Prenatal not enough?

beeb11285

Are any of you having issues keeping certain vitamin levels up? I got a call from my Dr that my iron and D3 levels were low and to start adding supplements. I've been taking my prenatal daily but am still having to add additional supplements. Anyone else?

punkrockabye

In terms of vitamin D, almost everyone is deficient, unless you happen to have lighter skin and live in an extremely sunny area and spent a lot of time in the sun. (people of color are VERY prone to low levels, the darker the skin the harder it is to get it naturally).

For example, I don't remember my exact number, but I asked to be tests and I believe my D levels were 27... I live in Chicago and don't spend much time outside, so to try to counteract that, I take 4000 IU of extra vitamin D every day, and have for a couple years (and that's just the D supplements--my prenatal and calcium supplements also have vitamin D in them). The doctor said my numbers were fantastic compared to most people she sees who don't supplement and have results of 8 or 9, which is extremely common in normal adults in this area, but ideally she would have liked me to be above 30. Moral of the story, vitamin D levels are hard. haha. 

As for iron, many pregnant women have problems with iron levels. It's not uncommon at all to be put on an iron supplement especially after 20 weeks. 

Eveanyn

My hemoglobin count was low during my GTT, so I'm on an iron supplement along with prenatals. Not many prenatals have enough iron if you might be deficient to make up for it; it's pretty common for those who might be anemic to have to take iron.

AprilAngie

I am on an iron supplement as well as my prenatals as my iron levels are low too.  However, Im not into 'meat' while pregnant. 

terri_doula2010

I take 5000 IUs of VitD daily on top of my prenatal. With that, my levels are in the normal range.

I'm also taking iron for energy, even though I'm not anemic.

MississippiCatfish

terri_doula2010:

I take 5000 IUs of VitD daily on top of my prenatal. With that, my levels are in the normal range.

I'm also taking iron for energy, even though I'm not anemic.

Me too, and it keeps leg cramps away for me!

Starfish17

I had to start taking an iron tablet daily after my last visit because I was anemic (my hemoglobin was 10.8 and their cutoff is 11).  So now I take the prenatal, DHA, iron, and colace to counteract the iron's side effects occasionally.

beeb11285

Thanks ladies! I just never hear about anyone having to do additional supplements on top of the prenatal (except for D3). The low D makes sense since I'm in TX and never go outside bc it is way too hot...

rebeccaparis

I wish it were as simple as that for me right now. I was informed early in my 2nd trimester that my iron levels were low and put on a large dose of iron.. After weeks of taking multiple iron pills a day and my levels just getting lower and lower I now have to have iron infusions that take 2 hours each time every friday, along with a b12 injection.. Good luck and don't be too worried, I'm pretty sure most pregnant women end up needing extra iron 

punkrockabye

angieboldt:

terri_doula2010:

I take 5000 IUs of VitD daily on top of my prenatal. With that, my levels are in the normal range.

I'm also taking iron for energy, even though I'm not anemic.

Me too, and it keeps leg cramps away for me!

Wow, maybe that's why I haven't had any! In my teens and early 20s I was very prone to waking up with charlie horses that made me want to die. I haven't had any in the past couple years, and I was expecting them to plague me during pregnancy.

abbyful

Yep, I take iron and Vitamin D as well. And also fish oil/DHA.

Like others have said, many women have low iron levels, especially during pregnancy. 

And nearly everyone in the USA is deficient in Vitamin D.  On top of that, most multivitamins & prenatals don't have enough vitamin D (most only have 400 IU, I take more than 10 times that amount each day!)

SenoraFisher

After the glucose test Dr wanted me to take an additional iron supplement as my iron levels were border line, I was not too surprised as I have been anemic all my life but pregnancy has actually made it a lot better!

abbyful

Runswithwolves:

I wish it were as simple as that for me right now. I was informed early in my 2nd trimester that my iron levels were low and put on a large dose of iron.. After weeks of taking multiple iron pills a day and my levels just getting lower and lower I now have to have iron infusions that take 2 hours each time every friday, along with a b12 injection.. Good luck and don't be too worried, I'm pretty sure most pregnant women end up needing extra iron 

You may not necessarily be needing more iron. You may be needing more Vitamin C, as vitamin C helps iron absorption. Or you may need more copper, I've recently learned that low copper can be just as much a cause of anemia as low iron.  It's worth a shot trying to eat more vitamin C and copper containing foods.

BronzeMama

I'm on the extra iron pill now too. They told me to take it with orange juice to help absorption.. But er, uh, I need to go get that prescription and you all have reminded me to do it! I'm not so good at remembering to take pills. I always think I did, but then look up two days later and didn't.

leavitt1

Last month, my B12 came up as low. I've had to have weekly B12 shots since then, and now I'm back to normal, but the doc still wants me to have another shot in 3 weeks. Apparently it's a fairly common problem for pregnant women. 

jessican08

My D3 levels were low before I got PG so I continued taking my D3 vitamin in addition to my prenatals. I also take a lot of other supplements because of the twins (additional folic acid, calcium, magnesium, Vitamin C & E, etc.). There's no harm in adding the D3 to your regimen if you need it.