Despite Government advice, a third of women don't know they should supplement their diet before, during and after pregnancy.

This finding is just one example of the confusion felt by women about good nutrition during pregnancy, which is possibly being fueled by the rise in celebrity pregnancies and extensive coverage of those who continue to follow faddy or inappropriate diets regardless.

The research reveals that:

• Almost a third of women (31%) are unaware of the need to supplement their diet with extra folic acid before and during the first three months of pregnancy
• 44% of women are unaware of the benefits of taking a multivitamin supplement containing folic acid and other beneficial vitamins and minerals during this time and beyond
• 1 in 6 women think that eating a healthy diet alone during pregnancy is enough to provide them and their growing baby with all the nutrients they need for good health

Obtaining enough folic acid from the diet alone is impossible for most women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy. In fact the FSA's recent National Diet and Nutrition Survey highlighted that 92% of women are not receiving adequate levels of folic acid. The Department of Health recommends taking a supplement containing 400mcg of folic acid daily. Folic acid plays a vital role in the healthy development of the baby's brain and spinal cord. But folate isn't the only essential nutrient. In research, multivitamin supplementation around the time of conception has reduced the risk of serious birth defects, premature delivery and low birth weight by 50%.

Women are confused about when they should begin supplementing their diet, with four in ten women unaware they should begin as soon as they stop taking contraception, and start trying for a baby. What's more, in research multivitamin supplementation has been shown to increase conception by around 7 per cent.

Expert nutritionist Juliette Kellow explains: "Folic acid and other nutrients are vital for the healthy development of the baby. Often women don't find out they are pregnant until a few weeks into pregnancy, by which time the baby's growth could have been affected by the lack of certain nutrients. It's therefore important that women begin supplementing their diet as soon as they stop contraception."

Having a baby appears to be a recent trend amongst celebrities, with many of our icons reaching motherhood and openly confessing to wanting a family. Numerous celebrities are rumored to be closely associated with the latest diets, be it Gwyneth hailing the macrobiotic diet, Kate Winslet's success with facial analysis or Anniston's love for Atkins. The Sanatogen ProNatal research also reveals that almost half of the women questioned were baffled by celebrities' eating habits at this lifestage, with 44% unable to say which celebrity had the healthiest diet.

Juliette Kellow comments: "With so many celebrities endorsing different diets, it's not surprising women are confused about what to eat at any stage in life. During pregnancy the most important thing is to have a balanced diet that provides a wide range of foods. Fad diets and diets that exclude vital food groups are generally not suitable for anyone, especially before and during pregnancy, and whilst breastfeeding. And even someone following a healthy, balanced diet should take a tailored multivitamin specifically designed for pregnancy such as Sanatogen ProNatal to ensure they are getting sufficient nutrients for themselves and their developing baby."

The research further reveals that women have unrealistic expectations when it comes to losing weight after they have given birth and feel under pressure to shift those post-baby pounds as quickly as celebrities like Liz Hurley, who famously lost her excess weight within six weeks of giving birth, thanks to a strict diet and exercise regime. A staggering 23% of women want to lose all their excess weight within 6 weeks of giving birth. 79% want to lose all their excess weight within 6 months

But it takes 9 months to make and nurture the baby and just as long to recover, so your body needs optimum nutrition. Deputy General Secretary, Louise Silverton spokesperson for the Royal College of Midwives explains:

"Women receive many conflicting messages about nutrition before, during and after pregnancy. Women should be clear that the best advice is to eat a healthy balanced diet. They may also wish to take a pregnancy multivitamin such as Sanatogen ProNatal (which contains folic acid, recommended prenataly and for the early months of pregnancy). This will ensure they don't miss out on important nutrients. Women, particularly those breastfeeding, should also be aware of the dangers of losing weight too quickly after pregnancy, and should not feel pressurized by the media to turn to faddy diets rather than eating sensibly."

The UK's leading pregnancy vitamin Sanatogen ProNatal is a tailored multivitamin and mineral supplement with folic acid scientifically proven to help build a healthy baby. It is a one-a-day multivitamin supplement designed for women who are planning pregnancy, who are pregnant and who are breastfeeding. It contains essential folic acid, as well as other vitamins and minerals needed to help build a healthy baby.