Prenatal Vitamins - To take them, or not to take them??

Amanda - posted on 08/22/2012

Any type of multi vitamin has always made me sick. When pregnant w/dd 10 years ago I took my prenatal every day and was sick every day the entire pregnancy. Now I am 9 weeks and have been able to do more research on my own. I have decided to stop taking vitamins this time. I have even tried Flintstones and they make me ill as well. Before I became pregnant I was on weight watchers and lost over 40 pounds in 7 months. So I was eating very well. When I take the vitamins I feel so bad that I don't want to eat anything but mashed potatoes and ramen noodles because of the blandness. To me, I think its more important to be able to eat right than to take a pill that makes me so sick I can hardly get off the couch. Also the threat of spina bifida is over at 28 days pregnant. So honestly I don't see the point. I am backed by my midwife as well. Just my 2 cents. Whatever anyone decides I wish you all good health for you and your babies!

Lily - posted on 08/11/2012

No offence, but i'd be getting a new OBGYN. That really is the dumbest thing i've heard. As a former nurse, i can say with absolute definitiveness that prenatal vitamins are important to take prior to, during, and after pregnancy. Your baby is essentially leaching all the vitamins and minerals out of your body for their growth, leaving you depleted.Don't be like me. I became complacent, and have become SEVERELY vitamin D deficient post twin pregnancy (level 24ng/ml, should be at least 30). I am now suffering from severe aches and pains(joint and muscle), night sweats, persistently swollen glands, back ache, angina, headaches, dizziness, and all because of my vit D deficiency, which i only found out about 1 month ago, 6 months after giving birth. My GP has put me on 5000iu/per day (i take 10,000iu a few days during the week also to speed up the process of correcting my vit D deficiency). In the one month since ive been on a high dose of vit d, my symptoms have improved greatly - ive gone from persistent colds, and chronically swollen glands to feeling much better. Almost all my pain has gone away (not completely, but much much better, and i expect it to improve even more as time goes on), my glands have decreased in size (but still tender from being so swollen for 5 or so months!). I'm much happier now, not as dizzy, and have the energy to look after 2 babies! I only hope i haven't done too much damage to my body by not going to the GP sooner - but i put my exhaustion down to having newborn twins and personal issues.

Vit D is such an important vitamin, and over a billion people around the world have a deficiency of it. Deficiency is linked to many illness and problems, including 17 different types of cancers - ever wondered why so many women get cancer (esp breast cancer) soon after pregnancy? I'm convinced its because of low Vit D levels. Deficiency is a very serious state to be in. Please take your prenatal vitamins - for the sake of not only bubs, but also yourself. As an aside, ive recently read that vit D deficiency has been linked to autism in children (so perhaps its not vaccines leading to increasing autism rates after all, but vit D deficiency?). Our changing lifestyles are seeing us more and more out of the sun. Not enough is being done to get the message out that vitamin d deficiency is a serious condition, but easily corrected. I hope this post helps you, or some other lady out there. :o)

Leslie - posted on 07/06/2012

i would take them it help you and the baby.

Ashley - posted on 07/03/2012

I was sick my whole pregnancy too and absolutely could not take the prenatals they gave me. They recommended flintstone vitamins, I took them occasionally. My son turned out fine without them. Stay active eat healthy.

Ana - posted on 06/29/2012

Oh yeah, I'm preg too and I take mine at night because they make me sick..

Ana - posted on 06/29/2012

Take em! Why not? Most of us don't eat everything we should so we need them to help fill in the blanks.. besides, you don't want your baby to be born with deficiencies....They don't hurt!

Folic acid is very important..it prevents spina bifida..but drinking coffee or caffiene blocks the absorbtion...

My dr never told me this, God told me to take folic acid in addition to my prenatals because I was very deficient..and I read the rest...

Take em!

Keara - posted on 05/04/2012

Just a little update, I didn't end up taking them again, my son is 2 now and healthy as a horse. I've done some research and the doctor is right, the baby gets everything from you, its you who suffers if you don't take them. However, that can be taken care of with a proper balanced diet. Women were doing it for thousands of years before they came up with prenatal vitamins. And they are just that PRE-natal.

Christine - posted on 05/03/2012

I take 2 chewable flintstone vitamins everyday.... Cause I can't take the prenatal because they made me sick as well... But at least take the childrens vitamins..... better safe then sorry.. and I've never ever heard of a doctor saying you don't need tho while pregnant.... Wow.. get a new doc!

