Reddit mentions: The best prenatal vitamins

I don't have an eating disorder and I am not a doctor, so I don't know if this is the right way to handle things, so you should check with your doctor or psychiatrist before doing most of this. I have, among other things, an anxiety disorder, and Bipolar NOS, so I am basing my advice on what I have learned about self care from those, and on recommendations that my grandfather was given to help with his heartburn. Also, if this is sound advice for ED, I'm sure you know all this, but often when I'm going through a rough patch, I need someone to tell me to do my self care stuff.

If you haven't already, go through your kitchen and get rid of or lock up most of your high calorie/low nutrition food and everything that is really acidic. Go shopping for foods that are nutrient rich and lower acid. Also, get something like Ensure or Boost, it will help both with nutrition and lowering the acidity in your stomach. Eat mostly fruits and vegetables (you don't have to be vegan, you can still have meat, just eat it in moderation), and make sure you are eating enough insoluble fiber (whole grains, carrots, apples with the peels, leafy green vegetables, etc.). Stay hydrated and chew thoroughly. Eating like this will help get your food through your stomach faster. Taking a walk after eating helps too. ^1

If you haven't already, talk to your psychiatrist about taking vitamins (including a D3 supplement, the farther from the equator you are, the less you get naturally), calcium, and a probiotic. My psychiatrist recommend I take prenatal vitamins (I'm sorry, I know this could be hard for you right now). She told me they really should be the standard woman's vitamins, because most women need the extra folic acid, regardless of their plans for children. As for what kind of multivitamin to take, I recommend the Vitafusion Prenatal Gummy Vitamins. They don't have iron, so they are easier on your stomach and don't interfere with the absorption of calcium. I also like Vitafusion's Calcium. I have found that taking a calcium supplement helps with my heartburn. A probiotic (I don't know why but every time I try to type probiotic, it changes to phobic) should help the rest of your digestive tract cope better. I like gummy supplements because they are their own reward for taking them (I think they taste like regular gummies), and because they are chewed up, they should be absorbed faster.

Add something fun to your morning routine, something you will look forward to doing. I love to read, so I make sure to have time to read while I'm eating my breakfast (but I have to be sure to set a timer or get to work early enough to eat there, otherwise I get too distracted and end up running late which makes me stressed for the whole day).

Make yourself do something to treat yourself everyday. Get your nails done, get a massage, buy a new book or shoes or a movie, take a bath, go for a walk, something that normally makes you feel good or you have been wanting to try for awhile. Just doing something you normally find pleasurable, even if you don't really feel like doing it right now, can help you feel better.

And remember, even though we don't know you in the real world, we care about you. ❤ You are one of us, someone who understands how hard it is to live in a parent centric society, and we want you to be happy.

^1 Unless you have a medical condition that affects your diet, you should be fine making these changes without talking to your doctor first.

Congrats on becoming a Papa! Here's the deal on protein for vegetarian woman:

Dear lord, especially now that your GF is pregnant, everyone will be a protein "expert" and express concern that she's not getting enough- She will be getting enough. There is protein in all whole foods, but the sources with the most are beans, soy products, vital wheat gluten, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.

Here's the breakdown I keep seeing for women's protein needs.
Sedentary Weight in pounds X .4
Active Weight in pounds. X .6
Add 10 grams for pregnant and nursing women

BEANS: Bean are a wonderful food full of protein, fiber, and they even help regulate blood sugar. They are so versatile and can go in any meal! If you cook them yourself make sure to add salt at the end, not while cooking!

Italian: Lima, White, Garbanzo
Mexican: Black, Pinto, Black, Black Eye
Cajun: Black Eye, Red
Indian/Middle Eastern: Garbanzo, Lentils, Red
Thai/Asian: Garbanzo, Soy/Edamame

SOY: I know you said no soy, but I wonder if you are staying away from it based on a common myth. - Soy absolutely does not have estrogen in it. Estrogen is a hormone- how would that have gotten in there!? However, certain hormone receptors can mistake a chemical in processed soy products, for estrogen, and if you eat a ton of processed soy products, you could have a problem. Tofu, tempeh, soybeans/edamame, and soy milk are all unprocessed versions of soy. They are high-protein high-fiber. Get them organic so you don't have to worry about the GMO. Eat away!

