Yet another prenatal ?

Bonnesetter27

So the last time I was pregnant the prenatals made me feel sick so I thought I would avoid that this time around and just take folic acid. I am taking 400mg but if/when I get my bfp I will up it to 800 or more likely switch to a prenatal. I have a fairly good diet but I am not missing anything am I? Or should I suck it up and take the prenatals now? I tried like 7 brands last time and eventually just bought the cheapest and dealt with it.

LaurenAsh23

have you tried the gummy ones? a lot of us use them and find they they upset our stomach less. 

 

Gizmo36

I take mine at night on a full stomach so if they do make me feel sick I just sleep through it.

von1976

Make sure you're getting 1000mg per day of calcium, too. You can only process about 500mg at a time, so if you're taking a 500mg supplement, take it in two doses per day to get the required amount.

I love the prenatal vitamin I take--it's the same brand I took before we started TTC, and I've never had any problem with it. You can buy it at Whole Foods, it's called Rainbow Light Prenatal One. Yes, it's a dumb name. But it's a natural foods vitamin that has nearly everything you need in it--though I take an additional calcium supplement because I do not drink milk. You can also buy Rainbow Light from vitacost.com, and it's much cheaper from what I recall. That's where I buy them.

 

Good luck!

Gizmo36

von1976:

Make sure you're getting 1000mg per day of calcium, too. You can only process about 500mg at a time, so if you're taking a 500mg supplement, take it in two doses per day to get the required amount.

I love the prenatal vitamin I take--it's the same brand I took before we started TTC, and I've never had any problem with it. You can buy it at Whole Foods, it's called Rainbow Light Prenatal One. Yes, it's a dumb name. But it's a natural foods vitamin that has nearly everything you need in it--though I take an additional calcium supplement because I do not drink milk. You can also buy Rainbow Light from vitacost.com, and it's much cheaper from what I recall. That's where I buy them.

 

Good luck!

I take this brand as well. 

I subscribe to the 90 count bottle on Amazon and it appears to be $10 cheaper than Vitacost if you're looking to save more money.

CarolinaGirl6

I take the Vita Fusion gummies and they don't make me sick.

Bonnesetter27

von1976:

Make sure you're getting 1000mg per day of calcium, too. You can only process about 500mg at a time, so if you're taking a 500mg supplement, take it in two doses per day to get the required amount.

I love the prenatal vitamin I take--it's the same brand I took before we started TTC, and I've never had any problem with it. You can buy it at Whole Foods, it's called Rainbow Light Prenatal One. Yes, it's a dumb name. But it's a natural foods vitamin that has nearly everything you need in it--though I take an additional calcium supplement because I do not drink milk. You can also buy Rainbow Light from vitacost.com, and it's much cheaper from what I recall. That's where I buy them.

 

Good luck!

Thank you. I forgot to mention that I can't drink milk either so I take a calcium supplement at a separate time from the folic acid. I have tried the Rainbow light and it made me as ill as the others. I haven't tried the gummies, mostly because I tend to have low iron and when I get my bfp I know I will have to suck it up and take the prenatals but until then do I have to?

TraceyandJeff

My obgyn prescribed me a kind that our grocery store pharmacy will fill for free. I've been taking it for almost a year and will begin TTC this month . I take it at night so that I sleep through any side effects as well.

von1976

Bonnesetter27:

Thank you. I forgot to mention that I can't drink milk either so I take a calcium supplement at a separate time from the folic acid. I have tried the Rainbow light and it made me as ill as the others. I haven't tried the gummies, mostly because I tend to have low iron and when I get my bfp I know I will have to suck it up and take the prenatals but until then do I have to?

If you have low iron, I'd talk to your doctor about taking an iron supplement that's easier on the stomach--there are some prescription options, I believe.

As for needing to supplement before the BFP--I don't think you need to, but it certainly can't hurt to have all your bases covered. But if you eat a varied diet consisting of a good amount of beans and greens, you probably don't need any supplementation at all.

von1976

Gizmo36:

von1976:

Make sure you're getting 1000mg per day of calcium, too. You can only process about 500mg at a time, so if you're taking a 500mg supplement, take it in two doses per day to get the required amount.

I love the prenatal vitamin I take--it's the same brand I took before we started TTC, and I've never had any problem with it. You can buy it at Whole Foods, it's called Rainbow Light Prenatal One. Yes, it's a dumb name. But it's a natural foods vitamin that has nearly everything you need in it--though I take an additional calcium supplement because I do not drink milk. You can also buy Rainbow Light from vitacost.com, and it's much cheaper from what I recall. That's where I buy them.

 

Good luck!

I take this brand as well. 

I subscribe to the 90 count bottle on Amazon and it appears to be $10 cheaper than Vitacost if you're looking to save more money.

 

Awesome, thank you!

Bonnesetter27

Joy2611:

OP - I tend to have low iron, as well.  I was denied giving blood a few months ago because I my iron count was too low.  Boo.  The advice from the Red Cross as well as my family doctor was just eat foods that are rich in iron.  No one thought a supplement was necessary at this point, just a change to my diet.  I don't know how low you are and I'm not a doctor - just telling you my experience.

The Red Cross has a whole list of iron-rich foods.   I'd much rather go that route now instead of taking a supplement that may make me feel ill all time - blech.  If that doesn't become enough, then I'll move on over to the pills.

https://www.redcrossblood.org/learn-about-blood/health-and-wellness/iron-rich-foods

Thanks, not being able to donate is how I know that I tend to have low iron too. I would like to eat better over taking a supplement as well.

mmb248

Bonnesetter27:

Thank you. I forgot to mention that I can't drink milk either so I take a calcium supplement at a separate time from the folic acid. I have tried the Rainbow light and it made me as ill as the others. I haven't tried the gummies, mostly because I tend to have low iron and when I get my bfp I know I will have to suck it up and take the prenatals but until then do I have to?

As others have mentioned, the Vita Fusion gummies are great, but they don't have iron.  They're like candy so I call them dessert.

I also have low iron, and so I was already taking an iron supplement.  To combat the nausea, I make sure that I take my iron supplement with food that's gentle on my stomach (usually fruit or toast).

tucker1384

I took target brand my last pregnancy and it made me feel sick but I just put up with it because I had a huge bottle. I was taking the gummies for about 3 months or so and ran out the never upset my stomach. Switched back to target brand last week (forgetting the made me feel like crap) and once again they make me feel nauseated until I eat something in the AM. I suggest the gummies the taste pretty good too. 

mmb248

HatchetFace:

Target makes a slow release iron supplement that is much easier on the tummy. I take that along with the Vitafusion gummies.

Hatchet - you're my pill-popping twin!

Birdies08

Bonnesetter27:

Joy2611:

OP - I tend to have low iron, as well.  I was denied giving blood a few months ago because I my iron count was too low.  Boo.  The advice from the Red Cross as well as my family doctor was just eat foods that are rich in iron.  No one thought a supplement was necessary at this point, just a change to my diet.  I don't know how low you are and I'm not a doctor - just telling you my experience.

The Red Cross has a whole list of iron-rich foods.   I'd much rather go that route now instead of taking a supplement that may make me feel ill all time - blech.  If that doesn't become enough, then I'll move on over to the pills.

https://www.redcrossblood.org/learn-about-blood/health-and-wellness/iron-rich-foods

Thanks, not being able to donate is how I know that I tend to have low iron too. I would like to eat better over taking a supplement as well.

Just an FYI, MH used to work at the Red Cross, and you pretty much have to have high hemoglobin to donate. So, you could have had healthy levels, but still not high enough to donate, if that makes sense