@ladybugsamom Folic acid is great unless you have one or more MTHFR gene variants (which you can find out through genetic testing). If you have one of these variants you cannot process folic acid as well and it is safer for you to take folate. A lot of brands have it, but most of the mainstream ones don't. I take Thorne, which has folate.
Ladies who take gummies, do the brands you use have DHA in them? I couldn't find gummies with more than like 50 (whatever the unit is) of DHA so I gave up the search.
I would love a gummie!
Edited bc TB types random stuff instead of what I'm writing!
Taking Pure Encapsulations prenatals after some researching, and my one negative is that they have a powder coating and even this early it's making me sick swallowing it.
So, I'm wondering if you ladies can help. I haven't started taking them yet but I am lactose intolerant and usually I am forced to take a calcium supplement but it kills my stomach. Does anyone know of a prenatal with higher calcium? I usually become pretty anemic too. Last pregnancy I got down to a 9 point something.
DD born August 17, 2010 DS born October 13, 2014 Baby #3 due March 2018
Anyone take Nexa Plus? I heard it's really good and I'm calling today for a prenatal prescription.
TMI - I definitely need the stool softeners...constipation was my first pregnancy sign and my worst symptom with my last pregnancy.
@vflux33 I plan plan to ask my OB today when I call, but do you know if that also applies to people with the Factor V Leiden gene? I'm heterozygous. My old doctor didn't mention anything with the last pregnancy and I'm wondering if that was an error.
Last pregnancy I took the Bellybar Chewable Prenatal Tablets on Amazon. Rainbow light upset my stomach and I couldn't swallow it without gagging. There seem to be few chewable options for vegetarians out there, though I did see a gummy option on Amazon that wasn't available my last pregnancy. I'm probably just going to do Bellybar again because it has iron and the gummy option does not.
My RE told me yesterday that pregnant women need to be taking at least 3,000 iu of Vitamin D3 a day and said most prenatals, including mine, only have 1,000. So we went and bought some additional vitamin d for me to start taking. Might be something to ask your doctor about.
LFAF February Siggy Challenge - "Favorite TV/Movie Couple"
@isntthatspeshul As far as I can tell that is a completely different genetic issue and the folate might not make a difference for you (that said, it's not hard to find a PNV with folate and the folate isn't bad for people without the MTHFR variant, so, up to you--folate is more "natural" supposedly than folic acid). For yours you'll definitely want to talk to your doctor, and from what I've heard, strongly consider early genetic testing.
@Everycol0r Not trying to freak anyone out, but I have a known D deficiency (was tested years ago) and I was taking like 4-5000 iu per day. My RE said that was WAY too much and only to take 800-1000 because high amounts of synthetic D were linked to birth defects. Don't you love how all these doctors are super consistent???? Ugh so frustrating.
@vflux33 that is interesting and yes definitely frustrating on how varied doctors can be. I checked the APA early which says that studies have found taking 4,000 iu has shown to help reduce preterm labor/birth defects. Of course I definitely think people should follow the guidelines set by their doctors but I always like having these types of suggestions to at least ask them about.
LFAF February Siggy Challenge - "Favorite TV/Movie Couple"
@Everycol0r Yeah it was my RE and not my OB who said this so I'll probably ask my OB too just to have my bases covered. My RE is by no means perfect (she refused to order bloodwork for PCOS because I didn't have cysts and it turned out I did have PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria, and told me to take more folic acid when she learned of my MTHFR variants, which is flat out wrong), but she has given me a lot of other sound advice too (like baby aspirin, trying IUI before IVF, and she got me KU relatively quickly), so IDK. There is always a possibility that there is something we're not aware of in your/my medical history to cause them to give conflicting advice to us, but my RE definitely phrased it like it was something she said to everyone. As much as we'd all love to believe otherwise, this stuff is not an exact science, unfortunately. Hopefully we all end up on all the vitamins and meds our bodies require to keep things running smoothly!
