The vitamins and minerals that are particularly important in pregnancy are:
. iron, which is found in lean red meat, green leafy vegetables, dried fruits and nuts
. calcium, which is found in dairy products, fish, nuts and green vegetables
. vitamin c which is found in citrus fruits, broccoli, blackcurrants , and potatoes
. vitamin d which is found in margarine, oily fish and sunlight
Eating a healthy varied diet is the best way to obtain essential nutrients. However, if you feel your diet is lacking in anyway then taking a supplement would be the sensible thing to do. Ensure that it is designed for pregnant women and contains no vitamin A or an adjusted level of vitamin A suitable for pregnancy.
There have been no reported safety issues with the use of evening primrose oil, but there is no evidence of any benefits either. Evening primrose oil is thought by some to have a positive effect in starting labour so would be best avoided before 37 weeks.