Taking Prenatals or Multi-Vitamins?

lgsdesigner

Which one are you taking?
I have heard various comments about both. Some people tell you prenatals are better because the high amount of vitamin A in multivitamins is not good for fertility, and then on the other foot I have heard that multivitamins are better than prenatals because you get a lot more variety of vitamins.

I always thought as long as you get 400-600c of folic acid, that’s really all that matters, but I could be wrong. 

hooligans4

I take rainbow light with a separate DHA pill. You should be getting 800 mg of folic and 200 of DHA.
I have been reading up on the DHA and most say to take a plant based to avoid the possible mercury from the fish they get it from. I'm vegetarian so I always took plant based but my sister is pregnant and I was looking into or for her.
As long as you eat healthy, and I'm sure you do being a lifter and all, you probably get most of your vitamins and minerals from food. Just be sure to get the folic acid and DHA and you are golden.

marijaa333

I take Prenatal One. That seems to be commonly recommended.

lgsdesigner

@hooligans4 - I eat really healthy, but wanted to be sure I got enough of all the good stuff. I will go with prenatals then and get prepared. We aren't TTC until end of August, so I should be golden if I start now. Thanks

@marijaa333 - Thanks! I will look for those.

gabbagal

I take gummy (vitafusion) prenatals b/c I hate swallowing pills if I don't have to. They don't have calcium or iron but have 800 mcg of Folic Acid. I asked my OB's office if it mattered if I wasn't getting extra iron or calcium and the nurse I spoke to said Folic Acid is the most important before you're pg, then you can worry about the other stuff.

in case anyone else who doesn't like to swallow pills is interested, here's the info for the gummies:

https://www.gummyvites.com/en/vitafusion/Products/vitafusion-PreNatal/Supplement-Facts

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Lesliem0901

I take prescription prenatals b/c they're free at my pharmacy. Free is good when TTC.

NeonNoon

I discovered a couple of months ago that I was allergic to Vitamin E.  So multis/PNVs are generally out.  Folate doesn't sit too well in my tummy either.  My strategy is to eat healthily and use fitday.com occasionally to check whether I'm missing anything.  It's a website that lets you log your food intake (& exercise) and breaks it down for you into macro- and micronutrients. It doesn't report folate intake though.  So I estimate that on my own.  I also supplement with krill oil, vit C, vit D3 and magnesium.

MelissaMiso

***Child mentioned***

I started taking prenatals long before TTC DD, also a vegetarian version and take a vegetarian DHA since getting KU the first time. I never stopped taking them bc I'm still nursing the toddle-monster. I also like the iron because I am usually right above acceptable iron level for blood donating. There were some studies that have come out saying taking prenatals/DHA up to a year before conceiving may have added benefits but starting them at anytime in the process is beneficial.

@NeonNoon Just curious, how did you find out you were allergic to Vitamin E? What kind of reaction do you have? I know for me, I cannot take vitamin on an empty stomach without feeling queasy. Not an allergy, I know, but an unpleasant side effect for sure.

NeonNoon

@MelissaMiso I started a vitamin E supplement (on its own, not part of multi) because so many celebrity doctors recommend it.  A few days later, I had dermatitis between my fingers (really gross looking flaky skin) and a few days after that I was itching all over my body.  I stopped the supplement and the symptoms went away almost immediately.  Luckily, I am OK with vitamin E foods.

I have been contemplating trying again with the folate (I did take it with food before) - maybe folic acid this time.  But I feel I am getting enough in my food.  These decisions are frustrating!

meredithcarole

I take a regular prenatal with a fish oil supplement for DHA.

lgsdesigner

@gabbagal- OOooo....gummies!!! I think I may try those. Thank you!

Guennie

Siggy warning.

TTC graduate here- I just wanted to mention if you haven't been tested for MTHFR this is something that you should request. When I tested positive for this defect I started taking prenatals with FOLATE, not folic acid, and I took an extra folate supplement in addition along with B-12 as a cofactor. This made all the difference for me. After several early losses I finally had success. And just as a side note, there are some studies starting to show that folate is much better to take than folic acid, so you may want to consider taking it anyway. I took New Chapter Perfect Prenatals and still take them while breastfeeding.

Good luck to you!

MelissaMiso

@NeonNoon That is scary!