Are you taking any herbs/supplements?

[liberal_chick]

Just curious what others are doing (and if you are taking any at all).

I'm taking 3 pills a day: a prenatal vitamin, 1000mg Vitamin C, and I started a fish oil supplement last night. I also drink a cup of RRL tea each day.

Are you taking anything?

[javilu]

I normally take a *lot* of vitamins and herbs. I've become majorly paranoid since Tuesday though (the day I tested) and am now taking:

Morning: Pre-natal, fish oil
Evening: B-complex, fish oil, calcium, vitamin E, cranberry pill

That's a lot less than I used to, but I'm getting used to it. =P

What is the red raspberry leaf (that's what RRL is, right?) for? I know I've read about it before, but I just can't recall!

[Hollin]

I'm taking pre-natal vitamin, extra folic acid, calcium, and magnesium. I also drink a cup of red raspberry leaf tea each day.

[liberal_chick]

Red rapsberry leaf (to my understanding, which is not a whole lot ) strengthens the "female system." I've heard its really good to tone the uterus.

[DomerJen]

PNV (6 pills), b-complex, 200mg b-6, and I think I need to start taking fish oil or flax... can anyone recommend what to look for?

I think I'll wait till the 2nd or 3rd tri to start RRL tea again.

[vanessab23]

Originally Posted by DomerJen

PNV (6 pills), b-complex, 200mg b-6, and I think I need to start taking fish oil or flax... can anyone recommend what to look for?

I think I'll wait till the 2nd or 3rd tri to start RRL tea again.

Look for a fish oil that won't make you burp fish flavor!!!! That's just a recipe for throwing up!!! Flax is comparable, no? That's what I take-- I put it in my protein shakes.

I'm waiting for my mom to send RRL tea from the US which I will start taking right away (yes, it tones the uterus and up to three cups/day is good), and I take a PNV, Mega-B "stress", Vit C, Niacin (altho I'm not sure I should continue with that while preg), and then Calcium before bed.

What I learned about Calcium is this:
it's better absorbed at night (and that's when you need it, right? to calm you)
it should not be taken anytime near your iron, as they interfere with eachother. Sooooo, that's just what I know, but I wouldn't recommend taking it anywhere near your PNV as that has iron.

p.s. iron needs C to be more readily absorbed, so take C with your iron.

I think that's it

[She2dancer]

Just a prenatal vitamin right now. I will start drinking some RRL as soon as I have a chance to pick some up at the store or order some online....

[ilovebabies]

I've been taking:

Vit. C
Iron
B Complex
Cod Liver Oil

Not sure what to add now! When I add my prenatal vitamin, do you think I should keep taking the above things? I don't want to "overdose"! I realize I don't take a ton of supplements or anything, but I still want to be careful. What do you all think?

[She2dancer]

Originally Posted by ilovebabies

I've been taking:

Vit. C
Iron
B Complex
Cod Liver Oil

Not sure what to add now! When I add my prenatal vitamin, do you think I should keep taking the above things? I don't want to "overdose"! I realize I don't take a ton of supplements or anything, but I still want to be careful. What do you all think?

I've read that Vitamin C is contraindicated in early pregnancy....I can't remember where I read that though...does anyone have any more info???

[vanessab23]

Originally Posted by She2dancer

I've read that Vitamin C is contraindicated in early pregnancy....I can't remember where I read that though...does anyone have any more info???

Yes, but at really high doses (perhaps closer to 6000mg) and in the first 4 weeks or so... in fact I had a friend ages ago try to induce a spontaneous abortion via high doses (like high enough to have diarrhea) and it still wasn't enough.

You should be fine at 1 or 2 even 3000 mgs. You're not taking more than that are you?

[ilovebabies]

Originally Posted by vanessab23

Yes, but at really high doses (perhaps closer to 6000mg) and in the first 4 weeks or so... in fact I had a friend ages ago try to induce a spontaneous abortion via high doses (like high enough to have diarrhea) and it still wasn't enough.

You should be fine at 1 or 2 even 3000 mgs. You're not taking more than that are you?

No, not even close.

[Kessed]

I'm taking:

Fish oil
Normal vitamin (the iron in the pre-natal ones made me SO sick last time)
Extra Folic acid.

[SarahDC]

I'm taking:

Prenatal with iron
EPA/DHA (fish oil) 4000 mg/d
Calcium w/ Vit D
B complex


I'm stepping on my doctor soapbox for a moment: You need to discuss all vitamins & supplements with your doctor. It's definitely possible to take too much, which isn't good for baby.

Iron does absorb better when taken with Vitamin C. Most prenatals have C for this reason. Take your prenatals and fish oil WITH food because they'll absorb better that way.

