What supplements are you taking? - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[Mamma Mia]

I added floradix in case I miscarry, because if I hemorrhage again I really want high iron counts.  But I don't really feel like i need it, I'm just thinking ahead because looking and feeling like a vampire victim was not a fun way to spend the weeks after my last m/c.

[lenny1027]

Wow, I'm feeling really derelict in my supplement taking now. I'm just taking Rainbow Light once daily prenatal, and occasionally taking DHA and probiotic. (I say occassionally because I rarely remember to take them because they are in my fridge at home, whereas my prenatal is at home in the cabinet AND on my desk at work, so I can't miss it!)

[Mamma Mia]

I don't think you're being derelict!

[TwilightJoy]

Originally Posted by snozzberry 

What recipe do you use? I've never made/tried a green smoothie, but if it tastes yummy I'm up for trying it!

I love love love peach/mango flavored green smoothies, but sometimes I do berries instead to mix it up.

1 cup liquid (Most of the time I use Naked juice, either Mighty Mango or Orange Carrot)
1 banana
16 ounces frozen fruit (this is 1 standard bag of frozen fruit, I usually do 1/2 a bag of peaches and 1/2 a bag of mangos)
8 ounces greens (spinach, kale, spring mix, chard)

If you're feeling fancy, add a Squirt of flax oil and/or Spoonful of coconut oil

Sometimes I have to pour in more juice or add water to get it to keep blender, but I like my smoothies thick!

[amyknits1076]

Ooooohhhh that sounds so good!! How much does it make? It seems like a lot! I only use 1/2 a cup of frozen fruit in my smoothies...

[kikaaaso]

Originally Posted by TwilightJoy 


I love love love peach/mango flavored green smoothies, but sometimes I do berries instead to mix it up.
1 cup liquid (Most of the time I use Naked juice, either Mighty Mango or Orange Carrot)
1 banana
16 ounces frozen fruit (this is 1 standard bag of frozen fruit, I usually do 1/2 a bag of peaches and 1/2 a bag of mangos)
8 ounces greens (spinach, kale, spring mix, chard)
If you're feeling fancy, add a Squirt of flax oil and/or Spoonful of coconut oil
Sometimes I have to pour in more juice or add water to get it to keep blender, but I like my smoothies thick!

 That does sound good!! Thank you for sharing. What a great way to get in a lot of your fruit and veggie requirements!! I am going to be trying this out this weekend!!

[TwilightJoy]

Originally Posted by amyknits1076 

Ooooohhhh that sounds so good!! How much does it make? It seems like a lot! I only use 1/2 a cup of frozen fruit in my smoothies...

I have a Blendtec and it fills it up, and I then pour it into 3 thermoses. It does seem like a lot of fruit when you look at it like that, but it's also a lot of greens. If you buy one of those big clamshells of spinach, it's half a container.

[SuperMujer0923]

Originally Posted by TwilightJoy 

I love supplements!
I try to eat organic and semi-TF, but I'm not very strict about it.
I'm taking one set of prenatals one day, and another set the next day... switching up the brands.
Odd days:
New Chapter Perfect Prenatal: http://www.newchapter.com/multi-vitamins/perfect-prenatal#product-information
New Chapter Wholemega Prenatal: http://www.newchapter.com/fish-oil/wholemega-prenatal
Even days:
Garden of Life Vitamin Code Prenatal: http://www.gardenoflife.com/ProductsforLife/THEVITAMINCODEsupsup/MultivitaminFormulas/RAWPrenatal/tabid/1823/Default.aspx
Garden of Life Oceans Mom: http://www.gardenoflife.com/ProductsforLife/OCEANS3/OceansMom/tabid/1822/Default.aspx
Every day:
Fermented Cod Liver Oil Capsules: http://www.greenpasture.org/public/Products/CodLiverOil/index.cfm
Butter Oil Capsules: http://www.radiantlifecatalog.com/product/HIGH-VITAMIN-BUTTER-OIL/healthy-fats-oils
Tri-Boron (for calcium): http://www.twinlab.com/product/tri-boron-plus
Do you think that's sufficient? Partially lol but partially serious...
I also drink green smoothies every day. I make one blenderful, and then pour it into 3 thermoses. So about 1.5 cups a day?

