Pre Natal Vitamin?

goodintentions82 · July 2008

Hi ladies, Im new to this board. We havent started trying for a baby yet but hope to soon. I plan on going to my obgyn before we start (also for my annual) but in the meantime, whats a good all-around prenatal vitamin?

gobigblue · July 2008

i take the generic PNV from target.

ToBeMrsC6907 · July 2008

I take the Rite Aid brand one, it is identical to Stuart prenatals at a fraction of the cost. GL!

soybride · July 2008

Hi!

My Dr. has my taking Vinate AZ Tablets. Are these good?

Here is an article from WebMd.

Pregnancy and Prenatal Vitamins

What Are Prenatal Vitamins?

For a mother's health, and the health of her baby, she is advised to take so-called "prenatal vitamins" during pregnancy. These are specially formulated multivitamins that make up for any nutritional deficiencies in the mother's diet. While the supplements contain numerous vitamins and minerals, their folic acid, iron, and calcium content are especially important.

Why Do Pregnant Women Need Folic Acid, Iron, and Calcium?

Folic acid can reduce your risk of having a baby with a serious birth defect of the brain and spinal cord, called the "neural tube." A baby with spina bifida, the most common neural tube defect, is born with a spine that is not closed. The exposed nerves are damaged, leaving the child with varying degrees of paralysis, incontinence, and sometimes mental retardation.

Neural tube defects develop in the first 28 days after conception, before many women realize they are pregnant. Because about half of all pregnancies are unplanned, the U.S. Public Health Service recommends that all women of childbearing age get 400 micrograms of folic acid each day. In fact, the FDA now requires that all flour products -- such as breads, buns, and bagels -- be fortified with extra folic acid. A woman who has had a prior child with a neural tube defect should discuss the appropriate dose of folic acid with her doctor before her next pregnancy. Studies have shown that taking a larger dose (up to 4,000 micrograms) at least one month before and during the first trimester may be beneficial.

There are natural sources of folic acid: green leafy vegetables, nuts, beans, and citrus fruits. It's also found in many fortified breakfast cereals and some vitamin supplements.

Calcium during pregnancy can prevent a new mother from losing her own bone density as the fetus uses the mineral for bone growth.

Iron helps both the mother and baby's blood carry oxygen.

While a daily vitamin supplement is no substitute for a healthy diet, most women need supplements to make sure they get adequate levels of these minerals.

Are All Prenatal Vitamins the Same?

No, they're not. Look for one that contains approximately:

4,000 and 5,000 IU (international units) of vitamin A
800 and 1,000 mcg (1 mg) of folic acid
400 IU of vitamin D
200 to 300 mg of calcium
70 mg of vitamin C
1.5 mg of thiamine
1.6 mg of riboflavin
2.6 mg of pyridoxine
17 mg of niacinamide
2.2 mcg of vitamin B-12
10 mg of vitamin E
15 mg of zinc
30 mg of iron

Your doctor or midwife can also advise you on certain brands. In some cases, your health care provider will give you a prescription for a certain type of prenatal vitamin.

My Prenatal Vitamin Makes Me Nauseous, What Should I Do?

Some prenatal vitamins can cause nausea in an already nauseous pregnant woman. If your prenatal vitamins make you sick, talk to your health care provider. He or she may be able to prescribe a different kind of prenatal vitamin (for example, chewable or liquid vitamins as opposed to those you swallow whole may be better tolerated by some women).

mamasunflwr · July 2008

Rainbow Light makes a great natural prenatal vitamin.

tmp-556796875003193 · July 2008

My doctor has me taking my regular women's multivitamin plus added folic acid and calcium.

KaraMGM · July 2008

These are the only ones I've tried that I'm able to stomach on a consistent basis. For some reason, all the others I tried either didn't go down easily or didn't sit well.

https://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=32645&catid=26977&trx=GFI-0-EVGR-49973&trxp1=10782&trxp2=32645&trxp3=1&trxp4=182&btrx=BUY-GFI-0-EVGR-49973

GL!

NewMrs07 · July 2008

If you can afford it, it's best to get a prescription PNV that also comes with a separate fish oil (DHA) capsule. You take both at the same time, once a day. Your doc can give you sample packs of a few brands and you can see which one you like best. Not all brands come with the DHA but it's ideal.

noelle317 · July 2008

I take Prenate DHA. My GYN said that she really liked it. And it has not been making me sick as some women say their pre natal viatmins do. Also, ask your gyn for samples. I got enough for the first month. So I can see how they make me feel before i spend money on them.

mrs.baum · July 2008

I take the generic Target one.

smfinallymg · July 2008

PNV from Target

Spnative · July 2008

take it with or after dinner or right before bedtime ....

Ivana_Stolichnaya · July 2008

Rainbow Light Prenatal One...I like them.

Here's a link.

https://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp?id=RN-7019

berryblndgirl · August 2008

I also take the Rainbow Light prenatals, but I take the 6 pills a day version.

kiki&squaz · August 2008

I take OB complete with DHA - took them my first pregnancy too - no problems at all.

Momma to be · September 2008

I've been taking Citra-Natal. It's one dose consisting of two pills everyday. It has not given me an upset stomach or anything. I started taking it before I found out I was pg (I wanted to get a headstart on being on top of my vitamins). It is a prescription- so the cost is higher. I'm considering trying something new, but this works... so I'm thinking "why change"? Good luck to you.

mrs_kelly1014 · October 2008