Are There Any Side Effects Of Taking Prenatal Vitamins
There can be. Nausea and digestive upset is one of the main ones, and typically iron is the culprit. It can be pretty hard on the stomach.
Additionally, if your prenatal contains DHA from fish oil, you may get a case of the fishy burps every once in a while. NBD, just a little gross just like almost everything else when youre pregnant .
When Should I Start Taking A Prenatal Multivitamin
If you are trying to conceive, the best time to start taking a prenatal multivitamin is right away. Why? Because you want to make sure your body has enough of the key nutrients in a prenatal multivitamin to support the growth and development of your baby even before you know you are pregnant.
Over nine months, the baby grows at a rapid pace while mom changes along with babys development. Pregnancy places higher nutrient demands on the body, since mom must meet the nutritional needs of a growing baby without sacrificing her own nutrient requirements. But what are the most important nutrients needed during pregnancy? What vitamins and minerals are in prenatal multivitamins? Certain nutrients are vital both before and during pregnancy, including the following:
Are All Generic Vitamins As Good As Name Brand Vitamins
So we can verify, no name-brand vitamins are not more beneficial than generic ones. As with most things you do to your body, you should check with your doctor. Lab tests will show if you are deficient in any of these key vitamins or mineral and from there your doctor will prescribe a supplement, Susie said.
Recommended Reading: What’s The Best Prenatal Vitamin Brand
Can I Take Prenatal Vitamins If Im Vegetarian Or Vegan
Definitely. In fact, many prenatals are at least vegetarian, if not vegan-friendly. To remove all doubt, look for one thats certified vegan somewhere on the label, it will have a V inside of a circle.
Some nonvegan ingredients to watch out for include fish oil, as well as softgel capsules sometimes theyre made from bovine collagen instead of plant-based ingredients.
Five Reasons Why You Might Need A Prenatal
Read Also: What Does Vitamin D Do For My Body
How We Chose Our Recommendations
We curated this list of DHA supplements based on input from OB-GYNs and registered dieticians. The products included are also affordable, and except for one, are available over the counter.
Keep in mind, if youre taking a prenatal vitamin with DHA, an additional DHA-only supplement may not be necessary. Consult your healthcare provider for more information on whats right for you.
Here some prenatal vitamins and supplements to consider when pregnant.
Are Prenatal Vitamins Making You Sick Heres What To Do About It
Youre pregnant and youre suffering from nausea, constipation, low appetite, diarrhea, fatigue, or cramps. But, you notice that its not every day its only most days. Specifically, its the days you remember to take your prenatal vitamins first thing in the morning.
Or maybe you notice the moment you take your prenatal vitamin you suddenly feel sick.
You arent alone in wondering are prenatal vitamins making me sickreally?
Look, I get it. It is frustrating when you are trying to do the right thing to take care of your body and your baby but, the more you try, you just feel worse and worse.
I want to share with you some common reasons why your prenatal vitamin is making you sick, and exactly how you can find answers to your problem.
Its a nice feeling to know that you are doing something good for your body. And in most cases, a prenatal vitamin is good for you.
But, if your prenatal vitamin is making you sick, its probably not the right one for you. And contrary to what youve likely been told, it is doing you more harm than good.
Here are some tips to help you, the savvy mom, figure out if its really your prenatal vitamin making you sick and what to do about it.
Don’t Miss: What Is The Value Of Vitamin D
Discover How They Get Into Supplements
Heavy metals occur naturally in the soil as well as in rocks and minerals. They can be absorbed by plants from the soil or irrigation water. They are in the minerals we mine and use as food additives, such as table salt and calcium carbonate . Its hard to get away from them in our daily lives, but we want to avoid levels that can have harmful effects on our health.
Can I Get The Same Nutrients From My Diet
Technically, yes but that would require a lot of planning and, TBH, a lot of salads and animal protein.
Dont get us wrong, you absolutely should strive for a balanced and healthy diet for you and your tater tot, but its still a good idea to take a prenatal to ensure all of your nutritional bases are covered.
Don’t Miss: Does Vitamin C Help Dark Circles
Selecting A Multivitamin Containing Folic Acid
For women who can become pregnant, health care professionals play an important role in motivating them to use supplements . To ensure proper use of multivitamin supplements:
- Use the ‘Key messages on folate for women of childbearing age‘ to write or talk about folic acid supplementation during the childbearing years.