Melissa - posted on 04/30/2012

What about asking another doctor? If my doctor didnt know what he was talking about then I would get another opinion from a different doctor. Everyone are built differently at different stages of their pregnancies. There are sooo many choices out there for prenatals that your doctor or a "doctor that knows what hes talking about" can help you find the right ones for you.

Hailey - posted on 04/09/2010

The prenatal pills are mostly for you is what I have always been told. I took them plus expecta when pregnant with my son and he is healthy with his mommy's super high metabolism. If your baby doesn't get all the nutrients he/she needs from your diet, it will be taken from you body which is where the vitamins come in play. It's your choice but I think it is a choice that will help the baby a lot more. True some women don't and everything turns out fine but some find out they should have taken some kind of pill to help themselves or the baby. I never got sick when I took mine and don't this pregnancy because I make sure I take them either with my food or right after I eat.

Jenna - posted on 04/09/2010

You should definitely be taking prenatal vitamins. They are great for providing the baby (and yourself) all the extra nutrients that you aren't likely to eat on a daily basis. If the pills still bother you during the day, trying taking them at night just before bed.

Jennifer - posted on 04/09/2010

trust what you feel. if you wanna take them do if you don't you don't, in my expirence they helped because my body was giving so much to the baby and so my hair was getting all yucky and when I took the prenatals they helped give me and the baby the nutrition we needed just in case I wasn't getting enough. . .and about getting sick on the prenatals, I did too and my doc suggested I take them before bed and it helped a bunch! I am prego with my second and I kept taking them at night because you never know when you'll feel icky during pregnancy :) lol Hope this helps :)

Carmella - posted on 04/08/2010

I never remembered my vitamins with my daughter, and haven't remembered this time either, and now I am at 32 weeks pregnant. My daughter is beautiful and healthy, and this baby is where he should be and I'm measuring where I should. One of my friends never took hers either and her baby is nice and healthy too. I figure how many years in history did women go wihtout vitamins?? just make sure you are eating a balanced diet, but if you feel like you can stomach them, there is nothing wrond with that either, 'm sure it is better, but I don't feel it is necessary either. My main thng is iron with both babies, so I eat spinach and other iron rich food to keep my energy up

Lauren - posted on 04/08/2010

I would take them. I don't eat enough to get a balanced diet and taking the vitamins gives me all of my energy throughout the day....you may be getting tired because you don't have enough vitamins. Also the vitamins are essential in helping give your baby an adequate amount to grow and develop correctly and not have any deficiencies. Obviously they haven't had prenatals forever and people had healthy babies regardless, but I really do think they help with exhaustion. I have forgotten to take mine some days and I am just dragging like crazy without them. I would try liquid if you can't take the solids. I take the new natures made liquid gels because I get sick off of the regular solid vitamins or gummy vitamins work really well too!

Stacy - posted on 04/08/2010

i take prenatal vitamins but everyother day because of the sickness and with my other two pregnancies i hardly took them because of the sickness. the only difference between a prenatal vitamin and a multivitamin is the folic acid level is much higher and they can adjust the iron in the prenatal. i have been on regular, high iron, and low iron, the change never helped. the prental is a vitamin like anyother vitamin to provide what you lack. if you eat a well balanced diet and healthy then you dont have to have that prenatal to substitute for it. yes if a woman has a low folic acid level it can certainly result in a miscarriage and that has to do with the womens eating habits. also a vitamin has nothing to do with a health condition for a unborn child, some people are just born with handicappe problems. so i have to say i do not agree wit it said that u have to take prenatals vitamins to have a healthy child. i say you have to take prenatal vitamins if you dont eat a healthy diet with the vitamins needed.

Jessica - posted on 04/08/2010

My doctor has also said it's okay to skip them during your first trimester if they make you sick. In my Prenatal Eating class (at my OB-GYN's office) they said a one-three inch baby can get everything it needs from you, especially if you're eating healthy foods! If they still don't work for you in your second trimester, I was told two of the children's gummy vitamins everyday and a folic acid pill is a good compromise (and a lot less harsh on your stomach.)

