Prenatal Vitamins - Tewksbury,MA

In my birthing preparation course we had a nutritionist guest speaker one week who told us that most 'one a day' vitamins don't do much. They may contain all the various ingredients, but the process that seals all the vitamins and minerals together in one tablet ensures that once consumed it is very difficult for it to be broken down. So your body isn't actually getting all of them.

She recommended a prenatal vitamin that is actually a little package - there are about 6-8 pills in each packet and each are different things. Including DHA, which I think most prenatal pills don't have and so at some point it is recommended that you take them - they are very important for brain development, I think.

All that to say, the vitamin she recommended as more expensive than the 'one a day' my midwife had prescribed (which was the same price as OTC, by the way), but when I priced out supplementing my one-a-day with the DHA, it ended up being the same, so I switched over.

The pre-natal vitamin she recommended was Metagenics: Wellness Essentials for Pregnancy.

I wouldn't take any other medicines, esp once pregnant, unless specifically ok'ed by your ob-gyn or midwife. Even OTC.

1 mom found this helpful

Do youself and your baby a favor. Don't buy over the counter synthetic vitamins. You are certainly not getting the best product with the best results. Shaklee has "whole food supplements" that are better absorbed and far better for you. You can e-mail me at ____@____.com if you would like more information.
Good luck and best of health to you and your baby.
S.

Mary Beth is right UP TO A POINT, in saying that whole food vitamins are best. BUT, it is a disservice to pregnant mothers to not point out that folic acid in the pregnancy vitamins is what is sorely needed to prevent neural tube defects and some kinds of cleft palates. DO take a prenatal vitamin that has enough folic acid. Ask your pharmacist or OB which brand to buy if you are worried about the ones you have at home.

And yes, eat good food too.

All my best, and good luck conceiving soon!
D.

I know that regardless of what the package says, your body doesn't absorb all of the nutrients. Oligo has great vitamins, including prenatal. Take w/ food.

not sure about the vitamins, they are probably good. A tablespoon of Robitussin every night will thicken the mucus that helps ratain a pregnancy.
Good luck!!

Wellness Essentials for pregnancy by Metagenics

They are by far the best thing I've found but may be difficult to find and a bit pricey. They are available only through a licensed healthcare practitioner and I buy mine for $66 for a one-month supply. Here's the website to find a practitioner that sells them. I get mine from my chiropractor.
http://www.metagenics.com/products/a-z-products-list/Well...

They are packed with vitamins and minerals and the right combination for effective absorption, 1mg of folic acid, 600 mg of EPA and 500 mg of DHA (essential for pregnancy and nursing and there is a typo on the website for EPA and DHA amounts, I have the package in front of me)

There are 8 pills to take daily. I spread them out throughout the day and the 8 daily pills are are placed in one daily packet. Just pull out one packet in the morning and that's what you need for the day. 2 multi-vitamins, 2 calcium and magnesium, 1 choline, 2 EPA-DHA, and 1 DHA

Try Stuarts Prenatal. Costly but good. Took before pregnancy and during with fish oil.

When I was trying to conceive I called my OB and asked to be put on prescription prenatal vitamins. You could do that.

Good luck,
L.

Your doctor can give you a prescription for prenatal vitamins. Don't get the ones with fish oil or you will regret it if you get morning sickness. They won't stay down. Good luck!

I wouldn't recommend regular store synthetic vitamins, they're just more like chemicals and toxins that will accumulate in your body, you will not absorb those nutrients. I've been taking plant based Rainbow Light Prenatal One for almost 3 years now, I love them! When I forget to take one I know by the evening because I'm so low on energy, can't go a day without them.

Its not what is on the label that really matters- it is how much of that is absorbed into your system (altho the label should be above the requirements- since no vitamin is 100% absorbed into your system) Great studies being done on this now! Go to www.oligofructosecomplex.com and read about it, then make sure you choose a vitamin 'as in nature'. Please go to healthfood store, or get one online- The 2 best on the market are Natures Plus- Source of Life, and Vitality for Life- sold by Melaleuca. Let me know if you need help finding where to get either of these! And you will need additional calcium as well- which comes with each bottle of Vitality for life- prenatal & regular multi

There is a difference between vitamins. A huge difference. This is what I do for a living and absolutely you need folic acid, but whether your body actually absorbs it depends on how it is put together, so to speak. This is what I do for a living and my company is the number natural nutrition company in the U.S. You are welcome to contact me for suggestions.

I recommend New Chapter's "Perfect Prenatals." You can find them online or at any decent natural foods store or Whole Foods. They are food-based vitamins, not synthetic, and they are certified organic. Your body will absorb them properly.

http://www.newchapter.com/products/perfect-prenatal

They are expensive but this is not something to cut corners on.

I applaud you for starting the vitamins now. That is awesome. My company has some great prenatals that in talking to others who have used the prenatals and took others before my company said my company's prenatals are not only better but also are more cost effective.

Actually getting a good regiment of whole food vitamins is BEST. The ones you buy at the store are synthetic and more than likely are not being abosorbed into your body. They manufacturers also try to increase certain vitamins/minerals to make it appear like it is a good brand.

Don't be concerned with it being certified, that is a hype.

I am expert in the field of supplements. If you would like to talk, email me.

My OB told me that the CVS brand were fine. I think they're about the same as Stuart's.

I used CVS brand. I think they worked just fine. My daughter was born very healthy and has been ever since.