Prenatal Vitamins

Alphamom.com

The world of Prenatal Vitamins can sometimes be overwhelming...well, if you let it be. Many women just go to the store, pick out a prenatal vitamin and call it a day. But I wanted to know exactly what it was that I was putting into my body, especially if it was going to be transmitted to my baby.

First off, I started taking Folic Acid last August in preparation for getting pregnant. Folic Acid is the best thing you can take pre-pregnancy, but I kind of wish I had started on actual prenatal vitamins at least a month or two before becoming pregnant, just for an extra boost of all those essential vitamins. 

When I found out I was pregnant, I didn't want to wait until my 8 week appointment to start taking whichever prenatal vitamins the doctor recommended to me. So, I set out to do a bit of my own research and preparation on what to take. I literally spent an entire 8 hour work day (hey...my boss was out of town) doing research of various vitamins. There are a million gazillion vitamins out there, and a million gazillion reviews on why you should and shouldn't take each of them.

Before I met with my doctor, I was taking a vitamin from Whole Foods called Super Nutrition Prenatal. Right now, I'm taking a prescription from my doctor called PreNate Essential that I trusted to be good, and seemed to hit all the right marks. It costs us $50 a month from the pharmacy, but I think it's worth it.

A lot of people seem to take and like the Rainbow Light Prenatal Vitamins. I stayed away from them because I read two reports that said there may be a link between taking anything with Red Raspberry Leaf in your first trimester and miscarriage (read "side effects" here), and yet red raspberry leaf is found in quite a few prenatal vitamins. It's in very small amounts and I know that people take these types of vitamins every single day and are fine - but because there were a few "possible" reports that some women may have had trouble with it...it was enough for me to want to avoid it altogether in my prenatal vitamin, at least for the first trimester. Even the Whole Foods 365 brand prenatal vitamins have Red Raspberry Leaf.

I also learned that the Nature Maid Prenatal vitamins with DHA have Red40 in them, which is known to be harmful to children and obviously, a developing fetus. It's astounding to me some of the products out there. I was taking the Nature Maid Folic Acid for 6 months, so after I read this I went home and sure enough - that had Red40 in it too! ARRRG! (read article here)

I've been lucky that I haven't had any trouble taking my vitamins, but many women report feeling nauseous and/or throwing up from their vitamins. I always used to take mine at dinner with a big meal because I honestly just assumed that was when I should take it. But then I read the box and it said to take 2-3 hours after a meal. So, now I take them at night before bed. It helps me remember to take them better anyway, and should it happen to upset my stomach at some point, I'll just sleep it off.

What about you? What prenatal vitamins are you taking? Do you like them? Did you have any trouble deciding on what to take or was the decision easy?

Comments

  1. Honestly the kind I buy is from Walmart but not any brand that you listed. I don't remember what brand but I've been taking it for years and it has more than the recommended amounts of what's needed during pregnancy. I heard awful things about the kind my doctor prescribed (they only give one kind) and I decided to just keep taking what I'd been taking!

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    1. Yea, I'm sure whatever we're all taking is fine...it's just crazy how many different vitamin options are out there you know!?

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  2. I am impressed with the research you have done on this topic. You are wise to read the labels and read the reviews even if it is confusing. Ignorance is not bliss in this case.

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  3. I started taking Rx prenatals a year before we started trying. Ha!! I wanted to make sure my body was ready and my dr said b/c of my age (ummm I am only 32). Per my dr, I am now taking the Similac prenatals with a vitamin pill and a DHA pill. I did have some issues when I first switched but all has gotten back on track.

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    1. I think it's great that you started a year before you started trying. I should have done that, too...but at least I was taking the folic acid. Glad you were able to find a prenatal the worked for you!

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  4. I had to switch to taking the Gummy Prenatals vitamins during the first trimester because the others were so big and hard for me to swallow especially when I already felt nauseous. Once I switched to the Gummies I had no issues. The main thing I did was compare a few labels to see the percentages of each of the items included and they all were about the same.

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  5. The Rainbow Light ones worked for me and my midwife said the red raspberry was OK, but if I got contractions to stop taking them and let her know. I don't think it matters which kind as long as they are working for you and making your pee neon yellow ;o) lol

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  6. I'm so impressed! Mentally filing this info for when/if I'll ever need it. Great job!

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  7. I know this is an old post, but I found it because I was google searching for info about prenatals. I just wanted to point out that the Prenate DHA vitamins also contain hydrogenated vegetable oil, Blue #1, and Red #3. I got samples of these from my OB with my first pregnancy and when I read the label I threw them away. http://www.prenate.com/LEAFLET-Prenate%20DHA%20021512.pdf

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    1. wowwww thank you so much for sharing!! Honestly - the stupid CVS label was always over the ingredients part of the box and I guess I never really studied or noticed this!! I will be looking into this more, but thank you for sharing!

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  8. Thanks for this article and research! I decided to stop Rainbow Light as well... I guess it's fine but I just don't want to take any risks here... it is just pretty crazy how many options they are on the market in the US while in my home country (France), you only take folic acid for 3 months before and the first 3 months of the pregnancy and that's all that's recommended and guess what... my first one turned out fine :D!

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