Zani - posted on 03/26/2010

Hi, I guess I'm going against the stream here. But because of my severe morning sickness(all day and all night) for 5 solid months, I was unable to keep vitamins down and they also made the nausea worse. My doc who is a very esteemed doc, said I must stop taking them until I get better. Which means I am now starting them at 6months only. He assured me that the baby gets all the necessary nutrients from your stores in your body, and that the vitamins are mostly for you, especially in later trimesters, when baby start depleting your body stores. The only vitamin that I religiously kept drinking was my Folic acid tablets (the ones you get straight from the pharmacist) which are nice and small and didn't make the nausea worse. So as long as you keep eating the right foods in 7 small meals during the day, marmite, whole starches all contain folic acid, fruit and veg, yoghurts, cheeses (I couldn't eat any meat for 5 months),you will be getting the right vitamins. Even if most of those meals come out again!

The folic acid is important before pregnancy and for the first trimester. My doc is very happy with my baby's development at 27 weeks, she is completely normal and already just a tad bigger than average. And thats after me losing tons of weight from the nausea.

So just try your best to keep small healthy meals and a tiny folic acid pill down. Eat a small marmite snack again immediately after throwing up, and I wish you all the best and hope the nausea ends soon!

Octavia - posted on 03/25/2010

Has anyone told any of you how important it is to be take prenatals or a supplement that has the same thing and amount in it as prenatals?? Not taking anything can cause problems with your unborn baby or miscarriage. Even after the baby is born it can cause serious problems then or later on down the road. My ex-step mom never took prenatals the whole time she was pregnant with my half sister Kimberly. She was born with spinalbifida because she didn't take prenatals. My little sister is paralized and will live the rest of her life in a wheel chair. January of 09' we got a call saying she was on life support. Because of the spinalbifida they had to redo the splints in her brain. It all went wrong and caused her to go into a coma and have 0% brain activity. The doctors said there was NO chance she would live through it. God blessed us and brought her back thank god! But still she had to be in a wheel chair for the rest OF HER LIFE! I'm not trying to be mean in anyway shape or form but our bodies don't produce enough iron, folic acid, etc. that the baby needs. If our bodies did produce enough then we wouldn't have to take prenatals and they probably wouldn't even need to make them. All I know is I would go the whole 9 months of my pregnancy feeling like crap because I was taking prenatals then to go without and risk my son/daughter to have serious health problems or even the chance of loosing them because I was neglecting my child of the nutrients he/she needed. There are other prenatals out there. I took prenatals that made me sick until I found the Neevo DHA. Try switching the type of prenatals because that could very well be the problem.

Tiffany - posted on 03/25/2010

I was told the same thing. It's not necessary maybe but it definitely helps. I recommend once you've felt better, start taking them as soon as you can. I am saying this from experience because I took forever to get back to taking them and because of that, I swear your pregnancy just Feels harder. You feel more tired, sick, and worn down all the time.
I am now 30 weeks and just started taking them again and for the first time, I am actually feeling great!!! Able to wake up, less sickness, and alive and mobile. It doesn't kill me so much to do my regular activities now.

Marlana - posted on 03/25/2010

taking prenatal vitamins is very important for the development of the baby and is also a very good idea if you are planning on breastfeeding. I have been taking mine for the past three years, and they have helped to regulate my anemia (which is gone because of the iron) and there have been studies on how it can help to control your appetite (idk if this is conclusive evidence) because your body gets the nutrients it needs and helps you to not take in empty calories past your regular needs. I found that taking them at night made it easier if i was having problems with nausea, and then began having them right before eating breakfast. My midwife told me that it is desirable for women to begin taking them during the childbearing years because it helps to assure that you are getting all the nutrient that your body needs

Anne-Marie - posted on 03/25/2010

I was having the same problems with morning sickness and my doctor also recommended that I stop taking them for a few weeks until the majoratiy of the morning sickness has passed. He said to continue taking the folic acid (seperate pill). I stopped taking the prenantal vitamin at 13 weeks and started taking them again at 18 weeks. He said it would not hurt the fetus because they would take what it needed from me. The other option was to take kids vitamins because of the lower iron content. (I was told its the iron in the vitamins that added to the morning sickness) I contacted motherrisk in Toronto (just search for their website). They are the leading hospital in Canada dealing with pregnancy and newborns. They confirmed what my doctor said, that is was perfectly okay to stop taking the prenatal vitamin until your morning sickness has passed. Give them a call if you are still unsure.

Robyn - posted on 03/24/2010

I took them for about 19 weeks and felt sick. So I then tried Flinstone Kids, and I hated the taste. The nurse for my OB said I could take my regular multi plus a folic acid. I also take calcium, vitamin D, fiber and vitamin C separately. I don't get sick from the new combo. I would at the very least take a regular multi.

