This week has been great! I’m definitely feeling better now I’m into the second trimester, although I still feel some nausea when I wake up it’s quick to disappear after I’ve eaten. My sleep also seems to have improved, although I do still like to be in bed by 8.30, if only to watch stuff on Netflix! I feel like my belly has popped a little more this week, I had to use this kind on contraption to do up my skinny jeans:
I’m also feeling emotional, I cry at anything. Adverts, songs on the radio etc. Then next minute I’m happy again, it’s so weird! My eating is almost completely back to normal which is awesome. I’m still not a fan of plain chicken but everything else, including veggies are good to go! In fact I’m probably in the best place in terms of my relationship with food I’ve ever been. More on that in a coming blog post!
Pregnancy Supplements
I’ve done quite a bit of research on which pregnancy supplements I should be taking. Of course folic acid is essential and although I hadn’t been taking a specific pre natal vitamin before conception, I had been taking a B vitamin complex supplement for energy and hormonal regulation that contained the recommended 400mg of folic acid.
As I was already supplementing for my hormones, most of them have been completely appropriate for pregnancy so I’ve continued to take them. I also purchased a specific pregnancy complex.
Pregnancy Complex
My pregnancy complex is from Viridian which I believe to be an excellent brand. I’m not a huge fan of super market brands of vitamins and would rather pay a little extra to know I’m getting really good quality.
Magnesium Calcium
I’ve also continued to take my magnesium calcium supplement from Solgar. Taking magnesium and calcium in the right ratio together maximises absorption. I only take a single pill a day, as there is magnesium and calcium in the pre natal, so the amount I’m taking is in line with the RDA.
Vitamin D
I also supplement with vitamin D which I believe to be essential. I purchased this D Lux vitamin D spray which contains 3000ius. I only take one spray every other day to top up my levels in addition to the multi.
Pro Biotics
Babies are born with very little gut flora, and usually get there’s in their journey through the vagina at birth, so it makes sense to make sure your good bacteria levels are in balance. In addition to this, I also find pro biotics help with my digestion at a time when pregnancy can leave you with consipation, something I’m happy to say I’ve avoided! I get these from Holland and Barrett.
Omega 3 Fish Oil
Omega 3 fatty acids are essential for the development of the brain and nervous system for the baby, and of course good for mama too! I always get the Natures Best Fish Oil which is made in the UK and very high quality with a good balance of EPA and DHA. It really is worth paying a bit more for that quality as omega 3 oils can become unstaple and oxidise if not treated correctly.
Magnesium Calm
Occasionally I take some of this magnesium calm powder in a glass of water before going to bed as magnesium has a sedative quality. It’s good for helping with cramps and can also help with digestion.
As I mentioned in my post on pregnancy nutrition, I am also adding a couple of extras to my smoothies:
Soya Lecithin
I read about this in the Better Baby Book which is written by the Bulletproof Exec and his wife. It contains choline which is essential for babies development. I got this non GMO soya lecithin and have been adding the odd tablespoon to smoothies to top up the choline I’ll get from the eggs I eat.
Collagen Hydrolysate
I came across this on Rubies and Radishes as she used it in one of her smoothies. Un like regular gelatin, this mixes with liquid and doesn’t gel so it is great added to smoothies. I have the grass fed collagen from Great Lakes. I actually got mine from iHerb much cheaper than this, but they no longer seem to ship to the UK for some reason. Collagen is very high in protein so great for meeting your protein needs in pregnancy. The collagen is also great for supporting the formation of connective tissues and soothing the gut. I’m still trying to get round to making some bone broth so this is getting me some gelatin in.
One thing I’m no longer taking is maca powder. It seemed that the jury was out on to whether or not maca is safe in pregnancy, and because I know it can have an impact on your hormones I’ve chosen not to take it while I’m pregnant.
Of course, supplements are no replacement for real food, but in pregnancy with it’s crazy effects on your stomach, it is good to know that you are doing as best you can nutritionally with supplements in addition to what you eat. Don’t forget to always run supplementation past your doctor or midwife if you are unsure on anything.
Whether you are pregnant or not, do you take any supplements? Which ones and why?
*Please note I’m not a doctor or medical professional, so please seek your own advice before supplementing in your pregnancy
Pregnant or not, that hair-tie trick on jeans is a gem!
Would be good for Christmas Day wouldn’t it!
Definitely not pregnant! But I take Omega 3 fish oils for my skin, and Probiotics for digestion (IBS). They seem to be helping since I started taking them!
Good that those supplements are helping, I love probiotics for helping out your digestion :-)
Awwh, look at your belly :)
Haha, thanks it’s a little pooch at the moment!
