Keeping my immune system in tip top while pregnant, HELP!

[creekprincess]

Ladies I am 10 weeks pregnant due 3/31, I've never been pregnant through cold and flu season. I'd like to boost my immune system, but am unsure how....I went for another repeat Vit D check as my levels were 18 last fall (I got it up to 26 by April) will know the results 9/20. My Midwife does not think Vit D does anything for anyone.....and wants me to get a flu shot......no thanks.

So I plan to take some Vit D but am not sure how much to. What else besides my prenatal should I be taking? Any idea how much Vitamin D I should take? I saw this http://aapnews.aappublications.org/c...ews.20100501-2 but again im not sure....

Please help me out with this. Thanks

[scrappin-mama]

I've been taking 2,000 IU of raw D3 a day on top of my prenatal (I take Vitamin Code). I've been taking it maybe 3 weeks? My kiddos got a little sick last week when ds started preschool. They've both been taking (smaller doses) of D3 for a few weeks as well. Neither of them ever developed a fever, and the colds only lasted 4 days. Usually they would have both developed a fever for a few days and the whole thing would have lasted much longer. I got a little 'sniffly' for a couple of days, but never had a sore throat or anything like that. So far, so good!

[orange_mommy]

I have a group of midwives, and the first recommended about 4000 IUs per day when she suggested supplementing with it. I got blood tests and sure enough tested low in Vitamin D. The midwife I spoke with after that said about 3000 IUs per day (in addition to prenatal multi). So I am taking 3000 IUs in addition to whatever is in my prenatal. I asked if it is better absorbed when doses are broken up (my vitamin Ds are 1000 IUs each) and she said that it didn't matter whether taken all at once or broken up. Also, I got the impression that you could actually take more than what they said, but that it was kind of a general minimum guideline. It's especially difficult to synthesize adequate Vitamin D if you live in a place with a minimum amount of sun, and also the darker your skin is, the more sun you need to synthesize proper amounts of Vitamin D and the more likely you are to be Vitamin D deficient, so the more necessary for Vitamin D supplementation.
My personal opinion, I would NEVER get a flu shot, UGH! I believe you are doing the right thing to boost your immune system instead!

[Lady Lilya]

You should take 1000IUs per 25lbs of body weight per day. That is how much your body likely spends in a day. If you want to increase your stores, you can take more.

If you start to come down with something, you should take 10 times your daily dose for 3 days. It works like magic.

[Tresa]

Probiotics help keep your gut in balance, which keeps everything else in your body healthier. My midwife had me start taking them preventatively already.

I wouldn't bother with extra VitC until you actually get sick, it just makes extra work for your body to filter out if you're supplementing extra than what you get from your prenatal and food.

Don't oversupplement with it either, but VitA keeps your cell and mucous linings healthy (I'm not saying that right). Are you taking fish oil or flaxseed oil?

Drink enough water, get enough rest (day and night, listen to your body). I've gotten sick once during each of my pregnancies, regardless of the nutritional attacks I've tried to make in favor of health. And it's horrible...but it made me tougher for when I got sick, again, while nursing. It's nice to get a practice run at trying not to die while being sick, not being able to take any good OTC drugs...before baby comes out and adds a new dimension to your juggling act.

[Jayray]

I have a friend who takes 50,000 IUs of vit D per day, but she has osteoporosis. She said if you take too much, you start to feel yucky.

All to say, you can take a lot before you're taking too much, it seems.

[Lady Lilya]

I want to somewhat disagree with the poster who said not to take extra vitamin C. Everyone needs different amounts, and it changes all the time. If you have too much, you will get a little diarrhea. If you aren't getting that, you aren't overdoing it.

Vitamin C binds to so many kinds of toxins and ushers them out. It is only after there are no more toxins left that it will stimulate your bowels. So that is the method to know when it is enough. (They say to take a small dose every hour until you get diarrhea, then your daily dose should be 75% of the total you took.)

[lillymonster]

Originally Posted by creekprincess

My Midwife does not think Vit D does anything for anyone.....and wants me to get a flu shot......no thanks.

This is the 2nd time I have been pregnant during flu season, last time I got the shot in november and was sick all winter - but was fine before that!

I am taking probiotics, I started taking them I think when I was like 7 weeks. I need to start with vit D, I am taking some with my cal/mag supplement, but I probably should take more.

When my daughter was low on vit D, they put her on I think 50000 iu per week for 8 weeks (she was like 2 at the time) and I gave them to her once a week - 7 drops at one time. So you can take them all at once.

[Lady Lilya]

Yeah, you can take them all at once because D is fat-soluble and will store in your body in the fat tissue. But a skinnier person may not save as much from each dose, and would do better with smaller doses more frequently.

[creekprincess]

Originally Posted by orange_mommy

I have a group of midwives, and the first recommended about 4000 IUs per day when she suggested supplementing with it. I got blood tests and sure enough tested low in Vitamin D. The midwife I spoke with after that said about 3000 IUs per day (in addition to prenatal multi). So I am taking 3000 IUs in addition to whatever is in my prenatal. I asked if it is better absorbed when doses are broken up (my vitamin Ds are 1000 IUs each) and she said that it didn't matter whether taken all at once or broken up. Also, I got the impression that you could actually take more than what they said, but that it was kind of a general minimum guideline. It's especially difficult to synthesize adequate Vitamin D if you live in a place with a minimum amount of sun, and also the darker your skin is, the more sun you need to synthesize proper amounts of Vitamin D and the more likely you are to be Vitamin D deficient, so the more necessary for Vitamin D supplementation.
My personal opinion, I would NEVER get a flu shot, UGH! I believe you are doing the right thing to boost your immune system instead!