Octavia - posted on 03/24/2010

Hey Keara,
My husband and I had been planning on getting pregnant for years. When we decided to try to get pregnant I went to my Gynecologist and told him. He immediately gave me a prescription for Prenatals. The prenatals would make me sick to my stomach and make me spit up. So I decided to take them at night so while I'll be sleeping nothing will happen. I did and it was better that way. I didn't get pregnant then because I had endometriosis and had to have surgery because that was why I was having stomach pain constantly and another reason why I wasn't getting pregnant. After my surgery I went on monthly depo lupron shots which isn't birth control. It shuts down the ovaries and throws you into post-menopause. I was on it for 3 months but it took months and months for my body to get back to normal. My husband and I decided that when I have a period we would try for 3 months while taking Clomid and if we didn't get pregnant I would see a fertility specialist. Well the first month I had a period was November 3, 2009. For some reason that month got worse for me. I couldn't take my prentals because they made me horrible sick. But I knew I had to take them. Plus they are better for you than any over-the-counter vitamins. Come December 3, 2009 I found out I was pregnant. I instantly became tired. I slept literally ALL day long and ALL night long. I was very nauseous and only threw up a total of 3 times. That following week after I found out I went to the doctors to make sure that the test was correct. Since it was the doctor suggested putting me on a different prenatal that just came out and has B12 in it. I don't know if you know what B12 is but it's amazing stuff. I was taking B12 shots for years and loved it! So, I started on the Neevo DHA Prenatals and they were amazing! No smell, no taste, no nothing! My insurance wouldn't pay for it and since my husband seen that I loved them so much he called every pharmacy in the area and even got on Neevo's website printed out coupons and started paying for them until he went to my doctor and asked them to get my insurance to pay for them. Neevo DHA is for women who are High Risk which I am. But anyone can take them. Prenatals have EVERYTHING your baby needs to continue to grow and everything else they need. Iron (Which takes oxygen to the placenta, and from the placenta to the baby) without enough iron would cause miscarriage because the baby isn't going to get enough oxygen. Please, please, please take prenatals. You are putting your unborn child at risk. ALWAYS get a second opinion on anything! It took me literally 4 doctors to determine that I had endomitriosis when everyone else told me something different. If I was you I would get another opinion, start taking the prenatals, and get this doctors medical license pulled for putting you and your unborn child at risk. You asked for the advice and we're here to give it to you, so please take the advice.

Ashley - posted on 03/24/2010

def take them!!! they are crucial for baby!!! especially the folic acid. i cant take prenatals because they make me sick and give me chest pains so i take a folic acid pill and 2 flinstone vitamins everyday!!! =) also, if u want to stick to the prenatals...try taking them at night. u will most likely sleep thru w/e sickness u might feel taking them in the mornings! but idk who ur OB/GYN is but they are def wrong. the vitamins are extremely crucial. ive got a friend who had a miscarriage solely from not taking the vitamins. they are wat help baby develop properly and make baby healthier and are known to prevent illness/diseases and mental disorders!! good luck!

Faryl - posted on 03/24/2010

You should take them. Also there are these wonderful things called Belly Bars they sell them at Target and they have many of the nutrients in a prenatal vitamin so if you get sick from the vitamins try the bars.

Danielle - posted on 03/23/2010

i would take the vitamins but make sure that you eat before taking them and take them with a full glass of water or milk...that's how i get out of the sickness part

Kerri - posted on 03/23/2010

each to their own i suppose i only take iron suppliment in the 3rd tri as my levels drop nothing else and my other 3 were fine

Susanne - posted on 03/23/2010

Wow its amazing ive had three healthy sons and am half way through having my fourth and ive never taken a vitamin. Really arent necessary unless of course you live off mcdonalds and kfc i suppose.

Kat - posted on 03/22/2010

I think you should take something. Pre-natal vitamins a specifically designed for yours & bubs needs. If your doctor is adamant that you don't need to then maybe he needs to explain why, rather than just say no & leave it at that. Perhaps he has a very good reason. Of course your diet needs to be well balanced, but some times it's not the perfect diet everyday is it.

Jen - posted on 03/22/2010

Flinstone vitamins are yucky.... buttttttt they do come in gummies! And you have a choice between regular and *drum roll* SOUR! woo hoo!

