anyone stopped taking prenatals?

[crsta33]

I think my prenatal vitamins are causing some of my misery. I stopped taking them for a few days just to see and my constipation problem got alot better.

I have a pretty well rounded diet, but I'm sure there are some things that I might not get enough of. Anyone know what I really need extra that I can't get through diet?

At this point, vitamins is the only thing that my insurance is paying for. The pill I take is blue and I really honestly think it's not that beneficial...I'm sure the iron is aggravating my constant struggle with constipation and I'm wondering if it's not contributing to my heartburn as well.

Should I just suck it up and take them anyway? Rely on diet and supplement just with things my diet might lack? Find a better vitamin? What are you ladies taking?

Christa

[SoggyGranolaMomma]

Honestly, in 5 pregnancies, I have rarely taken my prenatals. All my kids have been healthy.

[HoneyTree]

I haven't taken my prenatals for months. I tried three different brands and they were all hard to swallow and gave me stomach aches. The last few weeks, though, I have been taking 2 chewable chilren's vitamins a day. That seems to work much better for me, and whether or not it actually fills holes in my diet I don't know, but it makes me feel a little bit better!

[MamaFern]

i never took a prenatal this time around, but i do try to take my b vitamins and calcium/magnesium daily.. some days i forget.. i also try to drink my pregnancy tea, which in my opinion has more good vitamins and minerals, and is easier to assimilate... i dont think not taking prenatals is a problem, except if you are anemic or having leg cramps and things like that..

[PicnicBear]

Originally Posted by MamaFern

i dont think not taking prenatals is a problem, except if you are anemic or having leg cramps and things like that..

That's me -- I became slightly amenic through the pregnancy and so I stared chelated Fe wich is supposed to not make you constipated and so far it has not. I also started Ca/Mg for some leg cramps (not sure that it is working). I took a B-complex for the first trimester. I have been pretty good about my cod liver oil throughout, and really good lately, now that the brain is developing -- that gives tons of natural Vit. A and D and the omega-3s. Since I have been taking a ton of it over the last few weeks I have felt really really happy, almost euphoric and, not that I felt depressed or sad before, but I can't beleive how upbeat and positive I feel now!

[2tolove]

Count me too! I stopped months ago for reasons similar to the above. I do take Floradix a liquid Iron with B vitamins in it - it is kind of pricey, but it does not cause constipation at all, and is absorbed a lot easier then iron tablets. Also I take a liquid Calcium/magnesium as well. I find that the liquids are better for me, and i don't feel nauseated from them.

[lactavia]

Nah

I started taking vitamins and got really sick from them. I switch to a few different ones, and just ended up forgetting to take them. I eat extremely well (tons of veggies and fruits) so I assumed all would be fine and I guess it was. I gave birth to a very healthy boy and he's doing fine.

[BensMom]

I take the Rainbow Light 6/day vitamins (sometimes I only get 3/day in) and they have been great. I started them after my original brand was making me so sick early on. No nausea, no constipation, nothing bad about them at all - except the price - $34/month. But I am convinced that the OTC vitamins that are whole food based that you can get at a health food store, like Rainbow Light and others, are miles away from the crappy prescription prenatals that most Dr's prescribe. Too bad the latter is usually free or a very cheap co-pay.

I also started taking a tsp of flax oil with my oatmeal most every day and I find that also helps with the regularity. You might want to try that, especially since it has all the good Omega Fats that will help build that baby's brain in this 3rd trimester.

[crsta33]

My iron levels are really good...I don't think anyone in my family has ever had anemia, even during pregnancy.

I'm a little afraid to take extra calcium b/c of my tendency toward kidney stones, but I'd wondered about the B vitamins. I know folate is most important early on, and I did take that even before I got pg.

I took flax seed capsules when I took my prenatals, and I may start taking them again. Though I wonder about the anecdotal stuff I've read about omega 3's growing big babies...not that big babies are a problem, but I'm already measuring big and I don't want anyone freaking out.