When looking for fish oil - you want EPA & DHA. ONLY those two - those are the only ones with the major health benefits you are looking for. Flaxseed oil is good for you, but doesn't come close to the effects of EPA & DHA. Look for "enteric coated" capsules - this means they're specially coated so you don't burp up fish oil. Nordic Naturals or Carlson Labs are great brands, available at most health food stores. Take as much as you can handle - research hasn't yet shown an upper limit to the benefits, so the more you take, the better you'll feel (and the smarter your baby will be I try to get at least 4000 mg/day. Do some googling on EPA & DHA in pregnancy.

Take your calcium on an empty stomach, only about 500 mg at a time (more than this won't absorb well). Best right before bed because it'll help you sleep. Make sure your calcium has Vitamin D in it.

[DomerJen]

Originally Posted by SarahDC

I'm taking:

Prenatal with iron
EPA/DHA (fish oil) 4000 mg/d
Calcium w/ Vit D
B complex


I'm stepping on my doctor soapbox for a moment: You need to discuss all vitamins & supplements with your doctor. It's definitely possible to take too much, which isn't good for baby.

Iron does absorb better when taken with Vitamin C. Most prenatals have C for this reason. Take your prenatals and fish oil WITH food because they'll absorb better that way.

When looking for fish oil - you want EPA & DHA. ONLY those two - those are the only ones with the major health benefits you are looking for. Flaxseed oil is good for you, but doesn't come close to the effects of EPA & DHA. Look for "enteric coated" capsules - this means they're specially coated so you don't burp up fish oil. Nordic Naturals or Carlson Labs are great brands, available at most health food stores. Take as much as you can handle - research hasn't yet shown an upper limit to the benefits, so the more you take, the better you'll feel (and the smarter your baby will be I try to get at least 4000 mg/day. Do some googling on EPA & DHA in pregnancy.

Take your calcium on an empty stomach, only about 500 mg at a time (more than this won't absorb well). Best right before bed because it'll help you sleep. Make sure your calcium has Vitamin D in it.

Thanks for this! I was just about to post a question about fish oil.

[baileyandmikey]

I am taking a prenatal... stopped everything else because of concern... I don't know what is allowed during pregnancy... so I figured I would hold off. Although I am going to use the fish oil...

[coloradomama1]

-4 PN pills/day-includes DHA but i have to cross check how much i need/am getting. seems to good to be true.
-1000 mg vit c which is usual
-probably going to get some floradix iron (or make my own from blackstrap molasses etc) again b/c i have problems with low iron especially in pregnancy and it reeeeeeealy helps with energy level.
-started tea today ...RRL, oatstraw, nettle, alfalfa, rose hips, red clover, spearmint, honey. sun brewed, yum, dp loves it. one full camelback bottle/day =approx 4 cups.

[AKmoose]

Nope - I don't take anything. At some point I will start drinking RRL tea though.

[Devaskyla]

I've heard RRL tea in early pregnancy can cause miscarriage, so I won't be taking any until the third trimester. I'll also start taking Alfalfa around 34 weeks.

Atm, I'm taking a prenatal vitamin. I was taking a folic acid supplement instead, but switched to a prenatal when I got the first positive. I'm also taking salmon oil and an occasional calcium/ magnesium & vitamin c. Once I get further along, I'll start taking the Vitamin C every day in the hopes of reducing my chances of my water breaking before labour for a third time. Didn't seem to help with ds2, but I'm still hopeful. I think Vitamin E also helps strenthen the membranes, so I may take that as well.

[coloradomama1]

Originally Posted by Devaskyla

I've heard RRL tea in early pregnancy can cause miscarriage, so I won't be taking any until the third trimester. I'll also start taking Alfalfa around 34 weeks.

Atm, I'm taking a prenatal vitamin. I was taking a folic acid supplement instead, but switched to a prenatal when I got the first positive. I'm also taking salmon oil and an occasional calcium/ magnesium & vitamin c. Once I get further along, I'll start taking the Vitamin C every day in the hopes of reducing my chances of my water breaking before labour for a third time. Didn't seem to help with ds2, but I'm still hopeful. I think Vitamin E also helps strenthen the membranes, so I may take that as well.

i had never that about the RRL and miscarriage so i checked my books and Romm says not to use until after 12 weeks.
it doesn't mention anything about miscarriage but for her to say that means there must be something to what you're saying! thanks for the heads up, i was all gung ho! maybe we should post that somewhere where all mamas can see so no one else makes the same mistake...

good other info too-my water broke/leaked before labor started and it was my downfall!

[texanatheart]

-Prenatal vitamin (New Chapter Organics, but probably switching to Rainbow Light when this bottle runs out...NCO is so expensive!)
-Garlic supplement (I took it the last month of my last preg to get a negative GBS test, and I've been taking it since then for general health)
-1 tsp Nordic Naturals fish oil (out of the bottle, lemon flavor)