Is it too late to start taking DHA?

gymnst1013

I"ve been taking prenatals for 3 1/2 years now so I always skipped the vitamin posts.  But I was reading the one below about everyone taking DHA as well.  My doc never mentioned anything about it - just asked if I take prenatals.

Is it something that you need to build up early like folic acid?

SarahP15

I was unaware of DHA until a few days ago also, when reading prenatal postings so I'm also interested in this..

lovejoyinme

well i have not started taking DHA yet, but i am going to. my OB wants me to take it, but said that it wasn't that important right now. she said that all i really need this early is folic acid. i am going to start it now anyway. 

MommyJD

I take it now.  I am sure it won't hurt the baby if you dont but I know that DHA is supposed to help with brain and nervous system development and eye development.

mommy411

It's a good vitamin to take,not to late.I take the CVS brand that is compared to Expectra.

Pretzel80

An omega-3 supplement is good to take anytime, PG or not, so I would start taking it now.  I don't think its one of those things that you have to build up like folic acid.  Find one that had at least 200mg of DHA and you should be all set.  Mine is a generic omega-3 gel cap from Costco that has 270mg of DHA and other omega-3's...it was much cheaper than the "prenatal DHA" supplements and I confirmed the amounts were the same.  

babyduejune

DHA is so important for so many reasons!!  Great for baby's forming brain and great for mom's growing body.  Krill oil is the best, splurge and spend a couple extra bucks buying it at the health food store, it will be a much better product that way vs. buying from a Walgreens or Walmart where the supplements aren't regulated well, or worse, imported from China.

sunflowr0803

Definitely not too late! I didn't know I was supposed to take it until I talked to a PG friend of mine at the beginning of my last pregnancy. I still had almost a full box leftover, so I figured I might as well start taking it - it won't hurt! My friend said she got a ton of samples & coupons from her OB, so that's worth a shot. The Expecta one I take is about $10 for 30 - and that will certainly add up over 9 months, so asking for samples & coupons would definitely help!

march2008

My ARNP had never mentioned DHA to me either, but I happened to read about it in a book prior to becoming pregnant. I started taking it as soon as we started TTC. Here is a link to a video that has Doctor Oz's take on DHA:

 https://www.doctoroz.com/videos/dha-pregnancy-animation

LauraOTR

My doctor told me that you can wait until you are pregnant to start DHA. It certainly can't hurt to just start now...definitely wouldn't say it's too late.

gymnst1013

Thanks ladies!  I just got some at GNC - 250mg per capsule.  They weren't too expensive - $10.99 for 60. 

DreamChaser246

babyduejune:

DHA is so important for so many reasons!!  Great for baby's forming brain and great for mom's growing body.  Krill oil is the best, splurge and spend a couple extra bucks buying it at the health food store, it will be a much better product that way vs. buying from a Walgreens or Walmart where the supplements aren't regulated well, or worse, imported from China.

Definitly! Since DHA is usually made from fish products, it is very important that you get one that is quality (and therefore Mercury free). 

I get Oceans Mom Prenatal DHA (I like better, take two smaller rather than one larger) or MorDHA. I just watch for some great vitamin sale and stock up!

Magenta728

I've been taking Omega 3's. Is that the same thing? The back of my bottle says "Fish Oil  2,400mg" and then lists EPA and DHA

Birdies08

Magenta728:

I've been taking Omega 3's. Is that the same thing? The back of my bottle says "Fish Oil  2,400mg" and then lists EPA and DHA

Yes. I'd just been eating foods rich in omega 3s, until I realized they didn't all have DHA. Now I'm drinking DHA enriched soy milk. 

Magenta728

Birdies08:

Magenta728:

I've been taking Omega 3's. Is that the same thing? The back of my bottle says "Fish Oil  2,400mg" and then lists EPA and DHA

Yes. I'd just been eating foods rich in omega 3s, until I realized they didn't all have DHA. Now I'm drinking DHA enriched soy milk. 

That's a good idea! I think I'll do that too. I HATE milk, but this morning I was reading how important calcium is, so I decided to drink chocolate milk. And I'll mix it with DHA enriched soy milk. Thank you

gymnst1013

Magenta728:

I've been taking Omega 3's. Is that the same thing? The back of my bottle says "Fish Oil  2,400mg" and then lists EPA and DHA

I checked my fish oil pills first and mine don't contain a significant amount of DHA or EPA.  They are listed but they have ** by them which indicates its not a measurable amount (or something like that).