I took Liquid Health Prenatal Vitamin last time because I have trouble swallowing pills, but it's making me so nauseous this time around and I can't stand the taste, so I ordered Megafood Baby + Me 2, and will try using that once I run out of my open bottle of the liquid stuff. Except the pills don't have DHA so I'll be taking that separately.
@isntthatspeshul I, too, have Factor V (hetero). Are you doing anything different for that? I take the Garden of Life vitamin because I had read Folate is more ideal for all, but maybe I misread. I'm sticking with it because it's gentle on my stomach and doesn't add so much to my already terrible constipation struggle.
@chasingroygbiv I'm on baby aspirin. That's really it. Doctor just prescribed me citranatal harmony and it has folic acid, not folate, so I'm not sure it really matters. I'm sure he'll mention lovenox at the first appt in two weeks, but if I remember correctly from my last pregnancy, ACOG says baby aspirin is enough for the heterozygous gene unless there are other complications or issues. Are you taking anything? Have you had your first appt?
@isntthatspeshul Yes, I've had my first appt, but now I'll get referred to MFM where they'll tell me if there have been any changes in recommendations for FV or not and create a plan. With our son I did nothing different from a non FV mother. With my daughter they said recommendations changed and I started Lovenox after delivery for 6 weeks. My OB believed that is the same now, so that's kind of what I'm expecting. I AM taking an aspirin this go around because *TW* I've miscarried 3x consecutively for no apparent reason so they aren't sure if FV is the cause or if I've just been having crummy luck. So for now aspirin (which I prefer to take anyway, in case) and Progesterone.
@chasingroygbiv I'm so sorry for your losses. Glad you're being monitored extra. I saw MFM with my last pregnancy too because of the FV, but I didn't take lovenox postpartum. I have a new doctor so I'm not sure if he'll suggest it this time around or not. My first appt is on the 27th and I'm sure it will all be discussed. Frankly, the extra monitoring gave me piece of mind so I hope he'll refer me for this pregnancy.
@isntthatspeshul I, too, appreciate the extra monitoring. Oddly enough with my losses they kind of shoo'd me away after my first appointment, they definitely didn't do that with my healthy pregnancies, so I feel like that was a bad omen. I may just request for my sanity that they keep me. I'm only a little crazy.
@crossfitbabybump I am taking Vitafusion gummies (I got at target, target also has their own brand version)... they are raspberry lemonade and regular lemonade flavored, which I thought i wouldn't like but they taste fine! I took this giant, eggplant colored pill my last pregnancy and I hated it. I thought I was going to be sick every time. A lot of mom friends recommended a gummy prenatal so I gave it a try and it's great! They are stored in the fridge which helps me to easily remember everyday because I look in the fridge every single day! Before I tried keeping them on my vanity, on my nightstand, in my bag, at my desk at work, etc etc and I still constantly forgot to take them. For whatever reason the gummies in the fridge are working wonders!
PSA: Meijer has free prenatals with a prescription from your dr. I take one of those and then add an algae based DHA supplement. (Probably for people who don't experience a lot of side effects from vitamins and are ok with large pills though as they are nothing fancy.) During 2nd tri and on I'll probably have to add iron again as I was slightly anemic last time around once my blood volume doubled.
Me: 30 H: 30 Dx: PCOS Married: June 2013 TTC#1: January 2015 BFP #1 8/24/15 | MC 9/3/15 at 6w2d BFP #2: 12/12/15 | DD born 8/29/16 TTC#2: June 2017 BFP #3: 7/15/17 | DS born 3/20/18
I normally take Children's Complete Multivitamins (store brand equivalent of Flintstones Complete), which contain 400 units of Folic Acid and some Iron. Since I got my BFP, I added to that an additional serving of Children's Gummies (store brand equivalent of Little Critters, what my son), which doesn't contain iron. This is what my doctor told me to do last time and it worked out pretty well for me - no gagging on horse pills and I'm generally avoiding the constipation that comes from too much iron supplement that tends to be an issue with prenatals and grownup women's vitamins in general.
