Weekly randoms w/o 4.12

pajamstagrams

acleverusername

Excellent gif choice @pajamstagrams; corgis; waiting to get one. 

Let's talk prenatals. I'm looking to switch from the one I'm on currently (Vitamin Code RAW Prenatal), and did some ingredient comparison (in spoiler) with top ones I've heard mentioned in forums, podcasts, etc. The ingredients (both content and dosage) really vary. Which ones are you taking? Why? 

chgilmore

@acleverusername currently on Nature Made multi + DHA (200mg). image in spoiler of the supplement facts. I chose this one because it seemed to have everything I need based on what I know I'm getting in my diet in addition to other supplements I take (super B complex, D, and omega 3+6). It was also one of the only ones where I shop that wasn't a gummy version, and I need the iron.

[Deleted User]

I take mama select prenatal with folate and nordic naturals dha.  Someone just started this thread on the 1st trimester board as well, you may get more input there too....
<div class=" Spoiler"><img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/06/cg2mkzqi2xk0.jpg" alt="">
<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/q9/w0ucjnx72y3w.jpg" alt="">
<p>I also take a million other things though, like Calcium, D/K, C, Zinc, etc etc etc....</p><p>
</p><p>Also!  I just realized that my vitamin contains soy! 🤦🤦🤦 So we'll see, I may use this conversation as a springboard to switch...</p></div>

chgilmore

@BusinessWife I'm taking nordic naturals too!

inthewoods23

I'm on the Smarty Pants prenatal gummies. I've considered switching to the Olli (or Olle? Ollie?) brand gummies but they pack a lot less in those than the Smarty Pants so I have yet to switch to anything else. I also take the Nordic Naturals DHA like @BusinessWife but only take 1 a day instead of 2 since the Smarty Pants already have some DHA in them.

I for the life of me can't get a screenshot of the ingredient list pasted here...

Way in the early days I was taking the Mommy & Me 2 pills that were massive but those were way more expensive. I switched to the Smarty Pants around the time I saw the RE who didn't exactly recommended them... but said a lot of her patients take it so I guess that means she approved of them.

inthewoods23

FWIW, I've either heard or read, brand really does not matter. Basically any prenatal is better than nothing

Oh, and just wanted to add that the Smarty Pants is folate too, not folic acid.

pajamstagrams

I get mine from my doctor, so you probably can't buy off the shelf, but here is what it is if you want to compare:

 

I also take a separate fish oil supplement, which gives me ~ 800 mg DHA and ~1000 mg EPA, with 2 pills. And then I take K2D3 with 10,000 IU of vitamin D. (Also all from my doctor)

I like smarty pants as a back up if I run out of my normal prenatals because it's easy to find and has folate. 

anniemarie887

I really like Persona... ya know when I remember to take it... but it's a subscription service that just shows up... their prenatal "pack" is cal/mag w/vit d, omega 3, probiotic and prenatal... and you can tweak it for other things.

the prenatal is x3 pills

acleverusername

I take so many other vitamins besides my prenatal, so I too feel like any prenatal will do. But for example, I was surprised to discover the importance of choline, which my current prenatal doesn't have. And looking at the ones others are taking, it doesn’t look to be a common ingredient:

https://modernfertility.com/blog/choline-during-pregnancy/

chgilmore

@acleverusername I read about that in a 90-day pre-conception book ("Before your pregnancy: a 90-day guide for couples on how to prepare for a healthy conception" by Lisa Mazzullo) and then I remember immediately after reading it intently reading every vitamin supplement list and being disappointed about the lack of several nutrients including choline. that said, I remember the book also talking about where we could add in these things in sufficient amounts in our diets, and choline, for instance, is present in "beef liver, eggs, fish, nuts, cauliflower and broccoli."

inthewoods23

@acleverusername looks like mine has 55mg (10%). I guess I'm ahead of the pack here. I shouldn't be surprised at how different brands are when it comes to what they put in their prenatals. The vitamin and supplement industry isn't that well regulated.

I really should consider adding iron. I don't believe any gummy vitamin includes them and I remember years ago when I was donating blood that my iron levels were barely above the minimum.

[Deleted User]

@inthewoods23 Iron can cause constipation, so jsyk, you can even start taking it EOD or every third day.  That can be a good way to get the levels up while keeping your digestive system happy :)

[Deleted User]

This is New Chapter I used to take... 
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fantasyflyte

I'm just taking the Target brand prenatal, plus also Vitamin B complex, Vitamin D, magnesium, and cinnamon. It's been a while since I researched it, but I remember liking the overall average amounts of ingredients in the Target one for the price.

boymama2018

@fantasyflyte cinnamon, how interesting! I just started drinking cinnamon apple tea in the morning. 

fantasyflyte

@boymama2018 I have PCOS and my obgyn wanted me to start drinking cinnamon-ginger tea to help regulate ovulation, but I can't stomach tea, so I started taking a daily cinnamon supplement instead. Haven't been doing it long enough to say for sure if it's making a difference, but I figure it can't hurt!