NUT CHEESE- Nut cheese are a beautiful thing; you can make them at home for little cash, they fill that need for fat, and spread well on a cracker. There are many kinds out there, but I keep it pretty simple with my cashew cheese. Here is a recipe similar to the one I wing, except that I add a little garlic powder and dill. http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/1004407/easy-vegan-cashew-cheese-recipe

Nutritional Yeast: N.Y. adds a great creamy, cheese flavor to whatever you sprinkle it on. It is packed with protein and vitamin B12.

SEITAN- "wheat meat" made from vital wheat gluten. It's chewy and tasty and you can make it yourself for cheap!

PRENATAL VITAMIN- I've been taking this one especially for vegans to make sure I get everything I need to grow a healthy baby. I started feeling more pep in my step since I started adding it to my day and I highly recommend for the GF. http://www.amazon.com/Deva-Vegan-Vitamins-Prenatal-Multivitamins/dp/B000V865DW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408998267&sr=8-1&keywords=vegan+prenatal

Don't forget to serve TONS of veggies and whole grains. Lentils rock my world, so if I've totally overwhelmed you, that's a great place to start. Source: I've been a strict vegetarian for 10 years and have studied nutrition for as long. Let me know if you have any questions. I could talk about this stuff until the cows come (safely) home.

Expecting mom here, due in September. Here are some tips that I have. Take what you like, discard the rest!

• Start taking prenatal vitamins with 800 mcg Folic Acid every day, BEFORE you get pregnant (try to aim for 3 months before, at least). I cannot stress this enough. The sooner you start, the better. Your husband should also be taking a vitamin with 800 mcg Folic Acid. Folic acid has been linked to helping prevent genetic disorders. Since you each contribute half of the genes for your child, the extra chromosome for autism can come either of you. Sperm takes over two months to produce, so have your husband start taking a vitamin asap. It is important that you both do this. I suggest these vitamins, as they are super easy on the stomach and don't have extra, unneeded chemicals in them: Men's Vitamin. Women's Prenatal Vitamin Source: Cell & Molecular Biology major with genetics research background
  
  
• Don't worry about the money situation too much. Yes, it will be hard. Yes, you will have to work harder than you ever have had to. Yes, you CAN MAKE IT WORK. You will find a way to make it work. Get in the habit of tracking where your money is being spent. Can you cut down on eating out? Do you really need that movie on blue-ray? Rather than buying a $7 gallon of ice cream, buy a bunch of bananas for $3. Your body and your wallet will thank you.
  
  
• When you do become pregnant, apply for WIC. You may qualify and there is no shame in asking for a little bit of extra help. It will help you eat healthier and allow you to put that saved money towards things for your little one.
  
  
• Locate a second hand children's clothing store in your area. Not everything will be cheaper than buying new, but many secondhand stores will have infant socks for 25 cents a pair, onsies for $1, and even second hand maternity clothes. You will save a LOT of money buying maternity clothes second hand. I was able to get 3 pairs of Motherhood Maternity jeans for $35 at my local secondhand store (and saved over $70 in the process). Why pay full price on clothes you will only wear for 6 months?
  
  
• Consider the cost of childcare. Bottom line, daycare is expensive. I know you stated that you both have to work in order to pay the bills. Find out what the cost of child care is in your area. It may come out to be that the cost of child care is almost the same as one of your salaries, depending on how much you make. If this is the case, consider having the parent who makes less (whether it's you or your husband) be a stay-at-home parent and only work part time. Why pay someone almost your entire salary to raise your child for you? (My husband will be a stay-at-home dad. He's so excited he can hardly stand it.) If a relative is going to watch your child, make sure that you are willing to give them money for food and such.
  
  
• Be weary of accepting second hand car seats. UV rays from sunlight degrade plastics (Source: I asked a polymer chemist professor) and the safety standards for car seats get better every year. If it is over 5 years old, don't take it. Yes, that new car seat will be between $100-$300. Your child's safety is worth it.
  
  Edit: Period between hyperlinks.

Honestly, once you start reading you'll see that that most sources nearly already recommend a vegan diet whether they realize it or not. There's a high emphasis on whole foods and getting plenty of fiber.

Since you are new to veganism, I would recommend this book: The Everything Vegan Pregnancy. I only skimmed it because I've been vegan for a few years and a lot of the information was redundant to me, but it should be helpful if you're currently transitioning.

