Does your prenatal have iron??

PunkRockPrincess1313

So I was just reading the side of mine and they do not!!

Is this something I need to worry about?? I truly do not know...I will google some of this stuff later...but in the middle of work and this window was already open...hahaha

You ladies rock ^_^

ARenee3

Mine does. That was especially important to me because I'm a pescetarian (and don't eat much fish either), so I don't get iron from meat. That's also one of the reasons I had to avoid the Vitafusion gummies (plus the lack of calcium and the synthetic vitamin A issues).

mrs incognito

Mine does. I'm taking it because I tested with low iron during my last pregnancy even though I was taking a PNV with iron.

Belizelovers

Mine doesn't and unless my b/w says I need it I won't be switching I hate iron burps eww

PunkRockPrincess1313

ARenee3:

Mine does. That was especially important to me because I'm a pescetarian (and don't eat much fish either), so I don't get iron from meat. That's also one of the reasons I had to avoid the Vitafusion gummies (plus the lack of calcium and the synthetic vitamin A issues).

Mine are those gummies!!

I can not swallow pills since the sickness started...what issues have they had with vitamin A?

moonfaerie

Mine does, and I will probably still need another iron pill eventually. I was anemic with both previous pregnancies.

maybayb25

Mine does! I take the Nature Made with DHA

ARenee3

It just has a synthetic form of vitamin A in it. Instead of beta carotene (the natural vitamin A found in foods), it has retinyl palmitate, which can cause birth defects when taken in high quantities, especially during early pregnancy.

When you add that to the fact that it has no iron and no calcium (no calcium???), I had to stick with my horse pills, which I take at night and have never made me sick. I just can't take any chances. 

 

Sorry, I forgot to quote you, PunkRockPrincess... I was responding to your question.

redheadinlove

Mine does and my doctor has me on a supplement too. 

PunkRockPrincess1313

ARenee3:

It just has a synthetic form of vitamin A in it. Instead of beta carotene (the natural vitamin A found in foods), it has retinyl palmitate, which can cause birth defects when taken in high quantities, especially during early pregnancy.

When you add that to the fact that it has no iron and no calcium (no calcium???), I had to stick with my horse pills, which I take at night and have never made me sick. I just can't take any chances. 

 

Sorry, I forgot to quote you, PunkRockPrincess... I was responding to your question.

Thanks for the information! I will go and read some more information about the studies for sure. I just literally can not even swallow pills at this point. Ugh! Maybe there are other gummy options. What a mess!

ARenee3

PunkRockPrincess1313:

ARenee3:

It just has a synthetic form of vitamin A in it. Instead of beta carotene (the natural vitamin A found in foods), it has retinyl palmitate, which can cause birth defects when taken in high quantities, especially during early pregnancy.

When you add that to the fact that it has no iron and no calcium (no calcium???), I had to stick with my horse pills, which I take at night and have never made me sick. I just can't take any chances. 

 

Sorry, I forgot to quote you, PunkRockPrincess... I was responding to your question.

Thanks for the information! I will go and read some more information about the studies for sure. I just literally can not even swallow pills at this point. Ugh! Maybe there are other gummy options. What a mess!

PLEASE let me know if you find another gummy option. Even though my pills don't make me ill, it's still no fun to take them when I'm nauseous. I looked around for other gummies besides Vitafusion, but so far haven't found any. Please let me know if you're more successful. 

PunkRockPrincess1313

ARenee3:

PLEASE let me know if you find another gummy option. Even though my pills don't make me ill, it's still no fun to take them when I'm nauseous. I looked around for other gummies besides Vitafusion, but so far haven't found any. Please let me know if you're more successful. 

I promise I will!!

So far...the studies I am finding make me feel a bit better about taking these...but I am still going to look for more gummy options. I know I will just skip the pills if I have to swallow them right now. My body just says NO...haha

but the doses of the vitamin A thing are pretty HIGH before you start having issues and these do not have that amount.

But still..yes...going to look for other options.

ARenee3

PunkRockPrincess1313:

ARenee3:

PLEASE let me know if you find another gummy option. Even though my pills don't make me ill, it's still no fun to take them when I'm nauseous. I looked around for other gummies besides Vitafusion, but so far haven't found any. Please let me know if you're more successful. 

I promise I will!!

So far...the studies I am finding make me feel a bit better about taking these...but I am still going to look for more gummy options. I know I will just skip the pills if I have to swallow them right now. My body just says NO...haha

but the doses of the vitamin A thing are pretty HIGH before you start having issues and these do not have that amount.

But still..yes...going to look for other options.

Thanks! Let me just clarify one thing though (and this is just MY understanding based on what I've read so far): 

There are two types of Vitamin A: Retinol and Carotenoids. 

Retinol is found in certain animal products, fortified dairy products, other fortified products, and supplements. Retinyl palmitate is a form of retinol. It's synthetic and it's found in those gummies.

Carotenoids are found in green and yellow vegetables, and also in vitamins and supplements. 