What was your vitamin D level, if you don't mind me asking?

[creekprincess]

Originally Posted by scrappin-mama

I've been taking 2,000 IU of raw D3 a day on top of my prenatal (I take Vitamin Code). I've been taking it maybe 3 weeks? My kiddos got a little sick last week when ds started preschool. They've both been taking (smaller doses) of D3 for a few weeks as well. Neither of them ever developed a fever, and the colds only lasted 4 days. Usually they would have both developed a fever for a few days and the whole thing would have lasted much longer. I got a little 'sniffly' for a couple of days, but never had a sore throat or anything like that. So far, so good!

How much are you giving your children? I want to start DS on it too. Did you have them tested?

[creekprincess]

So I seen the MW a little sooner due to a scare with the baby ( baby is okay) and she said my D came back at 34 which is normal...she says 30 -100 is normal and that I need to just let it go now. Gosh I really don't like her...glad the OB will be delivering me (MW won't do VBAC).

Anyways I still am going to supp. with some D just not sure how much to take since MW is of no help. I was thinking about the D-Drops 400 IU and giving my DS 1 everyday? and maybe giving me 2-3 to start? Does that sound right?

Also when checking D should you check something else too? Calcium or something? I can't remember...

Thanks for the replies

[karen1968]

34 might be within the normal range, but it isn't OPTIMAL. Optimal is 50-75. (See the info at the Vitamin D Council for more info.)

I was tested a little over a year ago for two reasons - my DS was low (25) and he and I both get cavities at each appointment now (I hadn't had a cavity in 20 years before his pregnancy). I was at 32. I have no idea of my current level, as it is hard to get doctors around here to test you "without symptoms of deficiency" :irk

I take 4,000 iu (Carlson drops) 3-4 times a week. Now that summer is over and the rain has started (gotta love PNW weather), I will be upping that to 4,000iu every day (if I can remember).

[WifeofAnt]

Are the drops better or are the gel caplets about the same? I'm going to start getting some sun-time (if the calculator I found was right I can get 1000 IU in 6 minutes here in Texas) but once fall and winter come around I want to make sure I'm getting enough.

[orange_mommy]

Originally Posted by creekprincess

What was your vitamin D level, if you don't mind me asking?

You know... I have no idea! Your question peaked my interest though, and I'm going to ask at my next appointment!

[DanielleT]

Are there any risks to baby if you take too much of either vit c or d?

[WifeofAnt]

Too much vitamin C (like WAY too much) will give you diarrhea. I think its actually pretty hard to take too much vitamin C and not know it.

*Vitamin C is also known to some people as a way to get an over-the-counter abortion. Now its not likely that anyone could do it on accident since you would have to take 6-10 mg of pure ascorbic acid for several days in a row (most vitamin C on the market now contains rose hips or other bioflavinoids to prevent miscarriage). Its only effective very early in pregnancy though before the placenta takes over so don't be paranoid you're going to hurt the baby if you need to take it later on for a cold.*

I'm not too sure about too much vitamin D (although there was a warning not too long ago for infants).

[HRJ]

That is good that your vitamin D is up from 18 to 34. Ideally you want it higher. However, too much vitamin D during pregnancy is toxic and you can over do it. I have a deficiency. My son and I both do - we were tested a few years ago during the middle of summer, and our levels were 8 & 11. You do want to keep an eye on your levels (regardless of whether it is going to help you fight the flu) b/c vitamin D deficiency during PG is not a good thing. My son has had 12 teeth filled. We started noticing the decay around 14 mos. At 22 mos, he started getting a total of 6 teeth filled (two were capped and almost lost). He is 5 now, and has continued to need fillings at every.single.visit.

Now that I am pregnant again, i am reading how being deficient during PG can cause tooth enamel issues in the baby inutero. His ped also thinks his deficiency has prevented him from absorbing vitamins and minerals.

That said, when I first became PG, my acupuncturist said that the safe limit for a PG woman was 2000. I was taking much more than that prior to my PG and was disappointed to hear this. When i googled, everything said 2000. I talked to my OB (who is a very think outside the box guy) and he said I could take a maximum of 4000. I later talked to the acupuncturist again (who works with this OB) and she said that she agreed - they had just released a new study. And it was a good study.

As far as flu, check into some homeopathic anti cold and flus. My husband noticed a huge difference in what he was picking up from my germy son (first year of preschool) once he started vitamin D and fish oil. Probiotics are good too.

[karen1968]

Elderberry syrup is good for flu, too. You start it at onset of symptoms. If you live in a place where elderberries grow (they are ripe here at the moment), make your own. It is pricey in the store!

[taffywelsh]

eat extra-virgin coconut oil; it is a natural anti-biotic and anti-bacterial (well, I'm sure it's pretty weak but it is natural!). I ate it all during my pregnancy and never got sick