What supplements do you take?

[lyttlewon]

I have been taking a prenatal vitamin from Target. I am pretty ignorant when it comes to what kind of supplements should be taken. What do you guys take?

[PiePie]

I am taking a RiteAid Prenatal, a fish oil supplement, the Vitex I started taking to increase my luteal phase, and extra B complex. The last two were for TTC purposes -- guess I should stop now, huh? The most helpful source I found on what needs to be in a prenatal is www.marchofdimes.org

[NightRose]

I take Spring Valley Prenatal.

[curlylocks]

I am currently researching which oil supplement to take, since my prenatal does not have any omega fatty acids. It is best to take a supplement that is made for pregnant women, since some derivatives of fish oils can be potentially dangerous to fetal development (liver-based oils).
With prenatal vitamins, it is most important to check they have the recommended dose of folic acid and iron.

[wendyland]

I take spirulina, chlorella, and extra folic acid. I don't like regular vitamins. Spirulina and chlorella are super foods.

[Lukas's Mama]

I am taking Floradix Iron with Herbs. I love it. I started taking it last month and it makes me feel good. I just picked up Rainbow Light Prental One at Whole Foods today. I love taking just one pill a day. I couldn't down four horse pills a day very faithfully. We'll see how the additional iron affects me. I generally dislike iron in pills.

[ApplePieBaby]

Prenatals
Folic Acid
Calcium
Magnesium
Baby Aspirin
Lovenox Injections

[alegna]

Rainbow light.

-Angela

[shell024]

Usana HealthPak 100
Usana BiOmega-3
Alfalfa

[alisonsvw]

Im using New Chapter Organics perfect prenatal. 2 in the am 2 in the pm....and NO stomache upsetness whatso ever!! and typically im sensitive like that so i highly recommend these!!!!

[NVmama]

Rainbow Light (6 a day)
I like them.

[CrunchyClark]

I too take the RL 6 a day ones. I took them the last time and really liked them :)

[minkl]

i am just taking a prenatal from the natural foods store (i was told to get ones without copper, so that's what I have) as well as some omega 3 supplements (i rotate flax oil one day, DHA supplement the next, then cod liver oil).
I will probably start taking the floradix iron and herbs because i had low iron with my last pregnancy and the iron pills gave me constipation. supposedly low dose natural iron supplements (like floradix) taken every day can prevent that if you start early enough in the pregnancy...so I will probably do that around 10-12 weeks.

[kettunainen]

-- 500mg/1000mg all-natural, chewable, black cherry Vitamin C
-- Swiss brand prenatals (all natural, 1 horsepill per day)
-- 2g Omega 3 fatty acid, heavy on the DHA, less so on the EPA (2 horsepills per day). I take these because they make my brain work so much better than were I not taking them. I guess I use them as nature's anti-depressant.

and nettle tea, though not everyday yet, even though I should.

I'm seriously considering getting the Floradix. I don't typically have a problem with iron, to my knowledge, but since this is supposedly all natural and doesn't cause constipation I don't know that it could hurt too much to have the extra goodness, esp. since I'm fairly certain of carrying twins and anemia is more common in multiples pregnancies.

[PiePie]

what makes you think you're carrying twins?

[kettunainen]

what makes you think you're carrying twins?

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showpost.php?p=6778201&postcount=12

make that 4lbs gained at 9 weeks 1 day.

[TrishWSU]

I take the Rainbow Light 1 a day Multi-vitamins and an extra b-complex for now. Prenatals had too much iron in them for me for the 1st trimester w/ my dd. I'm also taking an EFA blend that has omega 3 & 6 in it. I (try to) drink RRL tea (w/ some other stuff in it) every day too.

PiePie-I was taking the Vitex for my luteal pahse too, but it (the bottle) says not to take if you're pg so I stopped. I don't know if taking it will have any negative effects, though.

[mommysusie]

I have got to remember to pick up some prenatals. I am worried because I haven't started on any yet. I have regular multi vitamins for women at home. Do you think those would be ok to take?

