I'm recently pregnant again, and prenatal vitamins are making me sick! I'm very lucky to not have any pregnancy symptoms other than lethargy, but since I started taking the vitamins I feel horrible! I am instantly nauseous, dizzy, 10 times more tired, and automatically get a huge headache that lasts for days. And when I don't take them, I feel fine and have more energy! I talked to my doctor about it, she prescribed another brand (the same vitamin I took with my first baby with no problem) and it does the same thing. I've tried taking them on a full stomach, with water, milk, crackers, taking it at night, morning, afternoon, same result. It's aggravating because it's really interrupting my daily life, I know my baby and I really need the vitamins, but it's getting harder and harder to take them! Any advice would be great!
Hi Rachel
I went threw the same thing with my son I went threw 3 different vitiamns that were prescribed, then my dr told me to try the over the counter ones and they worked fine. So maybe try some over the counter ones.
I had the exact same problem with all six pregnancies...actually the first 5, with #6 I didn't even attempt to take them. I got me some Flintstone chewables with Iron and took two of them. They worked great, stayed down, and my iron levels were great! I would take them in the morning with some OJ (or soda! LOL but the OJ helps the vitamins get into your body faster- I think its the folic acid). Congrats on your pregnancy.
I always took my vitamin right before I went to bed, otherwise I also felt sick.
Hi Rachel,
My friend's doctor also recommended children's chewables, and that worked for her.
Good luck!
Lisa
I didn't have this problem with my son but this pregnancy I have experienced the same thing as you. My doc told me it was ok not to take the vitamins. I have been using a liquid vitamin that I add to orange juice in the morning instead just because it makes me feel better to be taking something.
Congrats on your pregnancy! When I was pregnant, I was very nauseas and my doctor prescribed me PrimaCare (with omega 3). This vitamin had two different colored tablets, which were to be consumed every day .... the morning one had calcium+other stuff and the evening one had iron+remaining stuff. So keeping the calcium and iron separate did the trick for me. Ask your doctor if it suits you. Ginger cookies or ginger tea helped me with the nausea.
I am with everyone else. I couldn't take the prenatal vitamin, but I could take another over the counter one. The doctor told me it was fine, just look for one with Folic Acid and 100 percent iron. So, I would recommend talking to your OBGYN and see what he/she thinks you need in your vitamins. No need to be miserable. With my first I didn't take any vitamins and had a healthy baby boy!
I had the same problem. I refused to take them and told my doctor I wouldn't, and she just said, "O. k. That happens sometimes." My baby was perfectly healthy.
If you have a healthy, balanced diet, you should have enough folic acid to prevent neural tube defects and enough iron to prevent anemia, so if you want to be on the safe side, you could consult a nutritionist to make sure you are eating the vitamins and iron via your regular food.
Try taking some children's chewables. Now, they have gummy bear vitamins for kids - you can hardly tell you're taking vitamins. Also, make sure you're getting enough of the right nutrients. Iron is essential (Malt O Meal cereal is loaded in iron and tastes great) as is folic acid (orange juice) and calcium (dairy products). Go on-line and search for different sources of the vitamins you and your baby need. With some creativity, you can avoid the prescription prenatal vitamins.
I so had the same problem with my 4th child. Unfortunately for me it lasted the entire pregnancy. I got to the point during my first tri-mester of not taking them. You might check with a health food store for alternatives. It worked for me. Of course, talk to your doctor or his nurse before stopping the vitamins and/or beginning supplements.
Try taking your prenatals right before bedtime. It hopefully will help with sleep and maybe then you will sleep through the nausea.
Rachel, I would keep working on the vitamins. They don't have to be prescription by the way. What you need most is a good multi vitamin and a high quality fish oil. Take them at night with food. Split them up. Usually its the B vitamins that give you the most trouble with nausea. Try something from the health food store but don't give up. They are very important, especially the fish oil. If you want a smart, well-adjusted kid, make sure you take your fish oil while pregnant and especially while nursing. I can't stress this enough. Don't stop the vitamins when the baby is born but keep taking them for 2 years. Thats how long it takes to repair the damage of pregnancy.
M
Hi, I had the same problem with my last pregnancy. My doctor had me stop taking the prenatal and start taking chewable Flinstones. I had to take 5 a day, 2 in the AM, 1 with lunch and 2 in the PM. That really worked for me. Also, beeyoutiful.com sells a Super Mom vitamin that I take. It is awesome, did not make me sick and helped me maintain a pretty good energy level during my third trimester.
I experienced the same thing with my two preg. and after trying several things believe it or not the one that worked for me was just the generic brand that Dollor General carries, can't remember the name (youngest is six so its been a while :) But its the brand from their chain its cheap but contains the same needed vitamins. Hope this helps. Will be praying for you and your little one.
My daughter-in-law was the same way. Fortified breakfast cereals were the only way she could get her vitamins.
Do some research and find foods that provide the same nutrients as the vitamin. Eat lots of those then try the vitamins again after you get past your first trimester.
Chances are, the sensitivity to the vitamins will go away after a couple of months, so just replace with food for a while, since you don't have many other symptoms.
Good luck!
Taking them at night before bed is what worked for me.
With my first child, I had the same problem. You know what I did? I took Flinstone vitamins. My Doctor recommended it...I was never anemic or anything. took one everyday through the whole pregnancy. I didn't have the first problem while I was pregnant.
Place the bottle in the freezer over night and take one in the morning, but keep them in the freezer. My Dr told me to do this with the girls when I was pregnant and it worked. If that doesnt work, ask your Dr to test for an allergy to one of the ingredients, might just be something while you are pregnant that will pass after the baby is born. Also you can take 2 childrens vitamins a day, at least you will have SOME vitamins in your system for you and the baby. Good luck!