I feel alot less guilty about not taking the prescription prenatals now though, so thanks. I quit taking them immediately after dd was born, although my midwife suggested taking them while nursing, and I was taking whole food vitamins I'd gotten from a health food store then (I can't remember which kind). I just can't help but think that vitamins you get through diet have to be better than those you get through pills.

Christa

[knittingmomma]

I rarely took prenatals with any of my five pregnancies either - made me very sick.....
All came out ok - I think

Warm wishes,
Tonya

[RainCoastMama]

I hate pills. Even taking the BC pill once upon a time was a chore. I even got a great prenatal in 2 daily doses (they are smaller/flatter than regular ones and formulated to avoid nausea) but stopped taking those. I HAVE been more aware of my eating habits, and take a (liquid) Omega 3 fish oil.

OTOH breastfeeding, I definately took extra Calcium, vites and Vit E.

[babykaoss]

Originally Posted by plagio

Since I have been taking a ton of it over the last few weeks I have felt really really happy, almost euphoric and, not that I felt depressed or sad before, but I can't beleive how upbeat and positive I feel now!

now WHICH vitamins are making you feel that way? i'm so over-emotional constantly, i need to feel that way!!!!!!!!

[Gunter]

Originally Posted by plagio

Since I have been taking a ton of it over the last few weeks I have felt really really happy, almost euphoric and, not that I felt depressed or sad before, but I can't beleive how upbeat and positive I feel now!

Me, too. I think all the B vitamins and stuff in the prenatals have improved my mental health. I do have to take thwm with a snack to avoid the naseua, though.

[PicnicBear]

Originally Posted by babykaoss

now WHICH vitamins are making you feel that way? i'm so over-emotional constantly, i need to feel that way!!!!!!!!

It's the Cod Liver Oil. I take 1 teaspoon of "Green Pastures High Vitamin" because that is very high in A and D (and I know A and D have "been shown to cause birth defects" but that is for huge huge quanitites of SYNTHETIC vit A and D, like what they put in Vit D milk, not natural.) I also take 2 pills of Carlson's CLO each night because that one is lower in A and D and higher in the Omega 3s. I am not big on supplements at all, but over the years I have been involved with the Weston A Price Foundation and reading a lot on mercola.com and I always read about how the CLO is so awesome for pregnancy that I really couldn't NOT take it. I took it all along, but wasn't as religous as I could have been. I upped the dose for the 3rd trimester and that's when I noticed the affect on my mood.

Someone posted about omega-3's and large babies -- any more info on that -- I would be very curious. I measure right on for my date (so far . . .)

[babykaoss]

omega-3's.......isnt there a lot of that in salmon? maybe it will cheer me up, because i was actually about to start marinating some in lemon juice for dinner.

[PicnicBear]

yep -- good for you -- I don't make fancy things like that so I have to take the supplements . . .

[babykaoss]

well if it makes you feel any better my poor dh and dd got grilled cheese sandwiches and campbell's chicken noodle for dinner LAST night. heh. but i try to cook at least one healthy and nice meal a day.....or every other day.

[3for3hb]

I stopped taking my prenatals everyday a long time ago. I still have at least a third of the jar left... there are 90 tablets and you are supposed to take 2 a day. I started on the iron and B vit FLORADIX and their Cal/Mag too. And I take a regular daily multi as well.
Last week, while visiting my parents, I took my prenatals with me (didn't think I could take the liquid floradixes through security at the airport) and I was miserable. Constipated, and tired. I'm still recovering.
I know lots of women who have had healthy strong babies and never worried about taking prenatals.
Now if I could only talk myself into the cod liver oil.... (can't stand the smell burping it up).

[crsta33]

Originally Posted by willemsmamma

Now if I could only talk myself into the cod liver oil.... (can't stand the smell burping it up).

That's why I do the flaxseed instead. I couldn't handle that either...yuck.

Christa