[PiePie]

mommysusie: probably ok. compare to ingredients described at www.marchofdimes.org -- often the same in multis as in prenatals.

shelk024: why the alfalfa?

[luckydog]

I am currently researching which oil supplement to take, since my prenatal does not have any omega fatty acids. It is best to take a supplement that is made for pregnant women, since some derivatives of fish oils can be potentially dangerous to fetal development (liver-based oils).
With prenatal vitamins, it is most important to check they have the recommended dose of folic acid and iron.

Hi - I'm taking Eskimo Omegas, recommended by my doc because any contaminants are below detectable levels. FWIW!

[Vaquitita]

i'm taking brewers yeast, spirulina, clo, omega-3, multi-mineral, drinking rrl and nettle tea. last pregnancy i'm pretty sure i was anemic in the last month, so i'd like to prevent that this time. debating between floradix and chlorophyll. if i go with floradix, i can only afford to take it for the last trimester.

what is the benefit of chlorella?

[TrishWSU]

For anyone taking spirulina and/or chlorella, what form (pills, powder..) do you take it in and where do you buy it? I've read about all the great benefits there are to taking them (both when pg and not) but with so many options out there I want to make sure I get sometihing that is good quality.

TIA

[Sabo]

I just switched yesterday to a prenatal vit. I am also taking a choline supp, b6 and I'm still taking vitex. One of the women on TTC gave research that showed that vitex can be used in the first trimester to prevent mc. I was just taking folic acid before along with some other vitamins e,c, b6, calcium, and vitex.

[PiePie]

what is brewer's yeast for? spirulina? choline?

anyone else find this a little overwhelming?

[Sabo]

what is brewer's yeast for? spirulina? choline?

anyone else find this a little overwhelming?

I use nutritional yeast in some of my cooking. It has TONS of vitamins and minerals in it, so maybe that's why some use brewer's yeast.

Spirulina?

I recently watched a segment on smarter babies and in addition to bfing, eating omega-3s, exercising, taking iron, the segment mentioned that a choline supp. can aid in better brain development, leading to smarter children.

[PiePie]

thanks, sabo. word's still out on SPIRULINA. trishwsu? vaquitita?

[Vaquitita]

what is brewer's yeast for? spirulina? choline?

anyone else find this a little overwhelming?

brewers yeast is high in b vitamins. spirulina also contains b's as well as minerals.

[PiePie]

thanks. sabo, because i ordered some of the pills you recommended, and vaquitita, i will go to gnc tomorrow and pick up yours. i am going to become a regular pill popper!! :dizzy:

[wendyland]

I personally think that spirulina is awesome. I've been taking it for over a year. I had a bunch of warts on my hand and within a week of taking spirulina, they just sloughed off my hand. No scar or anything. I had tried tons of things to get rid of them. Spirulina also cleared up my daughters post nasal drip. And we hardly ever get sick anymore. I also prefer spirulina over a multi vitamin because it's a food. It's very well absorbed by the body.

I also take microhydrin with it (brand name Mega-h). It's an antioxidant. It's also a delivery system. coupled with spirulina, it brings the nutrients into your cells on a nano level.

here's a breakdown of spirulina. http://www.spirulina.com/SPBNutrition.html

Here's a link about microhydrin http://www.antioxidantfoods.com/

[wendyland]

what is brewer's yeast for? spirulina? choline?

anyone else find this a little overwhelming?

It's super overwhelming. Luckily, my husband is a chemist and has been doing research for years on what are the best supplements to take. We take spirulina, chlorella, microhydrin, and colostrum (which it says not to take when pregnant, so I don't right now).

I usually make smoothies for the kids to give them their supplements.

[wendyland]

For anyone taking spirulina and/or chlorella, what form (pills, powder..) do you take it in and where do you buy it? I've read about all the great benefits there are to taking them (both when pg and not) but with so many options out there I want to make sure I get sometihing that is good quality.

