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The 30-second answer
Before pregnancy and up to week 12: 400 mcg folic acid daily, such as Puritan's Pride Folic Acid (EGP 600 for 250 tablets). Throughout pregnancy: 10 mcg vitamin D a day, and no retinol or cod liver oil. A prenatal with both: Puritan's Pride Prenatal (EGP 850). Iron is your doctor's call after blood tests at booking and at week 28.
During pregnancy
Cheaper: Limitless Prenatal
What to take at each stage
- Before pregnancy: the NHS advises 400 mcg folic acid daily, ideally from 3 months before. The CDC says start at least a month before, because neural tube defects happen in the first weeks, often before you know you are pregnant.
- First trimester (weeks 1–12): keep taking folic acid until week 12, and take 10 mcg vitamin D a day: the NHS advises it from October to March, and all year if you spend a lot of time indoors or cover most of your skin. The NHS says to avoid supplements with vitamin A as retinol, cod liver oil and liver.
- Second trimester (weeks 13–27): keep taking vitamin D. The NHS says iron is checked at your booking appointment, and if it is low your GP or midwife will recommend iron.
- Third trimester (weeks 28–40): iron is checked again around week 28. Do not take more than 100 mcg vitamin D a day.
- After birth: there are breastfeeding-specific vitamins; ask your doctor whether you need one.
WHO recommends daily iron of 30 to 60 mg with 400 mcg folic acid for pregnant women, to reduce anaemia and low birth weight. Your doctor decides the right dose for you.
Before pregnancy and the first trimester: folic acid
#1
Pre-pregnancyFirst trimesterLowest daily cost
Puritan's Pride Folic Acid 400 mcg – 250 tablets
Exactly the dose the NHS and CDC recommend
EGP 600
EGP 2.4 a day · 250 tablets
- 400 mcg folic acid per tablet, per the product page and pack
- One tablet a day; the bottle lasts over 8 months
- The lowest daily cost on the list (EGP 2.4)
Heads-up: The high 5 mg dose is only prescribed when there are risk factors, so do not increase it yourself
#2
MethylfolateEgyptian
ORA Methyl Folate 600 mcg – 60 capsules
Folate in its active form, at a low price
EGP 180
EGP 3.0 a day · 60 capsules
- 600 mcg L-methylfolate per capsule, per the product page
- The page says it is gentler on the stomach than folic acid
- 60 capsules for EGP 180 (EGP 3 a day)
Heads-up: NHS and CDC advice refers to folic acid specifically, and methylfolate is a different form; ask your doctor before swapping
#3
Pre-pregnancyWith omega-3
Bonavidea Fertina – 30 + 30 capsules
Vitamins and minerals with omega-3 for the run-up to pregnancy
EGP 900
EGP 30.0 a day · 30 + 30 capsules
- 18 vitamins and minerals, including 600 mcg folic acid, per the product page
- An omega-3 capsule with 225 mg DHA and 45 mg EPA
- Contains iron, zinc, iodine and selenium
Heads-up: The vitamin A form is not on the page, so check the label is not retinol; the highest daily cost (EGP 30)
Throughout pregnancy: prenatal multivitamins
#4
Whole pregnancyBest value
Puritan's Pride Prenatal Vitamins – 100 caplets
The clearest formula by the numbers, lasting over 3 months
EGP 850
EGP 8.5 a day · 100 caplets
- 800 mcg folic acid and 28 mg iron per caplet
- Vitamin D3 400 IU (10 mcg), 150 mcg iodine and 25 mg zinc
- Vitamin A as beta-carotene, not retinol
Heads-up: Only 200 mg calcium, and it contains iron, so do not add extra iron unless your doctor says so
#5
Whole pregnancyCheapest
Limitless Prenatal Original – 30 tablets
The cheapest prenatal on the list
EGP 165
EGP 5.5 a day · 30 tablets
- The pack says before, during and after pregnancy, with beta-carotene, iron and folic acid
- One tablet a day after a meal, per the page
- EGP 165 for a month (EGP 5.5 a day)
Heads-up: Amounts are not on the page; ask the pharmacist for a photo of the label before buying
#6
Whole pregnancyWith DHA
Limitless Prenatal Max – 30 capsules
The Max version with omega-3 in the same capsule
EGP 210
EGP 7.0 a day · 30 capsules
- The pack says it contains DHA and folic acid
- The page lists iron, calcium, vitamin D and B vitamins
- EGP 210 for a month (EGP 7 a day)
Heads-up: Amounts are not on the page, and neither is the vitamin A form
For how regular multivitamins differ from prenatals, see our best imported multivitamin guide.