Make sure to get you B-12, iron, folate, and vegan omega DHA-EPA. For prenatals I alternated between Vitamin Code and Dr. Furhman. There are quite a few vegan omegas. I didn't take folic acid, but I made sure to track that I was getting my folate naturally through cron-o-meter. Make sure to keep track of your food iron intake. My levels were great pre-pregnancy, but I became mildly anemic by my third trimester (this is common for all pregnant women, not just vegan ones). When you're eating iron-rich food make sure it's with vitamin c and avoid caffeine for at least an hour for best absorption. In hindsight I would have kept better track of this.

Diet wise, just try to eat a lot of whole foods. I generally started my day with some super easy oatmeal or a smoothie. I ate tons of dark leafy greens, beans, veggies, and fresh fruit. They recommend that pregnant women get at least 60-70 grams of protein, so consider purchasing some vegan yogurt and drink plant milks if you find you're not hitting your requirements from other food alone. I'll usually have some silk soy yogurts on hand when I haven't been paying too much attention to my intake.

I know you said you're taking biotin, but a simple multivitamin or prenatal can do wonders. I've been taking some since January and they've really improved my mood, cleared up my skin (cystic acne + eczema), and recharged my energy. My hair is also growing in rapidly and my nails are in much better shape. I feel much "girlier" when these basics are in order.

There's a million brands, so feel free to research. I started with the One A Day on the recommendation of my friend, but I actually felt worse (food coloring triggers my migraines + I have the genetic mutation that means I process folic acid less efficiently). Now I use this combo and love it:

New Chapter Perfect Prenatal Vitamins Fermented with Probiotics + Folate + Iron + Vitamin D3 + B Vitamins + Organic Non-GMO Ingredients - 96 ct https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003DH5RJG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_pLJ-ybTF1KSVW

• 
  New Chapter Wholemega for Moms Fish Oil Supplement, 100% Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil with Prenatal DHA + Omega-3 + Vitamin D3 - 90 ct https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0036BU9FQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_FOJ-yb1WKCN6P
  
  Good luck :)

We got all of our IVF meds through Freedom Fertility Pharmacy. I can't really say much about their prices since we had insurance coverage for our meds (with a $75 copay for injectibles), but customer service was really great. There were a couple of times I had to get refills last-minute, and even though I called the afternoon before I needed the meds, they still got them to me the next day. Always super helpful and friendly.

Aside from medications though, I was taking a DHA supplement in addition to my regular prenatals because I read somewhere that it helped with egg quality. I probably took them 2-3 months before we started IVF, and the prenatal my doctor prescribed for me also had a DHA supplement. I can't say with any certainty that it contributed to our success, but we retrieved 13 eggs, 9 fertilized, and 8 embryos made it to the 5-day transfer. We transferred 2 and the remaining 6 were all good enough to freeze, and I'm currently pregnant. So I'd recommend a DHA supplement - I took [Rainbow Light DHA 250 Smart Essentials] (http://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Light-Complete-Mulitvitamin-Essentials/dp/B001HCDTCG) through Amazon.

Congratulations! I'm 40 weeks pregnant right now so here's what my doctor recommended to me food and drink-wise:

Foods to Avoid:
-raw or undercooked meats and seafood (if you eat steak, better to get it medium-well or well done)
-soft cheeses like brie and goat cheese (although it's fine if it's made with pasteurized milk, so just check the package)
-deli meats and cold cuts (okay if you heat them well first, but that was never appealing to me)

• hot dogs and processed meats (they contain nitrates which can be harmful)
  
  Drinks to avoid:
  -alcohol and caffeine (some caffeine is ok but not more than a cup of coffee per day. I switched to decaf since I love coffee so I can still have a couple cups if I want)
  -herbal tea (avoid green tea, licorice root/slippery elm) This one surprised me the most, some tea is ok but do your research, a few kinds can cause contractions.
  
• unpasteurized juice, like you'd find at a fresh - pressed or cold-pressed juice place. Make sure any juice you buy is pasteurized, almost all juices at the supermarket are.
  
  Don't freak out if you slip up and accidentally eat a hot dog or have something from this list every once in a while, just cut them out as much as possible. Just eat as many fresh fruits and veggies as possible and be sure to take your prenatal vitamins (I highly recommend Nature Made prenatal +DHA
  And check with your doctor before taking any medication or supplements. Like a previous post said, stay away from anti-inflammatories like Advil and Aleve.
  It sounds like a lot but after a while you'll get used to it! You got this!

