Need reassurance - Too much Vitamin A

[MeAndVee]

I know many people think its gross but I grew up eating it.  I had chicken liver for dinner on Monday and the leftovers with salad for lunch on Tuesday.  And I did not know how high in Vitamin A they are.  I got a positive on Tuesday.  I am 11 DPO.  So I am 3 weeks 3 days along.  Will it effect the baby at this stage?  Too much or too little is both bad for baby.  I read an article that baby is most vunerable 3 weeks after ovulation for 5 weeks.  SO if I can manage to not do anything stupid again til the second semester we'll be in good {for the most part}!  I dont remember things being this complicated with DS!  I was craving it so I ate it.

[cameragirl]

You should be fine. The real danger is the artificial vitamin A in multivitamins. There have been studies that show that high doses of vitamin A during the pregnancy did not cause birth defects if the source was food. This article may help some, and there are other good articles on vitamin A on their site.

http://www.westonaprice.org/childrens-health/vitamins-for-fetal-development-conception-to-birth

[amberskyfire]

Yes, the danger comes from non-natural Vitamin A Palmitate, not Beta Carotene which is the natural form of Vitamin A.

[janellody]

How much vitamin A are you supposed to get? 

[amberskyfire]

If you are getting Vitamin A as Beta Carotene, there's no limit as long as you aren't stuffing yourself with prenatal vitamins. In the amount you get in a normal diet, it's great. If you are getting A Palmitate from your prenatals, you cannot take between 8,000 and 10,000 IUs or it can cause fetal death or serious birth defects. I was really surprised to find that there were many, many brands were upwards of 20,000 IUs. Some were as high as 50,000! I was really shocked. My prenatals have Beta Carotene and they contain 2,000 IUs, I think.

Originally Posted by janellody 

How much vitamin A are you supposed to get? 

[janellody]

My prenantal says Vitamin A (as beta caratene) also, and it says 4000 IU so that is reassuring.  Thanks for the info!!!  You ladies are so smart :)
 

Originally Posted by amberskyfire 

If you are getting Vitamin A as Beta Carotene, there's no limit as long as you aren't stuffing yourself with prenatal vitamins. In the amount you get in a normal diet, it's great. If you are getting A Palmitate from your prenatals, you cannot take between 8,000 and 10,000 IUs or it can cause fetal death or serious birth defects. I was really surprised to find that there were many, many brands were upwards of 20,000 IUs. Some were as high as 50,000! I was really shocked. My prenatals have Beta Carotene and they contain 2,000 IUs, I think.

[MeAndVee]

Oh THANK YOU.  I could cry I am so happy.   My pranatal conatains I believe 50%.  I'll have to check and repost.  I eat enough healthy foods that I shouldn't even need extra Vitamin A.  Is there such a prenatal out there?  And my thoughts were {trying to comfort myself} that since I was so strongly craving this food then my body must have really needed it.  It isn't something I eat or even think to eat very often. 

Update:  Checked and the prenatal I am taking contains 50% RDA of Vitamin A {100% Beta Carotene}  Yay!  Today just keeps getting better and better!

Edited by MeAndVee - 9/9/11 at 8:52am

[amberskyfire]

As for eating liver, I have *heard* that you should avoid it during pregnancy because it contains toxins (it filters toxins from the blood) and isn't great while pregnant, but eating it once isn't going to hurt your baby one bit! I don't even know if it's true or if it's an old wives' tale that you shouldn't eat it while pregnant. I just know that some people say to avoid it. It's kind of like eating tuna while pregnant. Avoid it, but if you eat some, no big deal.

[cameragirl]

I think that grass-fed, organic beef liver would be okay in smaller amounts. There is some evidence that conventional liver might have some toxins in it, since the liver does a lot of filtering.

[MeAndVee]

I am going to avoid it.  I don't need this much panic.  I am doing the Brewer's Diet and it suggests it once a week for the iron but I can get iron elsewhere!  I'm just on edge with this pregnancy.  If I am at all pregnant because the test I took this morning was negative.  Tomorrow I will know.  AF is due saturday and you could set a calender by me!  Fingers crossed

[BubbleMa]

Originally Posted by amberskyfire 

If you are getting Vitamin A as Beta Carotene, there's no limit as long as you aren't stuffing yourself with prenatal vitamins. In the amount you get in a normal diet, it's great. If you are getting A Palmitate from your prenatals, you cannot take between 8,000 and 10,000 IUs or it can cause fetal death or serious birth defects. I was really surprised to find that there were many, many brands were upwards of 20,000 IUs. Some were as high as 50,000! I was really shocked. My prenatals have Beta Carotene and they contain 2,000 IUs, I think.

That's scary!   Many women (including me!) would assume prenatals are safe.  Wow.  :(