- Encourage women to look for a multivitaminFootnote 13 that provides 400 mcg of folic acid per daily dose. The product should also include vitamin B12.
- Advise women that prenatal supplements contain higher amounts of nutrients than are usually needed by women who are not pregnant. A non-prenatal multivitamin supplement is often enough. Following this advice can help women avoid taking excessive amounts of nutrients over time.
- Ensure that women look for a Drug Identification Number or Natural Product Number on the product label showing that the product is government-approved for safety, efficacy, and quality.
- Emphasize the importance of reading product labels. Some supplements may include cautionary notes about their use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Caution women not to take more than one daily dose. This will help women not go over the Tolerable Upper Intake Level for vitamin AFootnote 14, which is 3,000 mcg retinol activity equivalent or 10,000 IU.
- Remind women to keep all supplements stored out of reach of young children.
When Is The Best Time To Take A Prenatal Vitamin
This one really depends. If your prenatal contains iron, it may cause tummy woes esp if you take it on an empty stomach. Generally, taking a vitamin with food is best regardless of which meal that is for you. When in doubt, follow the instructions on the product packaging or ask your OB-GYN during your next visit.
Recommended Reading: Can Prenatal Vitamins Make You More Fertile
Iron In Your Prenatal May Be Making You Sick
The most common reason prenatal vitamins make you sick is that it can cause you to get too much iron. Although iron is in most capsule prenatal vitamins, it is one of the most common ingredients that can make you sick during pregnancy. Women are very different when it comes to how much iron they need during pregnancy and when they need it.
Too much iron, which can easily happen with supplements, can result in side effects such as constipation, nausea, throwing up, or diarrhea.
Too much iron can also escalate and be a contributor to gestational diabetes and other pregnancy complications.
On the other hand, not enough iron can result in anemia, fatigue, or low body temperature.
If your prenatal vitamin is making you sick check and see if it has iron. Then, work with your doctor to see if you even need an iron supplement. This can be seen by taking a simple blood draw.
Many women do not need iron supplements during pregnancy. Other women will take a separate supplement for iron so that they can get the exact amount they need.
What Are Some Side Effects That I Need To Call My Doctor About Right Away
WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:
- Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash hives itching red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever wheezing tightness in the chest or throat trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking unusual hoarseness or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Black, tarry, or bloody stools.
- Fever.
- Diarrhea.
- Belly pain.
These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Read Also: What Vitamins Give You Energy
If You Don’t Need Them They Can Be Toxic
Prenatal vitamins have higher doses of vitamins and minerals than what is needed for the average woman. The higher doses of these nutrients, when taken over a period of time, can lead to toxicity.
For example, if you don’t need a high dose of zinc, found in many prenatal vitamins, it can interfere with the absorption of iron and other minerals leading to deficiencies. The same goes for iron. If you don’t need such a high amount, over time it can lead to iron poisoning. If you are not pregnant or intending to get pregnant and want to take a vitamin supplement, look for a standard women’s multivitamin to help meet your nutrient needs.
When Do You Stop Taking A Prenatal
Not only was when to start taking a prenatal a surprise to me, so was when to stop taking one. Its suggested that new mothers continue to take their prenatal supplements at least four to six weeks after birth. Some experts even suggest continuing your prenatal vitamin up until six months after birth.
You May Like: Can You Buy Vitamin D2 Over The Counter
The Impact Of Prenatal Vitamins
Numerous studies show that taking a prenatal vitamin not only improves baby’s health, but also the health of the mom. Benefits include improved likelihood of becoming pregnant and reduced the risk of miscarriage, prenatal anxiety and depression, and postpartum depression which can have a tremendous impact on the experience of being a mom. There is also reduced risk of pregnancy complications including gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, preterm birth, low birth weight babies, birth defects, and stillbirth all of which can have massive health and safety consequences for mom and baby, including complications associated with prematurity and long hospital stays, and a possible reduction in risk of autism. We also see lower rates of long-term chronic problems that can affect our children later in life, for example, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, when preconception nutrition is optimized.
Other Supplements In Pregnancy
Other than folic acid, vitamin D and iodine and any supplement prescribed for you by your doctor, there is limited evidence to support the use of supplements during pregnancy.
