From the very first indication that you're expecting a baby, you should check that your diet is up to scratch. Many experts advise women who are trying to get pregnant, to start taking folic acid supplements. This is to make sure your diet and nutrition intake is providing your body with the right nutrients before you even begin to try to conceive. Taking 400mg of folic acid is the one supplement that's recommended by doctors to pregnant women, at least until after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy are complete. Folic acid helps guard against disorders such as spina bifida and other congenital malformations, such as cleft palate, or cleft lip, in the developing baby. It is also essential for the development of the baby's spinal cord and nervous system. As a B vitamin, folic acid is an essential requirement for the body. This is because it is needed for developing the genetic material of cells, DNA. It's also needed for growth and development and the maintenance of a healthy nervous system.

Many women will prefer to only take organic food supplements in order to avoid artificial chemicals. Although most food supplements won't cause any problems, there are some conditions where you should first check with your doctor first before taking them. For example, if a woman is at a higher risk of conceiving a baby with a neural tube defect, she will need to take a higher daily dose of folic acid. Similarly, if the mum-to-be suffers from celiac disease, diabetes mellitus, sickle-cell anaemia, or are already taking certain medicines, then they may need to take the higher dose too.

Other pregnancy-related supplements that can be taken are iron tablets, in case of a risk of anaemia. If you don't have enough red blood cells, you're considered to be anaemic, and iron supplements can help build the red cell production back up. Vegans and vegetarians are more at risk of an iron deficiency because their diet doesn't include red meat. Although there's no medical reason why a vegetarian mum-to-be is likely to suffer from anaemia, it's worth checking with your GP, as pregnant women do require more iron than normal. Iron helps red blood cells divide and multiply, so your body needs more during periods of rapid growth, such as pregnancy.