Yes, you've probably been physically pregnant about 4 weeks. But, as I said, doctors calculate your length of pregnancy from the first day of your last menstrual cycle (the first day of your last period). So basically, the first 2 weeks of your pregnancy, you are not actually pregnant - you're on your period and ovulating. Funny math, but they do it because most people don't know exactly when they conceived, but most people DO know when their last period started. So a doctor would tell you you're 6 weeks (again based on a 28 day cycle and you being 2 weeks past your missed period). But, here's a due date calculator so you can calculate it yourself: http://www.babycenter.com/pregnancy-due-date-calculator

It's good you're getting a folic acid vitamin, but consider switching that to a proper prenatal vitamin. It's got lots of other really good things for you, folic acid is just one of the most important vitamins. If you need a good brand, I like Rainbow Light DHA Smart Essentials (it's a 2-pack of a prenatal vitamin and a DHA supplement - for brain and eye development). The best price seems to be on Amazon, but you can find it at Rite Aid too. Here's a link: http://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Light-Complete-Mulitvitamin-Essentials/dp/B001HCDTCG/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1323965485&sr=8-4

Congrats on the incoming munchkin!

Now, I don't have any first hand experience myself, but I've researched this issue for family members before.

The prenatal vitamin you'll probably want is this: http://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Light-Prenatal-Multivitamin-150-Count/dp/B00115BJ30

It's food-based so it should sit well with your tummy, and it's totally vegan. Best to take it during meals. Personally I'd recommend splitting each tablet in half, take one of the halves(The larger one if you cut unevenly) at breakfast, and the other half at dinnertime. Otherwise probably just in the morning.

You definitely want to avoid Fish Oil, the mercury content does more damage than the Omega 3's can do good. I recommend this instead: http://www.amazon.com/Ovega-3-Vegetarian-Softgels-500-Count/dp/B004LL7AXE/

Direct source of DHA sourced from golden algae(Which is where a lot of fish get it from in the first place!), grown in algae factories so there should be no fear of mercury contamination. Since you're pregnant I'd probably say take one at breakfast time, and another at dinner time, as their content isn't quite as high as Fish Oil pills.

Finally, definitely want to make sure you're getting enough B12, so I wouldn't rely on the multivitamin for that. I'd say get this: http://www.amazon.com/Aerobic-Life-AdvantageTM-Methylcobalamin-500mcg/dp/B0014JOBXS

Take a spray once per day in the morning with breakfast(You can even spray it into your drink/food). Little bit overkill, but with B12 that's not a problem, and since you're nomming for two, it can only help!

Good luck parenting! :D

To add on to the folic acid point here.. Try and take natural folic acid if possible(folate) Rather than the synthetic kind ( folic acid) that is in most prenatal vitamins. Folate is easier for the body to absorb so you get more of the good stuff if you get it naturally sourced vs synthetic. It's good for brain development so it may help you as well

Folate is in things like oranges and citrus fruits so you can always eat extras of those if you like fruit.. If you wanna do the multi vitamin route and still get these benefits, I highly recommend the smarty pants brand since they use real folate. These ones are really good too taste wise. I never threw these ones up while prego.
https://www.amazon.com/SmartyPants-Prenatal-Complete-Gummy-Vitamins/dp/B00VFYYAC4

They don't contain calcium so you'd have to source that elsewhere. I did calcium gummies for mine and I also ate foods high in iron as gummies do not contain iron and I don't particularly like taking pills ( hence why I did gummies)

Best or luck OP! And I'm sorry for your losses. :(

It might sound crazy... but have you exfoliated your scalp? I mean, it doesn't have to be super expensive or anything. Just get some plain ol' sugar, mix with a little olive oil to make a paste (it won't make your scalp greasy, I swear!), and scrub away! Then rinse, and shampoo like usual. I do this about once a month just to get rid of any skin buildup. Cheap & easy!

You might also try to use hair products that don't have sulfites or parabens in them, by the way... those things are nasty to begin with, and people frequently develop allergies/intolerances to both. So like, avoid anything with sodium laurel sulfate or ammonium laureth sulfate, stuff like that. I've had to do this because I deal with eczema, but it's supposedly better for your hair & stuff. I just don't want my head to break out haha!

