Prenatal Vitamins Question

[aristocatz]

Just found out yesterday that I am pregnant!

I picked up One a Day Prenatal Vitamins and took the allotted amount.

I'm new at this, so I'm kinda learning all about everything, but I'm confused-now that I am taking the prenatal vitamins, do I stop my regular regime of:
-One a Day Multi-vitamin
-400mg Folic Acid
-2 Calcium chews
-1 Vitamin E

?? I'm just not sure what to do!

Thanks!

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

You would stop taking the usual course and only take the prenatals. If you have deficiencies you can discuss with your doctor about any other supplements.

 

[Coconut36]

You would stop taking the usual course and only take the prenatals. If you have deficiencies you can discuss with your doctor about any other supplements.

I agree. A prenatal would replace your multi vitamin.

Certain vitamins/supplements are not recommended during pregnancy (or certain amounts of certain vitamins/supplements) as they are not safe so the safest thing is to take only the prenatal (that contains the right amount of folic acid..if you take the folic and the prenatal you are getting a double dose) and speak to your Dr if there are any deficiencies or special needs for you personally but it should be under their care/advisement that you take anything else.

 

[aristocatz]

You would stop taking the usual course and only take the prenatals. If you have deficiencies you can discuss with your doctor about any other supplements.

Thank you! My doctor's appt is not for 2 weeks, so I just wanted to make sure I was doing this right!!

 

[java]

Yep just the prenatals until you go to your doctor. You will probably get prescription ones from your OBGYN and as long as the one you are taking has the folic acid you should be good.
That's the most important imho! at this early stage of development.

Congratulations!!!

 

[aristocatz]

Yep just the prenatals until you go to your doctor. You will probably get prescription ones from your OBGYN and as long as the one you are taking has the folic acid you should be good.
That's the most important imho! at this early stage of development.

Congratulations!!!

Thank you!! I didn't realize I would be getting prescription ones! Darn, I just bought a box of One a Day Prenatals and a container of Prenatal gummys because I was afraid the One a Days would be too hard to swallow. I typically have difficulty swallowing large pills, but the One a Days were actually pretty easy. Oh well.

The ones I bought have 800mg folic acid. Are the prescription ones typically better for you?

 

[Kellydelly]

You don't need prescription prenatal vitamins. I am betting that your insurance may not cover them, since they are readily available over the counter now. Just keep eating healthy, take the vitamins you bought and stop drinking diet Coke .

 

[aristocatz]

You don't need prescription prenatal vitamins. I am betting that your insurance may not cover them, since they are readily available over the counter now. Just keep eating healthy, take the vitamins you bought and stop drinking diet Coke .

LOL! I"ve been Diet Coke-free since the weekend!!

 

[Bilberry]

If she has not already, one vitamin level you might ask your doctor to check is vitamin D3. The amount in the multi probably will not be enough for your needs. With many people staying out of the sun more often, and being winter now too, I've read stories of babies being born with rickets of late. Another recent tragic case I read recently, with the parents being accused of child abuse:

"Child abuse? Or vitamin D deficiency rickets?"

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/news-archive/2009/child-abuse-or-vitamin-d-deficiency-rickets/

 

[aristocatz]

If she has not already, one vitamin level you might ask your doctor to check is vitamin D3. The amount in the multi probably will not be enough for your needs. With many people staying out of the sun more often, and being winter now too, I've read stories of babies being born with rickets of late. Another recent tragic case I read recently, with the parents being accused of child abuse:

"Child abuse? Or vitamin D deficiency rickets?"

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/news-archive/2009/child-abuse-or-vitamin-d-deficiency-rickets/

How much Vitamin D3 is the recommended amount during pregnancy?

 

[Coconut36]

Thank you!! I didn't realize I would be getting prescription ones! Darn, I just bought a box of One a Day Prenatals and a container of Prenatal gummys because I was afraid the One a Days would be too hard to swallow. I typically have difficulty swallowing large pills, but the One a Days were actually pretty easy. Oh well.

The ones I bought have 800mg folic acid. Are the prescription ones typically better for you?

No...there is no big difference between Rx and over the counter prenatals..one is not superior or healthier than the other either. My OB said some of the Rx ones have a higher amount of B6 to help with nausea but otherwise go with whatever works out to be best for you.

D3 is important but do NOT take supplements without asking your Dr about it. It's entirely possible you are not deficient and will take too much and since it is a fat soluble vitamin it can be toxic if you are getting too much of it. 600IU is the recommended dose for pregnancy..whatever is in your prenatal is fine at this point. It would only be a concern IF you are found to be deficient or it is suggested by your Dr.

By the way..while it is true people are suffering from Vit D deficiencies more often now than they did in the past due to use of sunscreen/staying indoors the link posted also has some serious inaccuracies that make me question it overall..comments like "breastmilk contains no Vitamin D" and the dosages of Vitamin D they talk about are way off. Breastmilk most certainly contains Vit D (not in huge amounts but in a form that is best absorbed/used by the infants body) but in certain areas/situations supplements are needed..however having nursed 2 children for 12 and 13 months each I never had to supplement them and their levels were fine. Nursing Moms are NOT suggested to take in 6,000IU of Vit D at all. Nothing over 2,000IU is recommended for adults and nothing over 1,000 for children/

So do take what you are reading there with a grain of salt as it contains some gross inaccuracies but does discuss a valid issue some women/children face.

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/vitamin-d.html

 

[englishteacha]

Congrats! Yup, just take the prenatal vitamin. Mine are the grocery store brand. I was able to get in to see my primary care doctor the day after I got the positive test, and she said to just get whatever was least expensive.