TIA

I take it in capsules. We like NOW foods and find that iherb has good prices. I either buy powder or grind them up to put in smoothies for the kids.

[QueenOfThePride]

I take Vibe.

[PiePie]

what is VIBE?

[QueenOfThePride]

what is VIBE?

http://www.eniva.com/products/prod_vibe1.html

[Mindi22]

I'm taking prenatals, going to start a DHA suppliment soon, and monavie, an antioxident juice drink. I might be going crazy, and I might change my mind soon, but I could swear that the monavie is preventing morning sickness... it's the only thing different this pregnancy and I haven't even felt nauseus yet! Cool!

-Mindi

[greengrey]

What don't I take would be an easier Q. I am a living pharmacy. I have to take a lot of these supplements b/c of my clotting genes so pregnant or not, half of them I have to take for the rest of my life.

- 1 generic Pre-natal
- 2 extra mg of Folic Acid for a total of 3mg a day
- 2 Garlic tablets
- 1, Calcium with Magnesium tablet
- 1, 1000 mcg of B12
- 1, 100 mg of B6
- 1 Baby Aspirin (81mg)
- 1, 1200mg Super Omega 3 from Omega Pur

I take all of mine at night or else I'd be so sick to my stomach.

[aheartforhome]

here's a breakdown of spirulina. http://www.spirulina.com/SPBNutrition.html

Here's a link about microhydrin http://www.antioxidantfoods.com/

Is the amount of vitamin A in this safe. There seems to be an excess amout of beta carotene in it, but I'm assuming that's safer than the other type of Vitamin A.

Thanks

[supermuma]

I take Baby and Me with Herbs, from Megafoods. I used Rainbow Light throughout my first two pregnancies...but I liked this one because it only has about half of the necessary vitamin A. They are food based just like Rainbow Light, though I think they may be more expensive.

I like them alright, but I am still a bit unsure of them.

Anyone else using these? If yes, what do you think of them?

I have thought about trying Rainbow Light again next time I need vitamins..just to see if there is a difference in my energy level.

--I also like to drink the Vitamin water with B vitamins...I used to drink like 5 a day but I have cut back to one with the pregnancy...can you get too many B vitamins in pregnancy?

*With the Vitamin A question...I think that it is too much Vitamin A Palmitate that can cause the majority of health problems in the growing fetus...but I am not entirely sure.

[Mindi22]

Is the amount of vitamin A in this safe. There seems to be an excess amout of beta carotene in it, but I'm assuming that's safer than the other type of Vitamin A.

Thanks

I just looked this up. Apparently, this all originates from a NEJM study in 1995 that indicated that high levels of vitamin A, especially in early pregnancy, might correspond to birth defects.

Among the many problems of this study is the fact that it was retrospective. The fact that they were just looking at vitamin intake doesn't mean that that's the only important factor in whatever the pregnant women were consuming. In other words, (and yes, being stupid to make a point), they were all breathing, yet that wasn't considered as a possible link. Another issue with the study is just how much vitamin A is considered increasing the risks. The study examined levels of 30,000 IU of vitamin A. To put that into perspective, looking at the label off CLO which has vitamin A in it, one serving has 1000-2000 IU. Also according to the label I'm looking at, that is 20-40% DV. Also, vitamin A deficiencies are known to cause birth defects.

You need vitamin A. It's useful for cell formation and function, it's incredibly beneficial to immune system. It is necessary for cellular differentiation and organ development in the fetus. Pregnant women should limit their daily intake between 4000-8000 IU, according to this study.

Beta Carotene is not vitamin A. It is a precurser to vitamin A that the body can convert to vitamin A when needed. It is considered safe and not included in the above study. Most vitamins nowadays have the vitamin A in the form of beta carotene, so again, the above study doesn't apply.

I hope this helps!
-Mindi

[PiePie]

supermuma: tons of vitamin b can be a problem, but if you are talking about just a little over the rda (what i take) you should be just fine; your body will just excrete it; you may have flourescent yellow pee.