Nicole - posted on 03/22/2010

Well, I DONT AGREE with these women! Sorry! My dr. also told me to stop taking the prenatals! I am 21 weeks with my 2nd and he told me that If i choose not to take them he was fine with that. As long as I am eating a well balanced diet and taking care of my self! I never took them with my 1st due to sickness, and she is VERY VERY healthy!!! If you like your Dr. stick with him/her. And the prenatals are your choice!!!

Amy - posted on 03/22/2010

All my dr's have told me that the prenatal vitamins are good to take before your pregnant, most important while your pregnant, and if breastfeeding you should also continue to take them while breastfeeding.

Start taking them again if you can. Take them at night with supper (They make morning sickness worse for many women if taken in the morning), and if you can't take them see if you can get a prescription for a different one, or at least take some other sort of vitamin.

Also, if your OB is telling you that you don't need them, if I were you I'd switch to a different dr.

I know that many dr's/ OB's say the flinstones are also good, however all three my Dr's/midwifes and several pharmacist have told me that the over the prescription prenatal vitamins are much better than both the over the counter ones and the flinstones ones. If you can handle the prescription ones, take them, if not, you should at least try to take something.

D - posted on 03/22/2010

Take them! Why not? All it can do is provide you and your baby with the needed vitamins/minerals. Sounds good to me. Try taking them at night when you go to bed, I also felt sick in the morning when I took them, taking at night works awesome for me.

Kathryn - posted on 03/21/2010

i had a hard time with the actual prenatal vitamins so my doctor said that i could take the same vitamins as my 3 years old daughter...she takes the flintstone gummies...

Megan - posted on 03/21/2010

Every prescription and over the counter vitamin that I have tried has made me sick so I haven't been taking them and my baby is growing just fine. I am 35 wks now and she is just over 6lbs. If you aren't going to take them make sure you eat a very well balanced diet, don't eat a lot of fast food or junk food. Try not to give into the bad cravings too much!!

Mellissa - posted on 03/21/2010

ihad the same problem only add severe mood swings. then we discovered that my iron level was too high. i started taking a woman's daily multi vitamin and a folic acid tab. i felt much better. the folic acid alone helps with brain developement and greatly reduces the chances of genetic problems. another suggestion, find a new ob/gyn yours could use some more time at school

Mellissa - posted on 03/21/2010

i had serious problems taking prenatals, i felt ill, i had severe mood swings and then i found out why when i take prenatals they put too much iron in my system i switched to a regular woman's daily multi vitamin and an extra folic acid tab. this helped a lot. also try taking the vitamins with your food. these vitamins are vital to your baby's health. the folic acid alone helps with genetic disorders. and do you and your baby a favor, get a different ob/gyn!!

Crystal - posted on 03/21/2010

i agree, no doctor should say you could stop taking them... its very important to take them everyday

AJ - posted on 03/21/2010

You need to take them! If not you're not getting the vitamins necessary for fetal development. I take mine right before bed so they don't make me sick. I suggest that. But I would also ask to see your Doc's license and make sure its real. Thats really odd that any doc would tell you not to take something you need..

Samantha - posted on 03/21/2010

I had the same problem, but switched to supper time to take them rather than in the morning and it made a big difference for me. But they are so important

Ashleigh - posted on 03/21/2010

Yes my doctor told me I had to take mine to help the babies growth...mine made me really sick at the beginning too but I now take it right before I go to bed and eat alittle snack with it and that has helped me out alot!!

Crystal - posted on 03/21/2010

i honestly think its a bad idea to not be taking them, they help your baby grow and give baby all the vitamins and such baby needs

Jessica - posted on 03/21/2010

Flintstones got me through the worst part of my nausea, and I've just stuck with them since. They aren't tasty by any means since they have to be chewed, but I've had no issues keeping them down.

Cassie - posted on 03/20/2010

flinstones vitamins w/ iron are just as good as prescription prenatals.. and they dont upset the tummy

Stevie - posted on 03/20/2010

Oh my God take them! Your doctor is an idiot! If they are not still making you sick or only a little bit sick definitely take them your baby needs the vitamins and nutrients in those pills and it's nearly impossible to get everything necessary from a healthy diet alone. Not saying your baby will be sick or unhealthy if you don't take them but they will be much better off if you do!

Nicole - posted on 03/20/2010

your dr sounds like he or she needs to go back to school! i take b6 folic acid and gummy vitamins because i cannot hold down things but it is the same as taking prenatals. i would def be taking them as they help your baby grow and what not