[floresazules]

Hello, everyone.

I dont thrust the prenatal vitamins my gyn prescribe , and this is why.
I had this bad experience on my first gyn visit, first he cancel my app 2 times and I end up meeting with my family doctor who was not very imformative.
She just comfirm my pregnancy, talk almost for 10 minutes about how comun a miscarage is,and how is good to wait about the week 10 to see a Gyn , that way the pregnancy have more chances to survive.Also she say that is what the insurance companies prefer, because they do not like to expend money on the first weeks when they dont know if is going to be a real pregnancy.
Plus all the questions I ask, I had to answer them my self ,and the ones she did answer, it was someting I already know.
My problem is, she give me a prescription for a prenatal vitamins, I went to walgreens and got them, but I dont know what's in it. I had read and reseach a lot about this, and on all the vitamins I need, specially the first weeks, my questions is:
Any of you out there have any recomendation on wich are the best prenatal vitamins or what I need to avoid. Also can you take extra folic acid or calcio?
I want to make sure I take care of my self the best that I can, thank
you all in advance.

[Alejandros Mommy]

You can go get materna. They are unprescibed pre natel vitamins. Have everything in them that your body needs. The only reason you would need extra folic acid or calcium is if your body is low on those

[J920]

Hi blue flowers,
My ob gyn gave me a whole bunch of samples. Some had stool softeners, some had EPA DHA, some had extra calcium. EPA/DHA which usually is found in fish and great for a child's neurological development. Perfect for the people who are not fish eaters. This does not mean if you dont take it, your child be born neurologically undeveloped.

Folic acid is very important during the first trimester of pregnancy because if a woman is defecient its linked to Spina bifida- (incomplete formation of bony closure of the spine). But this is more a precaution with women who have very poor diets, so that is why it is stressed to all women. All prenatals have folic acid, so if you drink orange juice you are set.
Pregnancy, I cant remember why, is hard on the woman's bones. The hormones loosen joints (in preparation for birth) and does something to bones (maybe affect calcium absorption) so calcium is important. But its important for women in general - osteoporosis.
I have taken over the counter prenatals as well DHA/EPA supplements. But some women have special needs and may need to take a prescribed prenatal or for example, need one with stool softener.
There is also a thread I saw on this site about women taking Flinstones chewables rather than prenatals. Relax and find a doctor you can rely on and like.

[J920]

When in doubt google. I just realized I am probably not taking in enough calcium.

When a woman doesn't get enough calcium from her diet, the body takes it from her bones. Over time, this loss may weaken bone and lead to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis makes the bones weak and more likely to break.
The recommended amount of calcium for women ages 19 to 50, pregnant or not, is 1,000 milligrams (mg) per day. (For teenage girls up to age 18, it is 1,300 mg daily.) That's right—the amount of calcium you need each day remains the same before, during and after pregnancy.


During the last two trimesters of pregnancy and during breastfeeding, your body absorbs more calcium from food than when you are not pregnant. Your baby needs this extra calcium to build healthy teeth and bones. If you don't get enough calcium in your diet during pregnancy, the calcium your baby needs will be taken from your bones.

[floresazules]

Thank you all for your advice, Im going to find out first whats on this prenatal vitamins Im taking and second look for a new gyn.
You all have a great day

[mcmama]

Don't underestimate the importance of folic acid early in the pregnancy. it is very important.

When I was pregnant years ago, those pills looked like they were big enough for a horse to swallow! They're really big.

[brieanniepannie]

my doc didnt prescribe me prenatals with DS... I actually went and got a generic brand from fred meyer's. They had all that you needed in a prenatal. I found that it made me too sick though (as often is the case with prenatals) so i just made sure I ate well and took the flintstones vitamin... something is better than nothing

[MiaCamille]

i took materna and generic brand also it's important to take them and you can always ask the pharmacist to get more info on them

[purelegance]

my ob never prescribed me prenatals, just asked if i took any. (i did, flinstones 1st tri then generic target prenatals after). not sure what the difference is between prescription & OTC prenatals, the other ladies probably do though. i know my [former] OB wouldn't take anyone until they were 8wks or more. some OBs will actually assume you're in the midst of a m/c if they do not find a HB the first visit, so i'd be fine with seeing my GP for a little bit.

[QueenAngie]

Congrats on your little bean!

The folic acid is very important for spinal and neurological development of the baby in the early weeks.
Over the counter is fine, but get the maternity vitamins for the extra folic acid.
Your body and your baby both need them.

The only reason I can possibly think of the doc canceling your appointment would be for a mother delivering at the hospital.
Was that what occured?
Or was it a golf date?

The golf date would irritate me, and cause me to change docs pronto.

My own doc has been a bit late to due a baby's delivery, which is fine with me. Most times babies come when they come, and it is not a specific time.

The receptionist would have a simple explaination that they would be about 30 minutes late due to a delivery. That's cool with me. (Being that I can see the hospital from his office, it is very apparent that he was at the hospital.....not golfing.)

Find an Ob/Gyne that you feel comfortable with.

Congrats!