What vitamins & supplements are you taking? « Back to Group Discussions

[BetsyPage]

I'm trying not to freak out about this, but I haven't been taking any vitamins or supplements for a while... this was not a planned pregnancy. I eat "primal" (not strict paleo, do eat dairy) though since I've gotten pregnant wheat has snuck back into my diet so I need to address that. Anyway I feel like I overall eat a healthy diet but I really want to make sure I'm covered!

What is a good prenatal vitamin? Do you take any other supplements? I just read about Spirulina powder and how nutrient-packed that is, but I'm not sure if I could choke that down in a glass of water. And what do you do about iron? I have already been SO constipated this pregnancy (tummy issues/constipation was my first symptom!) that I'm thinking I might prefer to seek out food sources rather than take iron as a supplement.

[purplemamaturtle5]

I am currently taking -everyday- 1 chewable prenatal vitamin, 3 cod liver oil capsules as well as 3 desiccated liver capsules. I bought the cod liver oil and the liver capsules from Radiant Life.

[lilbsmama]

I am not taking a prenatal atm. I currently take EPO and a vit. B complex, for mood swings, that I have been taking in place of zoloft for 2 years, and cranberry extract for frequent utis. I am thinking of getting a gummy prenatal as a backup, but my diet is almost perfect. If your diet is something to envy, and you can actually keep food down. I would not worry about taking one. 

[rabbit troop]

I take a trader joe's one a day prenatal that has additional digestive support. I alternate that with a gummy prenatal (two-a-day) since the trader joe's lacks dha and fish oil. I like alternating because the gummy lacks iron and many other things but the trader joe's lacks the fish oil. I don't know if I should be taking anything else but I do eat well and hope that my diet is giving me the nutritional support I need.

[purposefuldoula]

I've been mostly vegan for the last year and eat a ton of veggies, beans, and nuts, but I know my body is needing more protein. With my previous pregnancies, I had a ton of swelling. After tons of research and reading up on the Brewer's diet, I know I need more protein than my usual mostly veggie diet contains.  I've re-introduced fish and eggs and we are even getting a few laying hens next month! 

That all being said, I'm only taking a chewable B vitamin for morning sickness, (I think it's totally helping, since I've only had one bad day so far,) and an iron supplement once or twice a week.  I got really anemic with my last pregnancy so I'm trying to prevent that. 

[katroshka]

I only sporadically take vitamins, I really am not convinced they do any good and they tend to make me feel gross. I've been vegan for 12 years and have had 3 kids during that time. I've had no problems other than very slight anemia right at the end of my pregnancies, not enough to have to supplement for. I just eat a really wide variety of fresh fruits and veggies, and lots of protein and iron rich legumes- lentils are the best in my book!

[Harmony96]

I'm taking Rainbow Light prenatals (the 6-a-day kind), a Standard Process iron, some folic acid, some L-lysine and some L-arginine, and a fish oil.

[kaliki_kila]

Originally Posted by Harmony96 

I'm taking Rainbow Light prenatals (the 6-a-day kind), a Standard Process iron, some folic acid, some L-lysine and some L-arginine, and a fish oil.

We have some L-lysine, arginine and also carnitine.... maybe I should take them?

[Harmony96]

Originally Posted by kaliki_kila 



We have some L-lysine, arginine and also carnitine.... maybe I should take them?

I had started the Lysine because I sometimes have a tendency to mouth ulcers and that was recommended to help heal those. Then someone else recommended the arginine to help in my c-section recovery. I am probably past the time now where I "need" either one of those, but I don't think they are harmful, so I'm still doing it. If I find out otherwise, though, I don't have any problem dropping them.

[kaleiskind]

Another vegan here. My diet pre-pregnancy was lots of fresh fruits and veggies, beans, whole grains, etc. Now it's just what doesn't completely turn me off. Luckily, I can still tolerate most green vegetables, but I also have a lot of aversions, so I've taking the Rainbow Lite Just Once, along with calcium chews, a DHA capsule, and some extra B-12/folic acid lozenges. 

I know they say the babies will take what they need, but since I'm feeling so run down and carrying twins, I thought I'd just try to keep up my stores, especially since I don't have much of an appetite for anything other than raisin bran and toast some days.

[JudiAU]

If you are having a hard time keeping things down, consider trying gummy prenatals. I have a much easier time with them in the first trimester.

[kateadelle]

I am taking Vitanica's Maternal Symmetry which is you standard prenatal plus helpful herbs, prenatal dha, extra iron because I run anemic and a probiatic pill. My diet is pretty darn healthy, but I have always been a vitamin taking kind of girl and it has served me well.

[BaileyB]

I just started my folic acid that I happened to already have on hand. But I think I will pick up some gummy vit and would like to find a good probiotic to start also.