That said... have you switched prenatals? If you can order from Amazon, these are the best pills around: http://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Light-Prenatal-Multivitamin-tablets/dp/B00115BJ30

They are crazy expensive, but they don't have any of the typical allergens that most pills have, like lactose or wheat byproducts or any of that other crap. I have a massively sensitive stomach and those are pretty much the only pills that don't wreak havoc in one way or another.

Absolutely! Honestly, if you're not a little worried about bringing a person into the world, then you're probably not ready. That's the way I've always felt about it.

As for getting ready, now is the perfect time to pick up a copy of Taking Charge of Your Fertility, a Mabis basal body thermometer, and to find a good pre-natal vitamin and DHA supplement. I personally use a combination of Vitamin Code Raw Prenatal and Nordic Naturals DHA. They work well for me, and I got my period right when I expected to after getting my IUD taken out and have been regular as clockwork since.

I would also recommend signing up for FertilityFriend; it's the most common app we're all using, and does a great job of helping you keep track of your cycles. You don't have to go all in on temping (and if you choose not to, don't worry about the thermometer), but I've found it to be so helpful to keep my expectations in check rather than clinging to hope that "Maybe this period is just implantation bleeding".

But in terms of priority, I would highly recommend you pick up TCoYF, and getting started on a good pre-natal. Hope to see you around!

I take some pretty pricey vitamins, but I have been told that these vitamins are similar to the ones I take, but cheaper. They are a whole food vitamin which means that they are vitamins taken from food products that you could actually eat, so it makes it easy to digest and easier for your body to absorb plus they don't make your tummy hurt. A lot of cheaper vitamins are sometimes sourced from non food items like the calcium will be from oyster shells or dolomite. Everyone has their own opinion, and I'm not saying my way is the best way, I just like what I take, and I like how I feel. So, here are a couple links.
Cheaper whole food vitamin: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000FK9GZK
Some info on calcium: http://wikbio.com/en/The-best-and-worst-calcium-supplements
Just in case you are wondering this is the one I take: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005JAT3TU

Thank you!!!

I was using a bunch of different ones (prescription based, GMC, and nature made and conception), but end up going back to conception from amazon. Its the strongest prenatal (3-4x compared to nature made), worked for me and the vitamin that I got pregnant on, but I am not 100% sure if I would recommend it.

I found it shady that they were exchanging reviews for a free bottle of vitamins and they later beg people to delete their reviews (even 5 star ones) after amazon pull them off their market place. Also a warning that it smells like some serious fish butt, I can smell it from across the room. 🤮😂

Hey OP, I feel you!

May I suggest Zahler Prenatal? Promo Code for 25% off: PREPOD25 (Pregnancypodcast.com - highly recommend this podcast!) They also include DHA (I forget the benefits of DHA.)

Here's why I suggest it to you I get sick from vitamins pretty easily and sometimes swallowing pills can be difficult for me. I LOVE this prenatal. If I take after eating, I NEVER get sick. I take it twice a day if I'm on my best behavior.

Also, they make an AWESOME Iron supplement that doesn't make me sick, either. Pretty amazing, especially for an Iron supplement.

They are coated smoothly and it helps for a super easy swallow.

They are a little on the pricey side, but I can usuallyyyyy find a Promo code.

I am still taking them while I breastfeed and could see just making them my daily vitamin after BF is over.

Not sure if anyone will see this post at this point, but I'll try to repost when it comes up again this week

Mama Bird AM/PM Prenatal Multivitamin

57 capsules left (60 is a full bottle)

I have a weak stomach, and I couldn't tolerate these prenatals. I've heard from others that they're great (and I've since found one that sits better with me). I ordered them in 12/18 (from Amazon; I can show you the receipt), and they expire 10/20. Happy to ship in the US. For verification purposes, I have sold cosmetics before using another username, and am happy to share it with you for review purposes. I hate to see them go to waste, so if you want them, let me know! They're great if you want real methyl folate instead of folic acid!

This is my third one to try and I haven’t been nauseous with these yet. I was also having trouble swallowing the giant horse pill ones so I went to gummies to see if it’d be better and I like them so far, it’s been a month. They still have the fish oil but they split the amount across more so you can’t taste it, that’s why you have to take 6 for a serving.

