Stop taking prenatals?

ceneidert · February 2014

So I've been dealing with HORRIBLE ms and when I called and asked the nurses line for Zofran/tips, they suggested to STOP taking prenatals for now since they upset the tummy. This makes me nervous, because my sister has a child born with spina bifida. Has anyone ever been told this before? She made it sound like it wasn't "necessary" right now, but that goes against EVERYTHING I've read. I'm so confused.

Sweetest116 · February 2014

IMO you should never stop taking them - there are other kinds of prenatal vitamins that you can take with morning sickness that are easier on your tummy. Can you call and ask them for some alternatives? I know mine are heavy in B vitamins to help combat the nausea.

JosephsSweetie · February 2014

Go to Target and buy Rainbow Light prenatal. They are much less likely to irritate your stomach.

an02102 · February 2014

Try either gummy ones or even Flintstones vitamins. Those were both recommended to me by my ob last time. When I couldn't keep the other ones down.

kirstynikole · February 2014

I personally would not stop taking the prenatals just because I can't seem to eat much of anything thats nutrient or vitamin packed.

I missed taking my vitamins 2 nights in a row after transitioning to take them at nights instead of in the mornings and oddly enough, I didn't feel any less worse than I did while taking them. I'm sure they do attribute a bit but I didn't noticed much of a difference.

Sorry you're feeling crummy, hopefully this 1st trimester can fly by!

mrsH1112 · February 2014

I agree I wouldnt stop taking them...maybe try another brand? Or increase you Vitamin B intake and take some ginger to help the m/s?

I too have a sister whos daughter was born with Spina Bifida (shes had 2 surgeries and seems to be doing well at 16 months now). As far as Spina Bifida goes though, depending on how far along you are, the prenatals wont really help prevent at this point. The neural tube closes on a fetus around 4 weeks after conception. Regardless I think the benefits to taking the vitamins are too great to stop if you can at all help it.

brachysira · February 2014

Yes, take them at night. I can only handle Flintstones, but they are close to what is in most prenatals although you should make sure you get folic acid from food too b/c they only have 400 whatever units of folic acid and most others have 800. You can also look for prenatal vitamins without fish oil and iron, and that can help. I don't think it will matter if you miss a day or two, but you can't quit, especially if m/s is making it hard for you to eat well. With your family history, you def should not quit based on this one nurse's advice. Right now is when a lot happens--later you might be able to stop.

worldinapapercup · February 2014

I've been taking the gummy prenatals because I heard they were easier on your stomach. I asked the nurse if that was a legitimate thing and she said that alot of people take the gummies for that reason but that you might need to supplement them with some iron if you are low on iron normally.

lindsayturner · February 2014

If worse comes to worse and you can't stomach them at least take folic acid by itself, they are much smaller and easier on the tummy.

mapchick77 · February 2014

JosephsSweetie said:

Go to Target and buy Rainbow Light prenatal. They are much less likely to irritate your stomach.

I take these and they never upset my stomach. I get mine from Amazon.

ceneidert · February 2014

I take them at night. I *kinda* felt okay skipping them because SB is formed within the first few DAYS of conception - often times before a mother knows she's expecting. I have been taking an extra dosage of Folic Acid per my OB's advice because of the family history. I will have to try the gummies. I know I tend to run anemic normally, so I will definitely need to supplement with an iron pill. Ugh! Tell me this gets better! Right now I'm so down because I don't feel like myself. I try not to be because we tried for 3 yrs before getting pregnant on fertility drugs. It's just so hard being emotional already, and now add not feeling well on top of it.

beckynsean11 · February 2014

I would definitely try other brands before quitting them. The gummies were super easy on my stomach, but like others have said, no iron. I've heard good things about the Rainbow Light ones too. GL!

AR1of2 · February 2014

My OBGYN told me to either try taking 2 flintstone completes a day or eat a snack right before bed (like peanut butter crackers or cheese and crackers) and take the prenatal with the snack. Maybe you can ask about those suggestions? I opted to stay on my prenatal and take it at night, worked great the last couple of days and did not aggravate my ms. GL!

PurrBox · February 2014

I second the gummies. I'm taking gummy prenatals and I'm going to supplement that with a calcium and vitamin D gummy since the gummy prenatals I've just switched to doesn't include that.

Jennesia · February 2014

I take mine at night, right before bed. I noticed even before getting k/u, that if I didn't fall asleep with 1/2 hour of taking them, I would get an off feeling stomach. i.e. indigestion, rumbly stomach.

blue+skies · February 2014

My doc said until I feel better and can stomach them again, just take a folic acid supp. Like pp said, they're tiny.

epaprn · February 2014

Have them give you a prescription for 1mg of frolic acid daily. That's really what's the most important.

babyd143 · February 2014

JosephsSweetie said:

Go to Target and buy Rainbow Light prenatal. They are much less likely to irritate your stomach.

This!

BetsyDavis · February 2014

Have you tried taking them before bed? I wouldn't stop but maybe try a different one or have your OB prescribe one.

Flowerchica · February 2014

If this helps - I cannot tolerate any prenatals without running to the bathroom - so I just take 3/4 flinstones gummies. I go the OK from my docs and it has been a life saver..

JD83 · February 2014

Are you taking them on a full stomach? Anything with iron will cause stomachaches if taken on an empty stomach. Even just a glass of milk is enough to coat the stomach, so it doesn't take much. I agree with everyone that the prenatals are super important, so I wouldn't stop taking them, but I'd start by making sure to take them with food. If that doesn't work, then try the gummies, if that doesn't work, then go straight to the folic acid. If you do decide to stop taking them altogether, make sure to eat a lot of folate-rich foods so you're still getting the nutrient. In fact, we should all be doing that anyway.

chusum · February 2014

I've heard of people stopping prenatals due to vomiting. Here are a few other options that might make you feel better:

-Make sure you are taking them on a full stomach

-Try the gummy prenatals (I think you need to add iron, but even if you don't the stuff in the gummies are still better than nothing).

-Take them at night

At last resort if you really aren't keeping anything down then it won't matter if you take them if you are vomiting them anyway. Remember that is takes something like 1-3 months (which is why it's recommended that women who are TTC start taking PNV 3 months before getting pregnant) for the folic acid to build in your system, so stopping for a week or whatever she suggested isn't going to immediately cause problems, and the neural tube is starting to form and close between 8-11 weeks, and I don't know how far along you are.

andthatmakes4 · February 2014

My dr told me I could stop because of my severe constipation while on prenatals that nothing helped. I wasn't comfortable with this so I'm trying out Flintstones.

ceneidert · February 2014

I'm going to try the gummies. Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

Hopefully it'll make a difference!

Emmy916 · February 2014

Jennesia said:
I take mine at night, right before bed. I noticed even before getting k/u, that if I didn't fall asleep with 1/2 hour of taking them, I would get an off feeling stomach. i.e. indigestion, rumbly stomach.

I do the same thing

cbelle1231 · February 2014

I have never been able to take vitamins pre-natal or other, I vomit. I try to take select ob chewables and sometimes I can. I also try folic acid. For my first pregnancy I barely took either and my son is totally perfect. I also know several other people who couldn't take them. Do what you can.

nstark2908 · February 2014

I have heard other drs recommend to stop taking prenatals if you can't keep them down. I would really make sure to get your nutrition in through food though.