Woah that’s a lot of stuff to take – but all sounds very necessary! I like the sound of that spray one.
You look beautiful in the photo! A very discreet bump :)
I take these osteo-calcium tablet things, with Vit D in them. I’m terrified of getting any stress fractures with running and basically take them as a precautionary thing. They’re the biggest tablets known to man though and I have to take two! I each one in half though as honestly I’d choke haha.
Thanks Anna! That sounds like a good supplement for you to take, I bet your bones are super strong!
WOOHOO for second trimester! :) Glad things are more back to normal for you lovie :) You look gorgeous as always <3
I take quite a few of those supplements as they're pretty good for general health anyway. Currently taking multi vit, vit D, omega 3 and magnesium and zinc as I'm deficient in those. I've also just started taking collagen for my skin to see if it helps at all, I got mine in a powder form too which is easy to add to drinks and smoothies like you say :)
Thanks Nicky! I’m really hoping that the collagen will help reduce my chance of stretch marks as well, fingers crossed!
What an awesome jean trick. Some might even say ‘jean-ius’ ;) Your bump is so cute!
Haha, thanks Claire!
You’ve got a great combo of supplements. :)
I take a combination of supplements: a multi vitamin, magnesium supplement, vitamin d (5000iu as I’m trying to increase my Vitamin D level) and agnus castus.
I can’t seem to open the link for the Collagen Hydrolysate. Do you know any where in the UK that stocks it? If you could link to it that would be great. Thanks. :)
Hi Aaliyah, apologies for that, here is a link to amazon for it :-)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005KG7EDU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B005KG7EDU&linkCode=as2&tag=keephealgetts-21
Hi Laura, thanks for this post, I am really enjoying your weekly breakdowns. I hope to start trying to conceive next year some time so all your posts are really helpful. Just wondering what is the name of the B vitamin complex supplement you were taking before you conceived that contained the recommended 400mg of folic acid. I always worry if it happened before it was planned and I didn’t have enough folic acid in my system..unlikely but you never know!! Thanks!
Thanks Caitie, I’m so glad these are helpful! I was taking Holland and Barrett B vitamin complex, most B complexes should contain that amount of folic acid, just double check the label :-)
Viridian is definitely my favourite supplement brand, it makes me sad to see people buying vitamins from the supermarket as they are cheap, they don’t realise they actually do them more harm than good, and it’s worth it to pay a little bit extra. When I worked in a health store we never recommended maca during pregnancy, so I think it’s sensible to stop taking that, seems like you are covering all your bases.
Excellent news that your eating has returned to normal again. Might keep that Jean trick in mind for feeling-fat days! Haha!
I don’t take any supplements although have tried Vitamin C tablets in the past but swallowing tablets isn’t one of my favourite things to do!
Hi Laura! Thanks for this post, quite an interesting research for your supplements. I am on my 8th week now and before I conceived I used to take great lakes gelatin, the same one as the one in your article. But after I knew I was pregnant I stopped it because I wasn’t sure if it was safe to take it in my first trimester. So I’m just wondering if u have been taking it during your first trimester too?
Hi Nancy, just emailed you honey, congrats again!
Well received! Thank you Laura ????
Hi I was searching the same question because I am in my second trimester and wondering your thoughts on using the Great Lakes collagen as well. I never know what I can have in pregnancy! Would you be able to email me as well?
Hi Laura- I’m 17 weeks pregnant and hoping to prevent stretch marks in any way possible! I was considering taking collagen supplements but am unsure if they’re safe or helpful in regards to stretch mark prevention. Any thoughts on this? Thanks!
Great article! I’m loading up on the collagen protein as well. I’m taking Form. It’s hydrolyzed collagen protein peptides, non-GMO and from grass-fed cattle. Form has triple absorption in the mouth, stomach and intestines! I’m hoping to increase the collagen in my skin during this time of stretching! I order mine here: https://feelyourvitamin.le-vel.com/Products/THRIVE/SGTForm They have a referral program and you can get yours for free!
Can you please update us on whether you got stretchmarks or not by taking collagen? Thank you!
Of course! So my little boy came at 35 weeks so I didn’t go full term, but I’m happy to say I only got a few tiny marks and they’ve faded so they are pretty much unnoticable. As someone who is prone to stretch marks I’m very happy with the results of that :-)
Hi, I am 4 months pregnant. Been researching online whether pregnant women can take bone broth collagen supplement and i’m glad I came across your article on collagen. Are you familiar with the Brand Ancient Nutrition? wondering what your thoughts are on their bone broth collagen powder and its use during pregnancy. Sadly my Obgyn knows nothing about bone broth/collage and its benefits.
I’m not familiar with that brand unfortunately!