SmartyPants Prenatal Complete Daily Gummy Vitamins: Gluten Free, Multivitamin, Folate (Methylfolate), Vitamin K2, Vitamin D3, Methyl B12, Biotin, Omega 3 DHA/EPA Fish Oil, 180 count (30 Day Supply) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VFYYAC4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_IThvCbJQF15EC

Good luck!!

The Optimal Prenatal from Seeking Health is actually pretty small- about the size of a Tylenol capsule. But the downside is you have to take 8 each day. Yes, 8. Upside is they're pretty high quality with the more bioavailable forms of vitamins and they're MTHFR safe if that's a concern.

Seeking Health also makes a Prenatal Protein Powder which I personally thought was pretty cool. So if you really hate taking pills you can take your prenatal as a protein shake.

Gummies are also a great option for anyone who doesn't like taking pills. I personally really like the SmartyPants Gummy Prenatal just because it has L-methylfolate instead of folic acid and other "better" forms of certain vitamins. But any gummy would probably be just fine.

Keep in mind if you're doing any of the above, including a different type of gummy, that there is no iron. If you need the iron you'll have to supplement it separately.

ETA: There is also the Rainbow Light Petite Mini Prenatal. They're pretty small and you take 3 a day.

I'd suggest reading this article by Chris Kresser, but essentially, folic acid is the synthetic form of folate. Its not as easily absorbed and its not good in higher doses.


Because folate is rather difficult to find in prenatals, I get my prenatal multis on Amazon, as well as additional folate tabs and my DHA/EPA.


All three can be taken together and on an empty stomach. The multi is 3 times a day, folate and DHA once a day. They haven't made me nauseous or burped, although I do take the DHA with lunch, so that could be why. I WILL say the multis have a grassy/earthy smell to them, but I really like that the ingredients are natural and none of the synthetic stuff you usually find. I hope this has helped you some and if you have any other questions, please let me know! 😊

http://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Light-Prenatal-Multivitamin-tablets/dp/B00115BJ30/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377528614&sr=8-1&

LOVE these. They're a little bigger, but hands down the best I've ever taken. All vegan, so no lactose issues (you'd be amazed how much crap has lactose in it!), and they're really easy on my stomach. I'm not a vegan by any means, but when you have a sensitive stomach & every damn pill in the world has lactose in it for filler, you get excited for the little things. =)

Yep! Rainbow Light is OTC and you can get it on amazon. To be safe, I ran it by my DR and she said it was great. http://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Light-Prenatal-Multivitamin-Tablets/dp/B000EE8036

I started yoga around 8 weeks (I previously loved and went to regular/heated classes... sadly you can't go to heated during pregnancy) and have gone at least once but sometimes up to three times a week since then. I've tried about 4 prenatal studios, but found 2 that I loved and stuck with them.

Thanks :)

I never had morning sickness, but I am super sensitive to vitamins in general, pregnant or not, and only have success with vitamins made from whole foods (they're known as "whole food vitamins"). They are much less processed and more easily absorbed. When I take generic or one-a-day cheap vitamins, even with food, I throw them up almost immediately, but I can take whole food vitamins on an empty stomach with absolutely no issues. There are a lot of prenatal options. These are the ones I take currently (that price is for a 3 month supply), and I love them.

I think what makes a good vitamin is the one you can keep down that won't make you puke! ha!

Before my first pregnancy, I took Folate and Vitamin D. Once I got pregnant, I wanted prenatals from a good source, so I paid a premium, I really like these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005JAT3TU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&th=1

I took prenatals through breastfeeding as well (it was recommended), so basically haven't stopped taking them as I'm TTC for #2 now.

Thank you! I hope it comes soon too!

Conception Fertility Prenatal Vitamins - Regulate Your Cycle, Balance Hormones, Aid Ovulation - Myo-Inositol, Vitex, Folate Folic Acid Pills - 60 Vegetarian Soft Capsules https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013RMKCV4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_cTgwDbNGXRHQ7

These are the prenatals I took! I said "other supplements" since I couldn't remember what else they had, but it looks like they mainly have additions of Inositol and Vitex. I have a midwife friend who recommended Inositol to me for PCOS ovulation support, so that's why I ordered these.

I knew it! I know exactly what you mean by 'feeling weird and kinda fuzzy'. This is an interesting article from 2007. As I'm in my mid-50s, there was no heavy menstrual flow to point to as the reason. My dr. did all kinds of tests to rule out internal bleeding and found none. My B-12 levels and other blood tests were fine. She finally just told me I must be one of those people who live on the anemic edge and that I was the only person in her practice who she would recommend increasing consumption of beef to. The heme iron in beef is different from non-heme plant-based iron, and I guess I just absorb it better.

