to swallow it!) so I used to take a big gulp of drink when swallowing that one. The Omega-3 is smaller and has a silky texture so is much easier to swallow.

Whilst they may seem expensive, these really are premium supplements. Some pregnancy supplements do not contain the same amounts of vitamins, or the exact dose as recommended by experts (including Vitamin D, which is essential and ought to be taken at the correct dose). I dread to think how much I spent on these vitamins, but they are definitely worth it if just for the peace of mind knowing that you are doing all you can to ensure a healthy body and pregnancy. These do not replace a healthy balanced diet, they should be used as a supplement to a healthy diet not a replacement!

It is worth noting that these vitamins do not use swordfish, marlin or tuna based fish oils in the Omega-3 tablets. This is because these types of fish are not recommended in pregnancy (apart from tuna in small amounts)

I would advise these tablets to anyone.