@kitandcat thank you! I will try the gummies. I think a big part of it is that they are like horse pills and I just cannot swallow them! Then it makes me more sick. They smell bad and I cut them in half to help swallow them so I can actually taste it, too. YUCK! I've heard good thing about the gummies as well so thanks! I will stop at Target after work
Took Rainbow Light for years prior to TTC. Switched to Mega Food Baby & Me once I got pregnant the first time to have folate instead of folic acid. Multiple pills and had to add liquid iron, not tasty. So, switched back to Rainbow Light.
Me: 39 DP: 49
TTC since Jan 2017 BFP #2 7/11/17 | EDD 3/24/18 BFP #1 5/2/17 | EDD 1/12/18 | MC 5/18/17
I took New Chapter Perfect Prenatal (best deal on amazon) while pregnant with and nursing DD, and for the last several months in preparation for this pregnancy. I love it, doesn't hurt my stomach and is made with real food.
Hey friends! Just a heads up that if you're taking the Rainbow Light prenatals then you need to add in an additional vitamin D3 pill. RL has D2 (to keep it vegan) which is not absorbed well by your body and being D deficient can be a problem for pregnancy and general health.
I'm doing Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw prenatals
Any of the gummies have sufficient DHA? I would love a gummy!
I take NOW Prenatals bc they have a good amount of everything and my ob was impressed with them. Actually, I use NOW Brand everything, oils, supplements, everything.
@barrelocarol Recently switched to Smarty Pants gummies (because of MS) and though they don't have iron they do have DHA-- found separate gummies for iron.
Re: GTKY: Prenatals
I would love a gummie!
Edited bc TB types random stuff instead of what I'm writing!
DS born October 13, 2014
Baby #3 due March 2018
TMI - I definitely need the stool softeners...constipation was my first pregnancy sign and my worst symptom with my last pregnancy.
@vflux33 I plan plan to ask my OB today when I call, but do you know if that also applies to people with the Factor V Leiden gene? I'm heterozygous. My old doctor didn't mention anything with the last pregnancy and I'm wondering if that was an error.
LFAF February Siggy Challenge - "Favorite TV/Movie Couple"
DD: 10/17/13
TTC#2 Actively: 10/14, NTNP: 01/14
Left-Sided Hydrosalpinx (cause: genetic abnormality, TREATED 11/16)
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/396b04
@Everycol0r Not trying to freak anyone out, but I have a known D deficiency (was tested years ago) and I was taking like 4-5000 iu per day. My RE said that was WAY too much and only to take 800-1000 because high amounts of synthetic D were linked to birth defects. Don't you love how all these doctors are super consistent???? Ugh so frustrating.
LFAF February Siggy Challenge - "Favorite TV/Movie Couple"
DD: 10/17/13
TTC#2 Actively: 10/14, NTNP: 01/14
Left-Sided Hydrosalpinx (cause: genetic abnormality, TREATED 11/16)
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/396b04
-- Melissa
Me: 36 DH:35
Married: 7/10/2016
TTC#1 - May 2016
BFP 9/6/2016 - Missed MC 10/20/2016
BFP 5/5/2017 - CP
IVF #1 - June 2017 - Transferred 1 fresh 4 AA embryo. 7/9 Beta #1 - 161
Dx: PCOS
Married: June 2013
TTC#1: January 2015
BFP #1 8/24/15 | MC 9/3/15 at 6w2d
BFP #2: 12/12/15 | DD born 8/29/16
TTC#2: June 2017
BFP #3: 7/15/17 | DS born 3/20/18
BFP #2 7/11/17 | EDD 3/24/18
BFP #1 5/2/17 | EDD 1/12/18 | MC 5/18/17
BFP #2 7/11/17 | EDD 3/24/18
BFP #1 5/2/17 | EDD 1/12/18 | MC 5/18/17
I'm doing Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw prenatals
I take NOW Prenatals bc they have a good amount of everything and my ob was impressed with them. Actually, I use NOW Brand everything, oils, supplements, everything.
Edited bc I would also take a liquid. I'm just over swallowing geltabs right now.
ETA tag