Magenta728

gymnst1013:

Magenta728:

I've been taking Omega 3's. Is that the same thing? The back of my bottle says "Fish Oil  2,400mg" and then lists EPA and DHA

I checked my fish oil pills first and mine don't contain a significant amount of DHA or EPA.  They are listed but they have ** by them which indicates its not a measurable amount (or something like that).

I think I'm going to buy the ones you got from GNC just to be safe. I'd rather waste vitamins than not get enough DHA.

sunflowr0803

gymnst1013:

Thanks ladies!  I just got some at GNC - 250mg per capsule.  They weren't too expensive - $10.99 for 60. 

That's a great deal! I'll have to check it out.  

jckh912

I just started last week, and my OB said it was better to start late than never.

susieandmarty

feeling stupid because i never ever heard of this.  gonna get some today, and call my doctors office on monday before i start taking it i guess

 

asl71476

The One-A-Day brand comes with a bottle of regular PNV's and a bottle of DHA. The DHA pills are huge, and I think really bothered my stomach. I just take the PNV's for now. 

lbursey

Hey Everyone,

Omega 3's include both DHA and EPA.  They are recommended during pregnancy, but they're also great for us.  I've been taking them for myself before I even got pregnant.  They're great for dry eye, dry skin, joints, brain and heart!!!  Highly recommended!!!! 

MagieG

I started taking DHA supplemented prenatals about 4months before our bfp. My doc prescribed Prenate DHA at my 1st appt for the rest of 1st trimester so I'll take those and then switch back to my regular dha prenatals. I believe that DHA is useful in helping development of brain and nervous system and while they continue to develop it's useful to have that extra boost early. With all that, plenty of folks have been having healthy happy bright children without DHA supplements or the diets that give it naturally.

MagieG

Magenta728:

Birdies08:

Magenta728:

I've been taking Omega 3's. Is that the same thing? The back of my bottle says "Fish Oil  2,400mg" and then lists EPA and DHA

Yes. I'd just been eating foods rich in omega 3s, until I realized they didn't all have DHA. Now I'm drinking DHA enriched soy milk. 

That's a good idea! I think I'll do that too. I HATE milk, but this morning I was reading how important calcium is, so I decided to drink chocolate milk. And I'll mix it with DHA enriched soy milk. Thank you

I've been drinking DHA organic 1% chocolate milk from Horizon. I mix it with my regular skim milk and it's awesome. Very chocolatey!

Rachel5782

Smart Balance also sells eggs that are DHA enriched. ?I haven't been taking DHA pills but picked up milk and eggs, both with DHA... I'll be discussing with my doctor on Wed... she didn't mention DHA during our first appointment.

tarmar81

I take the Target brand DHA capsules (their version of Expecta).  The DHA in them is from plant sources rather than fish sources, but that seems fine to me based off what I've read.  I do eat salmon or tilapia about once a week, so I'm getting my fish oils in there too.

I don't take the DHA every day...I take one every other day, since not all OBs even mention DHA as necessary, I don't think it's bad to go every other day without one.  I think taking DHA is a "new" thing.  I know my mom certainly never took it!

DaisyJanie

MagieG:

Magenta728:

Birdies08:

Magenta728:

I've been taking Omega 3's. Is that the same thing? The back of my bottle says "Fish Oil  2,400mg" and then lists EPA and DHA

Yes. I'd just been eating foods rich in omega 3s, until I realized they didn't all have DHA. Now I'm drinking DHA enriched soy milk. 

That's a good idea! I think I'll do that too. I HATE milk, but this morning I was reading how important calcium is, so I decided to drink chocolate milk. And I'll mix it with DHA enriched soy milk. Thank you

I've been drinking DHA organic 1% chocolate milk from Horizon. I mix it with my regular skim milk and it's awesome. Very chocolatey!

Ooh, I'm going to check some of these options out. I've been meaning to pick up some DHA but I don't know if I can handle another big pill. A nice glass of chocolate milk would be much better!

Seaofclouds

I'm taking Vitafol-OB + DHA. It's two separate pills, but they don't contain any fish oil and instead comes from plant sources. It has 250mg of the DHA.