Prenatal vitamins?

[greenmom17]

Just wondering which prenatal vitamins you're taking? I'm able to get tons of samples from drug reps - I'm currently taking Natelle Plus (Rx). I was taking Target brand prenatals before the BFP.

Is there really a difference?

[minsca]

I was taking just the Life brand of Prenatals (Canadian drug store brand), but I have noticed that I feel worse after taking them. So I went to the local organic store today and bought MegaFood Baby&Me Brand (100% whole food) so I hope I notice a difference in how I feel. I'll let you know tomorrow if it makes a difference.

[ShwarmaQueen]

I've only taken whole foods vitamins (mine are Central Market brand prenatal) and I'm not feeling sick at all, not sure if it's related. The dosage is 6, but I'm only taking 3 (in the morning) because I'm not exactly skipping meals. : Rainbow Light is another common whole foods prenatal that you can buy online for cheap: http://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Light-.../dp/B000EE804A

I'm not taking Rx prenatals unless I can't afford my OTC ones ($20/month). GL!

[minsca]

Originally Posted by ShwarmaQueen

I've only taken whole foods vitamins (mine are Central Market brand prenatal) and I'm not feeling sick at all, not sure if it's related. The dosage is 6, but I'm only taking 3 (in the morning) because I'm not exactly skipping meals. : Rainbow Light is another common whole foods prenatal that you can buy online for cheap: http://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Light-.../dp/B000EE804A

I'm not taking Rx prenatals unless I can't afford my OTC ones ($20/month). GL!

I am so glad that you posted that you only take 3. I just noticed that it is 6 per serving, and I went... akkk. That means $100 a month in prenatals. OUCH. $50 is bad enough so I'm going to look at those Rainbow Light now.

[ShwarmaQueen]

Originally Posted by minsca

I am so glad that you posted that you only take 3. I just noticed that it is 6 per serving, and I went... akkk. That means $100 a month in prenatals. OUCH. $50 is bad enough so I'm going to look at those Rainbow Light now.

Seriously, 3 is a lot, unless you can't manage to eat anything else. For example, today I've had 2 boiled eggs, 2 oz. cheddar cheese, ceasar salad, Turkey burger w/ spinach and mushrooms on whole wheat bun, a fresh fruit salad, tamari almonds, and I haven't even had dinner yet. I feel like there is a such thing as too much of a good thing, kwim?

[minsca]

I believe you are right. I eat healthy and to be honest with both dd's I stopped taking my prenatals because they were making me sick. I became anemic with dd2 though so I'm wanting to keep taking my prenatals to make sure that this baby is healthy and that my body isn't leeched of any nutrients from my two other pregnancy's. I do take Floradix on a regular basis though so I know I'm getting enough iron. I'll be taking 3 per day. I just checked up on Rainbow Light... you can't buy them here in Canada, and it doesn't look like I can get them shipped up here either.

[ShwarmaQueen]

Originally Posted by minsca

I just checked up on Rainbow Light... you can't buy them here in Canada, and it doesn't look like I can get them shipped up here either.

What bull! : Maybe eBay?

[Bena]

I haven't been taking prenatals so far, because I was pretty turned of by the price (even the Life brand ones) and from what I could see, only the dose of everything was higher and it made me wonder if the makers were taking advantage of us. It made me annoyed, so I didn't buy them! Also, I had a half full bottle of regular women's vitamins, which I take pretty religiously, along with EFA's. I was wondering if maybe I could just take 2 of my regular vitamins.

I eat really well also, and have made a point in the last week of getting more variety (I've been know, in a long ago past, to eat only cereal for a day! But that's over for me now!!)

I am meeting my GP tomorrow, and this is something I'll bring up with her, see what she says.

[Daisytattoo]

Thanks for that link--I recently read about those and was going to look for them this week.

[mamaprek]

I came here to post this exact question! Funny! This is my third and I've always taken the store brand prenatal, but then started wondering if there is a difference. I saw the Rainbow Light ones at Target today so I think I'll go back for those. Do you take a DHA supplement (like Expecta) as well?

[thewaggonerfamily]

Meijer (a midwestern grocery etc store) has free prenatals, you just need an Rx. I think they have 6 different ones to choose from. I used to have Natachew (they were chewable which were awesome since swallowing horse pills makes me gag) but I don't think they make them anymore.

[ShwarmaQueen]

Originally Posted by mamaprek

Do you take a DHA supplement (like Expecta) as well?

I don't, but I might eventually. Especially if food starts turning me off. We are walnut, tuna, and salmon eaters so I think I'll just put them in the 'dinner rotation' more frequently. Thanks for reminding me about that!

[rrs]

I'm taking Perry Prenatal, but only because Rainbow Light has soy lecithin. If my diet weren't restricted, I would take Rainbow Light.

[ShwarmaQueen]

Originally Posted by rrs

I'm taking Perry Prenatal, but only because Rainbow Light has soy lecithin. If my diet weren't restricted, I would take Rainbow Light.

Do you have a soy allergy?

[rrs]

Originally Posted by ShwarmaQueen

Do you have a soy allergy?

Carter does. Unfortunately it seems that soy lecithin provokes a reaction in him, when it doesn't in most people.

He's got dairy, soy, and wheat, so I'm pretty restricted.

[ShwarmaQueen]

Originally Posted by rrs

Carter does. Unfortunately it seems that soy lecithin provokes a reaction in him, when it doesn't in most people.

He's got dairy, soy, and wheat, so I'm pretty restricted.

Wow poor little guy. Hopefully he outgrows them- I had many food allergies as a child, now none of them affect me.

[Shell_Ell]

I hadn't been taking prenatals at all... should have been since I'm still nursing. But of course as soon as those two lines popped up I started on them again. I take a food based, I can't remember the name of it. It has everything plus enzymes and probiotics, which is nice. When I talked to my midwife this morning she also suggested a few other things. I'm going to do my best to keep up with it, but it could all go out the window if M/S hits.

[rrs]

Originally Posted by ShwarmaQueen

Wow poor little guy. Hopefully he outgrows them- I had many food allergies as a child, now none of them affect me.

Oh wow, that has done so much to lift my hungry mama spirits! You have no idea, thank you!

[haleyelianasmom]

Not in your DDC, but I wanted to point out that there are a few different types of "whole food" vitamins. Like Rainbow Light has whole foods in it, but the vitamins themselves are regular lab-created vitamins. New Chapter and MegaFoods create the vitamins actually in food and they use fermatation or something. Then there are other types like the Vitamin Code vitamins that the vitamins are grown in raw food. There's some article explaining the difference on the WAP site.

I used to take Rainbow Light, but now I'm taking New Chapter Perfect Prenatal and I really like it, no nausea and, sounds weird, but I don't have the electric yellow urine like I do with other vitamins. I'm also curious to try the Vitamin Code ones. Have any of you tried this kind?

If you're looking for cheap prenatals, they seem to be cheapest on iHerb.com (use coupon code MOS036 for $5 off), Amazon.com, or Luckyvitamin.com. I've also heard vitacost.com has them cheap.


ETA: For DHA, I really like a vegetarian DHA made by omega-zen available on veganessentials.com. It seems to be the highest dose for the price compared to other non-fish DHA supplements (300mg, 40 pills, about $18).

[LenaMK]

I've been trying to get the needed vitamins from foods instead of prenatal vitamins but *wow* that is taking a lot more planning than I expected.

Thanks so much for the info on different brands - so many questions answered!