Not many people, or doctors, recognize the symptoms of anemia and it can be so debilitating and life-threatening! I just had my annual physical and my iron level is sitting nicely now at about 1 point above the anemic line. And I'm feeling so much better.

Keep trying on the supplements - the food-based ones for pregnant women are the best I think because they are designed to not aggravate morning sickness and general queasiness. I get mine in the extra large bottle from Amazon. They are a bit cheaper per pill that way versus my local Target. My doctor gave me the thumbs up on them. And, if you eat meat, you might try also adding a meal or two a week of lean, grass-fed beef.

The specific mechanism of action is a little over my head, but there are quite a few studies pointing to it improving issues related to PCOS- namely, reducing insulin resistance, similar to metformin. Here is one of the studies. I haven't been officially diagnosed with PCOS yet- I have an appointment on the 3rd- but based on symptoms (long cycles with heavy bleeding even when I did ovulate, a few very long anovulatory cycles, sore boobs all the time, constant random patches of EWCM whether ovulating or not, cramps at random times during my cycle, rapid weight gain that has been absolutely impossible to get back off despite counting calories) I suspect that I have it, so I decided to just live as if I do this cycle and see what happens. I needed a new prenatal anyway so I was super excited to find this one that has those supplements in it and save myself some money and taking a billion pills at a time! Link

I found the prenatals with iron made me feel really crummy (even when taken with food or at night). I’ve been alternating between Olly Prenatal Gummies and Whole Foods / 365 Gummies (they have the same amounts of each vitamin and are both yummy).

I live in the PNW and Vitamin D deficiency is a real issue up here, so I’ve been taking an extra vitamin D gummy as well (doc gave me a high five when I told her).

Also on days that I don’t eat fish (which is most days these days) I’ll do a couple tbsp of Barlean’s Omega Swirl Fish Oil. The lemon flavor is DELISH. No fishy taste or aftertaste. Can’t really get too much fish oil, great for your joints and baby’s neural development.

ETA: because I’m not doing Iron supplements I try to eat plenty of iron-rich foods, and if you pair it with a vitamin C-rich food you’ll have better absorption.

Congratulations! Here's some advice- get a good prenatal vitamin. I was really anemic until I got one that is easily absorbed (I eventually had to take iron supplements too). This is what I took Get the option that says 30 count. This is a really good price, btw.

Found a variant that seems to be vegan. Is this the one you take?

Mama Bird Mama Bird AM/PM Prenatal Multi+, Best Nest Wellness, Made with a Whole Food Organic Herbal Blend, L-Methylfolate (Folic Acid) and Methylcobalamin (B12), Easy to Swallow, 100% Natural Vitamin

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075X1JCKY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_QlZdAbD3DKTW0

Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw Prenatal Vegetarian Multivitamin Supplement with Folate, Iron, Probiotics & Ginger | Non-GMO, Dairy & Gluten Free, Best Whole Food Vitamin for Mom & Baby, 90 Capsules https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0032EZOAM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_hsgvCb1VMEAM9

This is my go to. Never made me feel bad or give weird tasting burps like some do. It’s raw, organic, no gmo’s... overall I’ve been happy and I’ve been taking them for over a year now. They also make a good fish oil for DHA once you do get pregnant.

Currently 15 weeks (also my mom went through 5 successful vegan pregnancies in the 80s/90s, and raised 6 healthy vegan kids to adulthood).
I take Rainbow light prenatals, and Opti3 omegas, and was taking some iron supplements while TTC.
/r/TryingForABaby is an excellent resource, no matter your lifestyle.
Just make sure you are eating enough (use a calorie tracker if necessary), and with enough variety, and you should be good!

I'm glad this is a good place for you! :)

I'm not really sure but started with these Garden of Life ones. Now that I've been taking them for almost a month, I see that it's nearly impossible for me to take 3 a day and want to see if I can find one with 1-2 needed. Picked those because they were highly rated on Labdoor.com.

Since I like organization, I made a spreadsheet with the nutritional values listed on prenatals compared to my regular multi. Surprisingly, my normal one had a lot of the same nutrients!