As needed: iron and omega-3
#7
Iron 30 mgOn medical advice
Ferrocal Forte – 20 capsules
Iron if a blood test shows you are low
EGP 170
EGP 8.5 a day · 20 capsules
- 30 mg iron with 120 mg vitamin C per capsule, per the page
- Also 1,020 mcg folic acid, vitamin D3 1,000 IU and 10 mcg B12
- The iron dose is within the 30–60 mg range WHO recommends in pregnancy
Heads-up: Do not combine it with a prenatal that has iron and folic acid unless your doctor says so, as the doses would double
#8
Fish oilOmega-3
Vee Omega 3 – 30 capsules
Omega-3 if you do not eat fish
EGP 348
EGP 11.6 a day · 30 capsules
- 1,000 mg fish oil providing 300 mg omega-3, per the page
- 180 mg EPA and 120 mg DHA per capsule
- One capsule a day
Heads-up: This is fish oil, not the cod liver oil the NHS says to avoid; still ask your doctor first
The NHS says to eat no more than 2 portions of oily fish a week (such as salmon, sardines and mackerel), avoid shark, swordfish and marlin, and have no more than 4 cans of tuna a week.
After birth: breastfeeding vitamins
#9
BreastfeedingOne capsule
Elevit Breastfeeding – 30 capsules
One capsule a day with everything in it
EGP 501
EGP 16.7 a day · 30 capsules
- 200 mg DHA per capsule, per the product page
- Contains iodine, calcium, vitamin D, lutein and beta-carotene
- EGP 501 for a month (EGP 16.7 a day)
Heads-up: Made for breastfeeding, not for pregnancy
#10
BreastfeedingOmega-3
Pregnacare Breast-feeding – 56 tablets + 28 omega-3 capsules
More calcium, with a separate omega-3 capsule
EGP 480
56 tablets + 28 capsules · daily dose on the label
- 300 mg DHA and 700 mg calcium, per the product page
- Folic acid, B12, iron, zinc, selenium, iodine, vitamin D3 and vitamin K
- Tablets and capsules in one pack
Heads-up: The daily dose is not on the page, so follow the label; made for breastfeeding, not pregnancy
Comparison table: sorted by daily cost
| Product | Stage | Key nutrient | Pack | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puritan's Pride Folic Acid 400 mcg – 250 tablets | Pre-pregnancy, trimester 1 | Folic acid 400 mcg | 250 tablets | EGP 600 | 2.4 |
| ORA Methyl Folate 600 mcg – 60 capsules | Pre-pregnancy, trimester 1 | Methylfolate 600 mcg | 60 capsules | EGP 180 | 3.0 |
| Limitless Prenatal Original – 30 tablets | Whole pregnancy | Amounts not stated | 30 tablets | EGP 165 | 5.5 |
| Limitless Prenatal Max – 30 capsules | Whole pregnancy | Amounts not stated | 30 capsules | EGP 210 | 7.0 |
| Puritan's Pride Prenatal Vitamins – 100 caplets | Whole pregnancy | Folic acid 800 + iron 28 mg | 100 caplets | EGP 850 | 8.5 |
| Ferrocal Forte – 20 capsules | If iron is low | Iron 30 mg | 20 capsules | EGP 170 | 8.5 |
| Vee Omega 3 – 30 capsules | Whole pregnancy | Omega-3 300 mg | 30 capsules | EGP 348 | 11.6 |
| Elevit Breastfeeding – 30 capsules | Breastfeeding | DHA 200 mg | 30 capsules | EGP 501 | 16.7 |
| Bonavidea Fertina – 30 + 30 capsules | Pre-pregnancy | Folic acid 600 + omega-3 | 30 + 30 capsules | EGP 900 | 30.0 |
| Pregnacare Breast-feeding – 56 tablets + 28 omega-3 capsules | Breastfeeding | DHA 300 + calcium 700 mg | 56 tablets + 28 capsules | EGP 480 | — |
We left out Vee Ferro because its iron amount is unclear on the page, Sleevar Iron because its page says it is not for pregnancy, and NOW DHA because the amount is not stated.