[ani'smommy]

What don't I take would be an easier Q. I am a living pharmacy. I have to take a lot of these supplements b/c of my clotting genes so pregnant or not, half of them I have to take for the rest of my life.

- 1 generic Pre-natal
- 2 extra mg of Folic Acid for a total of 3mg a day
- 2 Garlic tablets
- 1, Calcium with Magnesium tablet
- 1, 1000 mcg of B12
- 1, 100 mg of B6
- 1 Baby Aspirin (81mg)
- 1, 1200mg Super Omega 3 from Omega Pur

I take all of mine at night or else I'd be so sick to my stomach.

Wow, 3 mgs! I was kind of worried about taking 1 mg. I guess I shouldn't worry. :)

I'm taking SuperNutrition Prenatals (3 a day for now) and about 1 mg folic acid.

[WildNettle]

I take Blue Ice cod liver oil, Garden of Life Living Multi, use a fair amount of nutritional yeast, and a green drink mix (with spirulina, chlorella, wheat grass, probiotics, etc. It's called Vitamineral Green). Until just this past week I was also taking extra folic acid, 800 mcg/day.

[mamamoo]

I take rainbow light one a days, and a probiotic. I will start taking a red raspberry leaf capsule soon too. I am not a big tea drinker...
I swear the rrl made a huge difference for me. I took it with baby #3, and had very little bleeding after birth, and didn't take(took is sporadically) with baby #4 and bled quite a bit and almost got a pit shot.

I am thinking on some of the other supplements mentioned here now too though...I def. want to get some omega 3's somehow...not sure if any fish oils are safe, anyone know about the nercury conent in those?

[Mindi22]

mamamoo,
I can only speak about Nordic Naturals because I've researched them, and they are purifed so all mercury is out, in fact they excede pharmaceutical grade quality for heavy metal content, peroxides, PCBs, and other contaminants. I think most DHA/EPA suppliments are purifed to some extent these days, but definitely it's worth getting a suppliment that is at least pharmaceutical grade.
-Mindi

[nakagain]

I take Rainbow light 3 times a day.

Last pregnancy I did juice plus and folic acid and my bloodwork was text book perfect and my baby was very pink righ at birh. Juice Plus had acidopholis(sp) and it was my 1st pregnancy I didn't had constipation or hemroids. It was the best.

[kristen1978]

My midwife swears by Nature's Sunshine. I take their PNV (only 1 a day -- yea!), liquid CalMg, and VitC with bioflavinoids. Also, flaxseed oil in my whey protein shake (I'm veg, so I struggle to get my 100 grams of protein otherwise). For non-vegs, Carlson's fish oil is great.

I'm considering a B12 supplement as well, as my HgB was a little lower than usual when I checked it yesterday. B12 is a challenge for vegs to get enough of, and is necessary for iron uptake. Anyone have experience with this?

[momazon4]

kristen1978-just wondering what brand of whey protien you use? I haven't found one that I'm 100% comfortable with all of the ingredients.
Thanks,
Teri

[MamaRabbit]

I'm taking a BarleyGreen supplement. And my DD's kid vitamins from the health food store. 3 different ones: mulit, spirulina/greens, probiotics.

I always end up with really low iron, so I'll be starting blackstrap molasses and Floradix soon.

[srp1984]

Is there a good website or book that will tell me what different vitamins are for? I would like to start taking the right kinds of vitamins for me, I'm currently only take a multivitamin. I used to take two Tums for the calcium everyday, but it started making me throw up after taking them

[pookel]

I'm taking a basic prenatal from Sam's Club. I just remembered hearing that probiotics are supposed to be good in pregnancy, and we have some for my husband's colon problems, so I may start taking those too. I like whey protein shakes and drank a bunch of them in my first pregnancy, but with this one I'm finding it hard to get the time to make them (the blender freaks my toddler out, so I have to get his dad to take him away for a little while).

I should probably stop at the health food store and see if I can find something else that would be good to add to my protein shakes ... any suggestions? Spirulina, wheat grass, something else?