Emerging research has shown that omega-3 supplements during pregnancy might help reduce the risk of premature birth, and that probiotics might help control blood glucose levels in pregnancy. But it’s not clear whether the benefits of taking these supplements outweigh any possible harms. Until there is better evidence available, it’s best to avoid them unless prescribed by your doctor â particularly in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Because nutritional supplements are classed as ‘complementary medicines’, they are not scrutinised or regulated as much as other medicines.
Also Check: What Does One A Day Vitamins Do
Which Prenatal Vitamin Should I Take
Every woman is different, and the prenatal vitamin thats best for you may be different from the one thats best for another woman. The best way to find out which prenatal vitamin to take is by discussing it with your doctor at Signature Womens Healthcare.
Generally speaking, however, in addition to looking for vitamins with the recommended amounts of folic acid and iron listed above, youll want a vitamin that has the following:
- Calcium and vitamin D
- Vitamins C, A, and E
- B vitamins
- Zinc
- Iodine
Again, be sure to discuss the prenatal vitamin you choose with your Signature Womens Healthcare provider, as some may contain high doses that could actually harm your baby, such as excess vitamin A.
Optimizing Dietary Folate Intake
Following a healthy eating pattern and choosing foods that are rich in nutrients helps women meet their requirement for folate and other nutrients. To promote adequate dietary folate intake:
- Encourage women to use Canada’s Food Guide. It describes a healthy eating pattern that is rich in dietary folate. Following Canada’s Food Guide will also help women meet their needs for other nutrients and can help them achieve overall health.
- Promote use of tools such as My Food Guide Servings Tracker. This can help women keep track of the amount and type of food they eat each day and compare their intake to Canada’s Food Guide.
- Encourage women to include grain products fortified with folic acid each day, such as enriched bread or enriched pastaFootnote 11. They can make informed choices, by looking for the term ‘folic acid’ in the ingredient list.
- Encourage women to have legumes, such as beans or lentils, often and eat at least one dark green vegetable, such as peas or romaine lettuce, each day.
- Refer women to a Registered Dietitian if they have a significantly restricted food intake. This can happen when women exclude an entire food group or have severe nausea or vomiting. These women can benefit from comprehensive nutritional assessment and counselling.
- Refer nutritionally at-risk women to services or programs that can help. The Canada Prenatal Nutrition ProgramFootnote 12 .Website provides contact information for programs and services for vulnerable pregnant women.
You May Like: What Vitamins Should I Take On A Vegan Diet
You May Not Need A Prenatal Vitamin
Most doctors recommend their pregnant patients take vitamin supplements, but they do not need to be specifically formulated for pregnancy. There are also some good multivitamins available that are safe during pregnancy.
In choosing a multivitamin, ensure that it has an adequate amount of folate or folic acid and the right amounts of other vitamins and minerals. Some vitamins, like vitamin A, in high doses, can cause birth defects. The recommended dietary allowance of vitamin A for pregnant people is 770 mcg.
Pregnant Avoid These Vitamins And Supplements
A prenatal vitamin is typically the only supplement you need during pregnancy, but its important to talk to your OB-GYN to ensure that you arent experiencing specific deficiencies. For example, if bloodwork indicates anemia, a supplement may be recommended in addition to your prenatal vitamin depending on the deficiencys severity.
In contrast, too much of certain vitamins and minerals can be detrimental to the pregnancy and/or fetal health. In some cases, these can lead to congenital abnormalities. For example, too much vitamin A can cause limb defects, too much iodine can affect thyroid development and high levels of vitamin E have been associated with premature rupture of membranes. Be sure to take only the recommended daily dosage.
Additionally, certain natural supplements like black cohosh root and dong quai root that contain high levels of estrogen can also be associated with early contractions. Discuss supplements during pregnancy with your OB-GYN before adding anything to your daily regimen.
Don’t Miss: How Do You Check Vitamin D Levels
How Can I Get The Nutrients I Need
The NHS currently recommends taking folic acid and vitamin D supplements .
You only need an iron supplement if you are iron-deficient .
The rest you can easily get from food.
- Choose foods that contain folate , especially leafy green veg.
- Iron can be found in meat, poultry and seafood, as well as leafy green vegetables, beans, nuts, raisins and dried fruit.
- Calcium is found in dairy products, but also in oranges, bell peppers, broccoli, kale and brussels sprouts.
- Top up your Vitamin D by eating oily fish , eggs and red meat.
- Iodine is found in fish, milk, cheese, and yoghurt. Its also in iodized salt.