How to take them properly
- One main supplement: a prenatal with folic acid and vitamin D is usually enough, without a separate folic acid tablet.
- Iron after a blood test: if your doctor prescribes iron, ask whether to keep taking a prenatal that already has iron.
- Read the label: the NHS says to always check there is no retinol.
- After meals: the Limitless and Ferrocal pages say after a meal.
Common mistakes
- Stacking supplements: Ferrocal, for example, has 1,020 mcg folic acid, iron and vitamin D, so with a prenatal the doses double.
- Cod liver oil: the NHS says not to take it in pregnancy.
- A high dose on your own: 5 mg folic acid is only prescribed when there are risk factors.
- Caffeine: the NHS says no more than 200 mg a day.
Important safety notes
- This article is for information; your antenatal care is what matters. Start any supplement only after asking your doctor.
- If you have risk factors, such as a previous pregnancy affected by a neural tube defect, ask about a higher folic acid dose. The NHS says this is prescribed (5 mg), and the CDC says 4,000 mcg after a previous affected pregnancy.
- Unusual tiredness, breathlessness or paleness can be signs of anaemia; tell your doctor.
- Do not take more than 100 mcg vitamin D a day.
Not sure which one?
Beseha pharmacists answer on WhatsApp. Tap the “Ask a pharmacist” button, tell them which month you are in and send your doctor's prescription if you have one, and they will help you choose.
FAQ
When should I start folic acid?
The NHS recommends starting before pregnancy, ideally 3 months before, and the CDC recommends at least 1 month before conception, continuing until week 12.
What is the right folic acid dose in pregnancy?
The usual dose is 400 mcg a day. A doctor may prescribe a higher 5 mg dose if there are risk factors, such as a previous pregnancy affected by a neural tube defect.
Do pregnant women need vitamin D?
Yes. The NHS recommends 10 mcg a day from October to March, and all year for women who cover most of their skin or spend a lot of time indoors, and advises not taking more than 100 mcg a day.
Do I need an iron supplement in pregnancy?
Iron is checked at your booking appointment and around week 28, and your doctor prescribes iron if it is low. WHO recommends daily iron of 30 to 60 mg for pregnant women.
Is vitamin A unsafe in pregnancy?
The NHS advises avoiding supplements with vitamin A as retinol, as well as cod liver oil and liver. Some prenatals contain it as beta-carotene instead.
Can I eat fish when pregnant?
Yes, but no more than 2 portions of oily fish a week, and avoid shark, swordfish and marlin, according to the NHS.
Can I combine a prenatal with an iron supplement?
Combining them can double the iron and folic acid doses, so it should be under your doctor's supervision.
Read next: vitamin D deficiency in Egypt: symptoms, test and safe doses.
The bottom line
The basics: 400 mcg folic acid from before pregnancy to week 12, 10 mcg vitamin D, and no retinol. Any iron or higher dose only on your doctor's advice. For signs of vitamin deficiency, see our vitamin B12 deficiency guide.
Shop pregnancy and breastfeeding supplements at Beseha →
Sources
- NHS: Pregnancy vitamins and supplements
- NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy
- CDC: About folic acid
- WHO: Daily iron supplementation in pregnancy
This content is for information and is not a substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Prices and availability may change; the final price is on the product page.