Those numbers that you read about, which can lead to birth defects, are the dose of retinol. That includes the retinyl palmitate but it also includes the other forms of retinol that are found in those foods mentioned above. So you really have to be careful because you're getting more retinol than just what's in the gummies.

Carotenoids, on the other hand, don't have a limit, because they don't lead to health problems or defects.

That's my understanding, and since I don't pay ANY attention to how much retinol is in the products I eat, I wouldn't know if I was getting too much when I added those gummies to the mix.

LadyTyler

I was taking the Target brand prenatal pills preconception and through this week which did have iron, but very low calcium.  I have switched now to the Target gummies for both prenatal and calcium.  I am tolerating them better, which I am appreciative of.  I consume very little dairy but have a hard time with calcium pills, so I'm glad of them.  I'm not worried about the iron because I have non-iron related anemia and eat a fair amount of iron from food sources.

altachica

My prescribed one does, but it was contributing to me feeling ill, so my doctor said I could substitute a non-iron one and try the other one when I can handle it.

I'll probably give the original with iron a try again in a couple weeks.

blueshamrock7

I take a regular multi-vitamin with NO iron along with an extra folic acid and a fish oil/DHA supplemet. I have taken these for months before I even got pregnant (except the fish oil, I did not start until I get pregnant). Since I have had constipating issues from the vitamins with iron, the doctor said we can play it by ear and wait to see if I need it. So I've never had to take the prenatal and I won't take it unless I need the iron (in that case, I would probably just switch back to my other multi-vitamin with iron and continue the extra folic acid & fish oil) In the meantime, I just try to eat more red meat to make-up for it.

thankthesox

i thought they all did... i actually stopped taking mine and switched to a regular multivitamin cuz the iron was upsetting my stomach too much.  (even tho i took them for about 6 months pre-preggo with no problems).  it is important to get iron but i've been trying to just get it from food for now... ("what to expect" has a lot of suggestions or your doctor probably can give you a list too) i figure in a few weeks i'll try the prenatals again and see if the issues have eased up.  the vitamin i'm taking has all the same stuff my prenatal did but no metals, and i haven't had any MS other than when i've had the metals.

you can always try one with iron and see if you have any issues, if not it might be better to switch.  you should probably check with your dr to see what they recommend for you tho.

thankthesox

Belizelovers:

Mine doesn't and unless my b/w says I need it I won't be switching I hate iron burps eww

hmm... no iron here but plenty of burps anyway :O

thankthesox

ugh i did notice my multivitamin has 100% vitamin A while the prenatal had 50% and now you're freakin me out   i have my first appt tomorrow with nurse-midwife so maybe i'll try the prenatals again tonite and ask her about it tomorrow... ugh it's so confusing and scary all the things we have to keep track of!

thankthesox

btw a nutritionist friend of mine gave me these little dark chocolate things called "adora" that are a calcium supplement - a good way to get calcium and satisfy your chocolate craving!!

blueshamrock7

thankthesox:

i thought they all did... i actually stopped taking mine and switched to a regular multivitamin cuz the iron was upsetting my stomach too much.  (even tho i took them for about 6 months pre-preggo with no problems).  it is important to get iron but i've been trying to just get it from food for now... ("what to expect" has a lot of suggestions or your doctor probably can give you a list too) i figure in a few weeks i'll try the prenatals again and see if the issues have eased up.  the vitamin i'm taking has all the same stuff my prenatal did but no metals, and i haven't had any MS other than when i've had the metals.

you can always try one with iron and see if you have any issues, if not it might be better to switch.  you should probably check with your dr to see what they recommend for you tho.

FYI, the multi does not have DHA (fish oil) and my doctor said that you should be taking more folic acid than what is in a multi (400 mg in a multi). I take an extra folic acid (another 400mg) to supplement. The folic acid is REALLY important for the baby. So is the fish oil for heart health, I think? My doctor stressed these to me before I was even trying. I have been taking the extra folic acid for 8 months before I even got pregnant. But I am with you on the iron thing - that is exactly why I still take my multi with no iron. I try to eat a lot of spinach and lean red meats!

weezie825

Yes.  I also take an additional iron supplement.  I was anemic with my first pregnancy.  My doctor had me on prenatals 3 months before we started trying to concieve and as soon as I had a confirmed pregnancy he added the additional iron supplement. 

One thing to note, a lesser known sign of Iron deficiency is your hands and feet going numb.  A lot of people assume it is due to swelling, but in some cases it can be because of a lack of iron. 

Iron is one of the only vitamins that a baby gets before the mom does.  That is because it is VERY important to make their red blood cells.  If their isn't enough iron for mom and baby, baby gets it first.  This can cause mom to start having circulation issues.  The cirulation issues will eventually start making your hands and feet go numb due to lack of oxygen in your extremities.

Nan21

My prenatal does, but I'm actually thinking about switching to one that doesn't.  I've read it can increase morning sickness and constipation -- both of which are in full force right now for me.