I checked out the Green Pasture product. It seems like it would be great, but how on earth do you know how much you are getting since their label is so vague?

[aHikaru]

new chapter perfect prenatal and new chapter DHA.

[Quinalla]

Rainbow Light Prenatal Multivitamin
Omega 3 Flax/Fish Oil (whatever brand is at my grocery store)
Citracal (Calcium w/Vitamin D3)
Red raspberry leaf tea (1-2 cups a day, I actually like the taste, so I figure its more liquids and it is supposed to be beneficial for your uterus)
I'll also take some extra D3 once I can no longer absorb it from the sun here (we're north enough that we can't get it for winter and some of spring/fall)

I make sure to take my multivitamin that has iron well apart from my calcium supplement for best absorption, usually I take the multivitamin in the morning and the calcium after dinner. Besides a prenatal being swapped for a regular multivitamin, this is what I take all the time anyway, so its no big deal for me. I'm going to have to try one of those smoothies, sounds yummy! I'm also going to start making some more soups with kale, that stuff is awesome in soups!

[crunchyruchie]

Question: I've heard wonderful things about red raspberry tea, and I'm eager to try it, but I've also heard some alarming information about it increasing the odds of miscarriage in the first trimester. I should ask my midwife about it at my next appointment, but since several of you have mentioned taking it, did any of you ever worry about the miscarriage possibility? Is this just nonsense?
 

[snozzberry]

Originally Posted by crunchyruchie 

Question: I've heard wonderful things about red raspberry tea, and I'm eager to try it, but I've also heard some alarming information about it increasing the odds of miscarriage in the first trimester. I should ask my midwife about it at my next appointment, but since several of you have mentioned taking it, did any of you ever worry about the miscarriage possibility? Is this just nonsense?
 

I'm no expert, but from what little I've read if you haven't already been taking it regularly before pregnancy, it isn't a great idea during first trimester. It can cause uterine contractions, I think.

[Quinalla]

Honestly, there seems to be no consesus on first trimester RRL use. Some say it's perfectly safe, others say its not, others say to avoid just in case. There are very few who quibble about it after the first trimester, so that may be the way to go if you aren't sure and definitely talk to your health care provider. For me, I'm not avoiding orgasms where I can feel uterine contracitons so I'm not worried about the tea which doesn't cause contractions I can feel.

Oh, and if you do decide to drink tea, I highly recommend ordering a big bag of loose leaves and brewing it that way, it's much cheaper and you just need an infuser of some sort which you can pick up pretty cheaply too. Buying individual tea bags is expensive and they are often not as strong. There are tons of places online (including amazon) where you can get a big 16oz bag.

And a friendly reminder to everyone to make sure you are getting your folic acid! So important in these early weeks.

[BaileyB]

Reading the supplement thread while eating my McDonalds breakfast today. Lastnite was the first all out forceful puking in the toilet I have had so far in this pregnancy and therefore I woke up this morning to a sink full of dishes and I was starving. And I said F it! Luckily, this is a total rarity. Anyway....

I am deep in morning sickness land right now and just trying to keep up with my prenatals (the gummy version because it says its from natural sources and I can barely swallow a pill right now because of my gag reflex being so high) and my baby aspirin. I have also been trying to take 1500 mg of vitamin C but I have a powder to mix in juice and sweets have been giving me heartburn. I was able to eat really healthy up until a week and a half ago but right now I am doing the best I can.

Here's what I will be taking as soon as my gag reflex goes back to normal:

prenatal

baby aspirin

1500 mg vit C for the first 20 weeks

3000 mg vit C for the last 20 weeks

cod liver oil

butter oil

floradix

RRLT at 20 weeks

Maybe EPO in the last tri (34 weeks)- I'm kinda so so about taking it. I always take it internally, though.

