Should I take prenatal vitamins while TTC?

[carfreemama]

Hi All:

Not sure if this belongs here or in Health and Healing.

However, it occurs to me that since we are TTC, I should probably be taking folic acid. However, the health food store person said I could just start taking prenatals now. I'm not really worried about my folic acid levels, since I get lots of it in my diet; however, my doctor strongly encourages supplementing. So I went ahead and bought the prenatals. What do all of you do?

[karmab]

Absolutely you should start them before you conceive if you are trying!
Good luck!!!!

[nameisrio]

I took them before I got pregnant. Can't hurt.

[emski4379]

I take them now since we started TTC.

[MoonStarFalling]

Personally I eat a high nutrient diet and forget about the multi vitamins.

[To-Fu]

Most definitely. We did.

Our midwives told us that in general it's a good idea to make sure you are in optimal health -- both you and your partner -- before actually conceiving. They recommended optimal nutrition and a prenatal vitamin for at least three months in advance.

[MaerynPearl]

I started long before TTC... prenatals are the best! Even if you aren't TTC, the vitamins in them will help your hair and nails grow stronger and faster... and they also help clear my skin up some.

[TheDivineMrsM]

My MW advised me to start. Even if your diet is nutritious, it's possible there's something you're missing. A prenatal will "fill in the blanks."

[claddaghmom]

And while you're at it...have you checked into the Folic versus Folate debate? You might want to add foods rich in Folate to your diet or consider a whole-foods prenatal with actual Folate in it.

[carfreemama]

Thanks, everyone. Glad I bought them. It feels like tempting fate, somehow; I just hope in a good way.

But folate versus folic acid? I thought I'd heard of every health and food debate out there. Guess Not. I picked these vitamins up on impulse today, when it occurred to me. Jamieson I think? I'll have to go look. Does that mean if they have folic acid, I can't take them anymore? Or do I just add folate?

I eat lots of whole grain (as in I mill my own flour and eat sprouted grain, etc). Guess I better do some more research.

Okay, I just did a quick look-up. Folate is in lentils, leafy greens and citrus? I eat all these foods almost every day. Is that enough?

[MaerynPearl]

its not that folic acid is bad, just that your body uses folate much more efficiently than the folic acid.

[treehugginhippie]

Originally Posted by claddaghmom

And while you're at it...have you checked into the Folic versus Folate debate? You might want to add foods rich in Folate to your diet or consider a whole-foods prenatal with actual Folate in it.

Does a prenatal w/ folate in it exist?

[Stevi]

I've been taking prenatals since early 2006, a few months after I began TTC.

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by treehugginhippie

Does a prenatal w/ folate in it exist?

Folate is not something you can take in pill form. In pill form it becomes folic acid. In natural form it is folate and easier for your body to use.

Natural sources for it are leafy greens/veggies, certain fruits, enriched grain foods (pastas, cereal), liver, certain kinds of seeds like sunflower. I have to eat most of those because they are also high in iron and I am borderline for iron.

[claddaghmom]

Originally Posted by treehugginhippie

Does a prenatal w/ folate in it exist?

Apparently not! Sorry about that!

Oh BTW I just came across this article on facebook!

Unlike the more easily absorbed natural Folate, Folic Acid is not
bioactive as it is proclaimed to be, and must be converted by the
intestines and liver before it can be used for critical Folate
dependent actions. Many people (< 25%) do not have the ability to
convert Folic Acid. These people are particularly vulnerable to Folate
deficiency, which is linked to an increased risk of birth defects and
cancer.

http://current.com/groups/healthy-ba...folic-acid.htm

[claddaghmom]

I think this thread mentions some prenatals that have folate:

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...3#post14944253

Thorne, Metagenesis and New Chapter.

[Sarah W]

I was given an Rx for prenatals when I had my IUD removed. As I was leaving, they said, "See you in a couple months!"

[MommyMatsumoto]

Yes, definitely take prenatals while ttc. I was told to take them while ttc, while pregnant, and while breastfeeding.