My diet is already well balanced. Do I need a pregnancy multivitamin supplement?

Most women will require additional supplementation when pregnant even with a healthy balanced diet. A typical UK diet falls short of providing the required levels of key nutrients such as folic acid (vitamin B9), vitamin D3, and iron, so our pregnancy multivitamin supplement is designed to ensure there are no gaps in your nutrition during this important time. The general advice is to ensure you are getting at least these nutrients to support and protect the pregnancy. Women face a multitude of obstacles to maintaining a perfectly balanced diet during pregnancy for many reasons such as, changes in food preferences, appetite, reflux and morning sickness. For more support please speak to your GP and for nutritional information Rhiannon’s book Deliciously Healthy Pregnancy may also be helpful and the charity Tommys for supporting women throughout this time.

Some nutrients are above one hundred percent of the Nutrient Reference Value (NRV), is this safe during pregnancy?

Yes, our multivitamins are designed by experts to ensure they are safe throughout your entire pregnancy. The NRVs define the average nutrient requirement from food and supplements required to meet the basic nutritional requirements of a population and prevent nutrient deficiencies. But it’s important to keep in mind that these values are an average. During certain life stages, such as pregnancy, your body requires higher levels of specific nutrients, such as folic acid, vitamin D3 and iron. That’s why our multivitamin provides 100% or more of the NRVs for these specific nutrients while remaining well below the tolerable upper limit intake levels and pose no health risk to yourself or your child.

Does your vitamin contain omega-3?

Here at Rhitrition+, we understand that everyone’s preference regarding certain supplements such as omega-3 vary hugely which is why we have decided not to include it within our multivitamin formula. If you consume two portions of fish a week, one of which is oily, or you have a well planned plant based diet you will not be needing an additional supplement.

However, if you find that you need extra supplementation, there are numerous options available on the market, ranging from traditional cod liver oil to algae-based vegan omega-3 supplements. Please seek advice from a healthcare professional for support choosing the right omega-3 supplement for you, we can help in the Rhitrition Clinic too.

Does your pregnancy multivitamin contain the amount of folic acid that is recommended in the UK for pregnancy?

Yes, it does. Our pregnancy multivitamin provides you with 100% of the required daily intake of folic acid throughout pregnancy. Because Rhitrition+ is rooted in science and all of our products are built solely on the current scientific evidence, we have formulated our multivitamin to contain folic acid, the gold-standard synthetic form of folate for supplementation, we are aware there are other types of folate supplements on the market and we have made a decision to stick with the only researched form that is proven to prevent neural tube defects. It is important to be aware that some people can have a folate deficiency and this would result in discussing this with your GP and taking the relevant advice, it is important to have blood tests throughout your pregnancy to check your nutrient levels.

Why does your multivitamin contain beta carotene (a form of Vitamin A) if excess Vitamin A during pregnancy can be harmful?

Rhitrition+ pregnancy multivitamins are formulated by experts who understand exactly what you and your baby do and do not require during pregnancy. This multivitamin does not contain retinol (vitamin A), but instead, beta carotene, which the body is capable of converting into vitamin A at a rate and quantity that is required. So, its inclusion in our multivitamin is safe for both yourself and your child.

When should I start taking Rhitrition+ pregnancy multivitamins and can I continue taking it through my entire pregnancy?

There’s not a bad time to start taking Rhitrition+ pregnancy multivitamins, but we recommend starting at least three months prior to pregnancy as a prenatal supplement to ensure your nutritional status is optimal before falling pregnant. But if you are pregnant and have not been taking prenatal supplements, don't worry, we just recommend starting our pregnancy multivitamin as soon as you find out about your pregnancy. Our pregnancy multivitamin is formulated to support every step of your pregnancy journey.

What happens if I forget to take my Rhitrition+ pregnancy multivitamin?

Don't worry if you miss a day, while it is important that you take our multivitamin supplement on a regular daily basis, one day won't make a large difference. You should not take any more than the daily recommended amount to make up for any day(s) previously missed, just simply continue with the normal dose on the next day that you remember to take it.

Visit our FAQs page for more general info