Other than that I a trying to drink more milk. I don't digest it well but I know it is important for the baby so I just deal with it. And it helps a little bit with the heartburn.

[nstewart]

Originally Posted by BaileyB 

Reading the supplement thread while eating my McDonalds breakfast today. Lastnite was the first all out forceful puking in the toilet I have had so far in this pregnancy and therefore I woke up this morning to a sink full of dishes and I was starving. And I said F it! Luckily, this is a total rarity. Anyway....

Don't feel too bad.  You got in your protein and fats, and importantly needed calories!  Not that I'm a MDs fan, but I am a breakfast sandwich fan!  And really, in the early days a person just has to eat what they can keep down and what has some appeal.  I've been craving raisin bran so far...so odd.  Maybe it's the iron and easy digestability!

How many mgs of various things do you all take?  Specifically I am wondering about Omegas and Vit D?  Also, BaileyB, what are the benefits of the Vit C?

So mammas that do smoothies...I have this brown rice protein powder I bought to add to my smoothies but the texture is grainy and makes the texture pretty unpalatable.  Any tips to deal with that?

[BaileyB]

The vit C I just heard about from my cousin. She said that she had read that it prevents m/c. She has had 3 I think and hasn't had one since she started taking large doses of vit C. She said to check out Doctoryourself.com. I just did a search on there for vit c and m/c. I don't take as much as it says on there but 1500 mg is a lot compared to the nothing I am use to taking. And I didn't want to shock my body and start at 5000 mg or something like that.

[BeagleMommy]

That's interesting, BaileyB. I used to take large doses of vitamin C everyday until I got pregnant with baby #1. My midwife said that early in pregnancy very high doses of C could CAUSE a miscarriage because it boosts the immune system enough that it thinks the baby is an infection. But I was taking about 4 grams a day. No problems with taking that much before seeing my midwife; no problems after stopping the high dose C.

I'm taking about a gram of C per day now.

I know B6 is supposed to be good for morning sickness, but how do I take it when the capsules make me gag when I'm not pregnant. The aftertaste is awful!
Does anyone have any B6 tips?

[nstewart]

Just thought I'd share this from my MW appointment this AM.  She provided me with a "Suggested Herbal & Homeopathic Remedies" sheet:

RRL tea - as much as you like thorughout pregnancy.

EPO - 1000mg orallin in the AM and PM, starting at 36 weeks.  After 38 weeks, 2 addiitional capsules may be used as vagial suppositiories.

Actaea Racem Compositum - EZ Birth - place 3-5 pellets under your tongue and let disolve, daily from 37 weeks.  A UK controlled study indicated that the remedy resulted in an average of shorter labour and substantially lower rate of difficult births (11% vs 40%)

Floradix - only if directed by MW

Yellow Dock - 25-40 drops daily or as directed by MW.  Concentrates iron from the earth and contains other vitamins and minerals needed for best iron absorption but is not constipating.

AND THIS:  Laborade

1/3 c lemon juice

1/3 c honey

1/4 tsp salt

1 calcium magnesium tablet, crushed

enough water to make 1 litre

Can be frozen into cubes for labour.  Also listed as a morning sickness aid/remedy.  Pour over ice and drink slowly.

Doesn't talk about supplements so much, but thought it was somewhat on topic!!
 

[BaileyB]

That laborade actually sounds really good right now!

[Lynann]

The Vitamin C can help to strengthen the amniotic sac. I took it for that purpose last time as instructed by my CNM, but didn't start it until 20 weeks, which is also what she told me to do. With my first birth the waters broke before labor started. With the second one the waters didn't break until the first spontaneous push. I'll be doing the same with the Vitamin C this time too. I do get overwhelmed by supplements after a while, so I try to not take too many at the beginning and then build on what I need most throughout the different trimesters.