Is it okay to switch?

altow1310

Does anyone know if it's ok to switch prenatal vitamins during pregnancy? The ones I'm currently taking need to be taken four times a day, and I have been so bad about remembering during the day. Most days I take two, maybe three, but hardly ever the full four. I'd like to switch to a once daily vitamin, as it worries me to not get the full dosage due to missing them throughout the day. Any known dangers with switching? Also, any recommendations for a once daily vitamin for the remainder of pregnancy and postpartum care?

leighann1

4 times a day?! Holy cow. I switched brands just because my health insurance sent me some new ones. Unless there's a reason you've been prescribed a certain pill, I don't see why not. I've been going back and forth between the Walgreens brand and whatever was on sale at CVS...

I intend to keep taking the prenatals postpartum unless my doctor recommends otherwise. 

nicklovesmel

It's ok to switch to the prenatal that works best for you. The vitamins that are split up into multiple pills per day have the benefit of increasing absorption of the different vitamins in the pill. (For example--if we take all our B vitamins at one time we will pee out the extra your body doesn't need at that time. If we spread out the dose into multiple pills your body can absorb more because we are spreading it out.) I take a vitamin that is 3 pills per day. Many days I will also miss a pill or two so I will just take the ones I missed when I remember. This is no different than taking a one-a-day vitamin. So, either you can switch to a once daily or you can take more than one of your current vitamins at a time when you forget to spread it out. As long as you don't take more than the number recommended for the day. Hope that helps.

plumpous

I switched. The old ones I had were hard to swallow and gave me indigestion.

It's vitamins, not medication. You can switch. It's like asking, is it ok if I switch my vitamin C intake from oranges to apples....

I really like the gummies at Costco. After dinner I take 2 multi vitamin gummies, and 2 calcium gummies. They are delicious- almost like dessert for me. Because I like them, I remember to take them.

FrozenMommy

I take Flintstone kids vitamins now 4 times a day, hoping to up my iron without having to take extra ferrous sulfate. I see no reason why you can't switch, but just let your doc know. 

komorebi

I take a liquid that i love. Once a day after breakfast (it has iron so i have to eat with it but the iron free version is okay on an empty stomach). Let me go look at the name.

komorebi

https://www.swansonvitamins.com/buried-treasure-prenatal-plus-dha-complete-16-fl-oz-liquid

I love this stuff. I don't usually spend on things but this vitamin is worth it. I took out with my last dd and post natally.

plumpous

Iron is not enough on its own. If you don't get enough B-12, the iron won't take.

wildbutterfli2001

Holy cow! 4 per day! That's insane! Never heard of such a thing.

ameares721

I asked my doctor for a prescription and my insurance covers them! It's just one pill a day and I'm pretty sure it's similar to all the OTC ones. I did find some "postnatal" vitamins for breastfeeding moms on sale at a local grocery store so I grabbed some of those, too!

jenspeake

I have a hard time remembering to take my one pill a day!  I take the Nature Made Prenatal with DHA.