Did any of you pay particular attention to the prenatal vitamins you took/take, if you even took them? I've been taking them for a year + now and have just always bought the most natural ones I could find. Then about 3 months ago I saw a sales at Albertsons and they didnt have any unessesary ingredients so I've been taking them.
On Thursday I went in for a Pre pregnancy planning appointment with the LNP and she said my pills didn't have enough folic acid (800iu instead of 1000iu) so she prescribed me one that also had high iorn. Now, I'm OCD when it comes to reading labels and was really disappointed when my prescription didn't have one. They were generic prenatals and only cost me $5 for 3 months worth. I googled around forever looking for the info. If the label I found online is in fact for these pills (and I'm pretty sure it is) I am SO disappointed! There are 6 different food dyes and "lakes" one of which is Red #40 and im sure a lot of you know what that "can" do. I'm going to target today to get the actual label print out and if it is I'm giving them back, or asking if they have a better pill.
It just annoys me that they can make a bad for you PRENATAL vitamin.
What did you all take? Did you think it mattered what was in it? Am I being too crazy about this?
Re: Prenatal vitamins
I honestly never even really thought much about it. I bought some at Costco because they were significantly cheaper than the "name brand" ones. Took them into my first appointment and my Dr checked them over and told me I was good to go.
While TTC I just took a women's formula multivitamin as well as a folic acid supplement.
#1-BFP 08-22-09 ~ M/C 08-31-09 at 5 weeks 6 days
#2-BFP 08-6-11 ~ Due 04/18 ~ born via c-section April 22, 2012
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I've had several friends say that you should take prenatals that include DHA, as recommended by their doctors.
Im not even sure if the prescription I'm taking has it. I'll be heading to the pharmacy here soon to see. It's just disappointing to me that these are allowed to have chemicals just for the stupid color. I'm not sure if I can link a website I found but I'll try. It's about the worst prenatal vitamins on the market that are the most sold. One is pink purely so women will think they are cute .. http://www.infobarrel.com/The_3_Worst_Prenatal_Vitamins_in_the_US
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I think you are worrying where there is no need to worry. Seriously. As a parent you are going to face so many decisions and if just choosing a prenatal is this upsetting, you will be very overwhelmed.
Like a lot of things, I do the crazy thing and listen to my doctor. You know, because they are the ones actually qualified to give medical advice. I had prescription prenatals. I tried some OTC when I forgot to refill once and it made me sick to my stomach. My prescription obviously was much less expensive and never made me sick. Winner for me!
I had a healthy pregnancy and baby. She's not unnaturally pink.
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This! I asked my doctor at my first appt if the prenatal I had been taking for months before even TTC (Nature Made with DHA) was okay. She told me to continue it and it was cheaper and the same than anything she would prescribe me. Also, most prenatals don't automatically have the DHA in them, it's an additive or combo pack, the Nature Made happens to be a soft gel with it already in it, and if definitely has the fishy smell. Personally I don't think your doctor would prescribe you something that would be harmful to you or your potential baby...
ETA: and I should add, DHA isn't even really proven to do anything. It's thought that it can help prevent neural tube defects and such, and some people take DHA/omega 3/fish oil for their hearts, something about it being good for you. Whether or not these claims are actually true, I have no idea. I take it just because and it can't hurt, but if my doctor would have prescribed me a cheap prenatal vitamin I would be fine taking that too.
Thank you, because this was exactly my thought.
My doctor never even asked what brand I was on. I take the centrum prenatals along with an additional folic acid... and last time I also took an iron supplement because my levels were low.
Many many babies have been born healthy whose mothers never took a mg of folic acid or DHA or Iron their entire pregnancy. This is just one of those many times when you have to sit back, look at the situation and think 'is this really worth freaking myself out over?'. You'll save yourself a lot of grief that way, trust me, I'm an unnecessary worrier half of the time too.
Lol Maria I'm glad to know your baby didn't come out pink
Maybe I sshould clarify a few things.
1. I'm not freaking out.
2. I know that dyes are in a lot of candies, prepackaged foods and generally things that can be unhealthy for you. I don't eat these either. Years ago I started reading labels and researching what ingredient to we're. I never agreed with the dye/lakes. This is do why I buy organic fruits...companies are allowed to insert dye into the skin of fruit to make it look more appealing. This is something I disagree with therefore I pay attention to what I put in my body. When I bought my own prenatals I found very natural ones that don't have unessesary additives.
3. I do listen to my doctor. I appreciate the knowledge they carry and take it to heart. However what she said was "I'll just prescribe you a generic prenatal vitamin. Each pharmacy has their own. I'm sure whatever they give you is fine" and I trust that. What I don't trust is that just because she prescribed it the drug manufacturing company actually made one that is "just fine".
Trust me, I'm not trying to make a bigger deal out of it than I feel is necessary, i just like to know what I'm putting in my body, and when you consider the fact that it's not only me i could be affecting I'm going to be a tad more cautious.
Thank you all for the responses. I appreciate everyone's point of view, if I have a ton of typos I appologize I'm on my phone
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I did go to the pharmacy. It is the same info I found online. I didn't even say anything to the pharmacist. After the responses on here I thought she would think I was nuts. She looks at the bottle and said "It never ceases to amaze me what gets put in some prescriptions." I asked her what she was talking about and she said exactly what had been curious to me... The flippin dyes.
But whatever. I know now and I can make the deacon to keep takin them or not.
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