I was very sick in the beginning of my pregnancy and the prenatal vitamins aggravated my stomach, so I was taking 2 children's vitamins until recently. I hope you DON'T get super sick like I did!!!

And thanks for this thread...I'd forgotten to take my prenatal vitamin today!

 

[aristocatz]

I'll hold off on buying extra D for now.

I checked my prenatal vitamins and they have 400 of vitamin D.

In addition to my prenatals, I have also been taking 2 calcium chews per day. I was hesitant to give these up because of the importance of calcium when you are pregnant and in addition, osteoporosis runs in my family.

Geez, I just checked the label of my calcium chews-maybe I should not be taking two of them per day in addition to my prenatal.

For EACH chew (recommended is two per day):
500 IU vitamin D
40 mcg vitamin K
500 mg calcium
15 mg sodium

What do you think? Should I just take one per day? Or none?

 

[Coconut36]

I'll hold off on buying extra D for now.

I checked my prenatal vitamins and they have 400 of vitamin D.

In addition to my prenatals, I have also been taking 2 calcium chews per day. I was hesitant to give these up because of the importance of calcium when you are pregnant and in addition, osteoporosis runs in my family.

Geez, I just checked the label of my calcium chews-maybe I should not be taking two of them per day in addition to my prenatal.

For EACH chew (recommended is two per day):
500 IU vitamin D
40 mcg vitamin K
500 mg calcium
15 mg sodium

What do you think? Should I just take one per day? Or none?

Since it is only 2 weeks until you visit I would take none. You are safer to err on the side of taking nothing than in taking it. Are you able to drink milk or consume other calcium rich foods? If so I would focus on that as you can't OD on food based Vit D/calcium but can on supplements.

My OB admits she is overly cautious but she is not one to suggest anything be taken (outside of the prenatal and of course assuming the patient doesn't have other needs..for the average pregnancy) especially in the first trimester..not even Tylenol is her preference so her suggestions/attitude influence my suggestions but when you are pregnant it is really better to NOT take medications unless they have been approved/cleared by your OB.

 

[aristocatz]

Since it is only 2 weeks until you visit I would take none. You are safer to err on the side of taking nothing than in taking it. Are you able to drink milk or consume other calcium rich foods? If so I would focus on that as you can't OD on food based Vit D/calcium but can on supplements.

My OB admits she is overly cautious but she is not one to suggest anything be taken especially in the first trimester..not even Tylenol is her preference so her suggestions/attitude influence my suggestions but when you are pregnant it is really better to NOT take medications unless they have been approved/cleared by your OB.

Thank you I am going to hold off on taking anything but my prenatals until my doctor's visit.....

Paranoid question, but I took two chews this morning and started my prenatal vitamins this afternoon. I am not planning to take the chews any more. This is no big deal, right?

It's my first pregnancy and I've been a little paranoid about everything since yesterday

Also, I seem to have developed a cold in the past few days-no fever but lots of sneezing, very runny nose, etc... I have not taken any OTC meds for it, nor do I plan to. I've just been drinking water and chicken rice soup. Should I be concerned about being sick so early in my pregnancy?

 

[Coconut36]

I wouldn't fret about what you already took.

No I wouldn't worry about being sick so early either..congestion can be common in early pregnancy and your immune system changes a bit so as long as you aren't feverish (one of my OB's exceptions for Tylenol in the first tri) I wouldn't take anything and just stay hydrated and you can do things like saline nasal spray if it helps you.

 

[taylor3297]

Thank you I am going to hold off on taking anything but my prenatals until my doctor's visit.....

Paranoid question, but I took two chews this morning and started my prenatal vitamins this afternoon. I am not planning to take the chews any more. This is no big deal, right?

It's my first pregnancy and I've been a little paranoid about everything since yesterday

Also, I seem to have developed a cold in the past few days-no fever but lots of sneezing, very runny nose, etc... I have not taken any OTC meds for it, nor do I plan to. I've just been drinking water and chicken rice soup. Should I be concerned about being sick so early in my pregnancy?

You will be fine. Also, having a cold is no big deal really while pregnant. If your nose really bothers you, you can use a neti pot to clean out your sinuses.

 

[aristocatz]

Thank you both! As long as it's not harming the baby, I think I can suck it up and deal with the cold

The only symptom I've had so far, besides mild cramping, that has really been annoying is for the past 7 days, I've woken up at 4am every morning and not been able to get back to sleep Not sure what to do about that. I've totally eliminated caffeine from my diet.

 

[aprilgail2]

You don't need prescription prenatal vitamins. I am betting that your insurance may not cover them, since they are readily available over the counter now. Just keep eating healthy, take the vitamins you bought and stop drinking diet Coke .

I only took prescription ones my whole pregnancy and my insurance covered them. The day the dr got my pregnancy test results they wrote me a prescription-- I don't like to take pills of any type but I have to say that I took these every single day my whole pregnancy and the darn things were like horse pills!!!

 

[Coconut36]

I only took prescription ones my whole pregnancy and my insurance covered them. The day the dr got my pregnancy test results they wrote me a prescription-- I don't like to take pills of any type but I have to say that I took these every single day my whole pregnancy and the darn things were like horse pills!!!

That's good..but not always the case. My insurance did not. A month's supply was around $32 co pay vs $10 for the Target brand that my OB said were just as good as the Rx. You are lucky you have insurance coverage for it but that is hardly the case for everyone especially with the prevalence of OTC products.