I took the Garden of Life Prenatal. You take 3 x day which I found to be gentler on my stomach. Also if I threw one up it wasn’t a big deal because I was due for another dose later. Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw Prenatal Vegetarian Multivitamin Supplement with Folate, Iron, Probiotics & Ginger | Non-GMO, Dairy & Gluten Free, Best Whole Food Vitamin for Mom & Baby, 180 Capsules

VitaFusion. They taste pretty decent; I took them with my previous pregnancy too. Just know that the packs come with 90, but you're supposed to take 2/day, so the bottle doesn't last as long as you might initially think.

FWIW: Once I started the iron pills, my energy was back up and I felt a lot more like "me." So hopefully the same goes for you.

Also, I'm not a doctor, but my OB said that even with my low iron, it's almost certain baby was getting plenty. Baby gets first dibs, and we get the shaft. ;)

I take Vitamin Code Raw [These](http://www.Garden.com/ of Life Vitamin Code Raw Prenatal Vegetarian Multivitamin Supplement with Folate, Iron, Probiotics & Ginger | Non-GMO, Dairy & Gluten Free, Best Whole Food Vitamin for Mom & Baby, 180 Capsules https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005JAT3TU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_6BrTBbNWRAJ29)

I ordered these off Amazon and my vegan-from-conception baby turned out chubby and beautiful: http://www.amazon.com/Deva-Vegan-Vitamins-Prenatal-Multivitamin/dp/B000V865DW/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=miscellaneous&ie=UTF8&qid=1319596651&sr=1-1-catcorr They are also on super sale right now! Hoping you can order them in Canada.

Vegan and 20 weeks here! My doctor was similarly unconcerned and even when other people express concern I just point out that all the foods doctor's tell you that you can't eat (packaged deli meat, unpasteurized dairy, sushi, etc.) are all non-vegan anyways! My iron is on the low side naturally (even from 10+ years ago when I ate meat) so she said to work on it if I can, and if it's lower by the time I'm in my third trimester she'll have me take an iron supplement, but since then I've just been more deliberate about ensuring I have iron in every meal (oats are a great source of iron for breakfast!) Also, these are the two vitamins I take. Make sure to take DHA if your prenatal doesn't have it: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000V865DW/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1454646554&sr=1&keywords=deva+vegan+prenatal, http://www.amazon.com/Vegan-Vitamins-Softgels-90-Count-Bottle/dp/B002XDQSSK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1454646534&sr=8-3&keywords=deva+vegan

I am so sorry you are dealing with morning sickness :( I used these prenatal vitamins in my first trimester because they are delicious and they don't have iron, which makes a lot of women kind of queasy (just make sure to get iron from other sources). good luck dealing with the nausea, i hope it passes soon!

She technically just told me to take folic acid or a prenatal vitamin (I edited my post to reflect that -- so sorry for the confusion). She said, "Folic acid is very important." After a bit of research I ended up purchasing [these] (http://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Light-Prenatal-Petite-180-Count/dp/B002CPRLH6) prenatal vitamins (because the amounts of each vitamin in them lined up with the recommendations that I found somewhere online (can't remember where right now...). I also purchased a [DHA supplement] (http://www.amazon.com/Wileys-Finest-Prenatal-Supplement-Softgels/dp/B00JGZJ3UI/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1457133060&sr=1-1&keywords=wiley%27s+dha) because that sounded important, too.

It may be worth talking to your doctor again about how soon prior to trying to get pregnant she/he recommends starting to take supplements. This was the first time I've seen this particular doctor, but she seemed fairly knowledgeable. One of the reviews that I read on Amazon said that her doctor recommended starting prenatal vitamins only one month prior to trying to get pregnant.

Thanks for following my Instagram account -- it will soon be flooded with pictures of flowers! Come on, spring!

Vegan here, I take the Deva Vegan Prenatal Vitamin, it's fortified with things people on a plant-based diet may be deficient in, such as extra iron and B vitamins. It's pretty affordable on Amazon, as well. I've used their vitamins for years and they're really great. She would be well-advised to find a separate DHA supplement by the third trimester, Deva makes a veg version.

https://www.amazon.com/NATURELO-Prenatal-Whole-Food-Multivitamin/dp/B01M3Q83PG

These have been great for me. I take all 3 with breakfast and have no nausea issues. Vegan, soy free, gelatin free, and everything I want in my prenatal. Worth the price IMO

Good luck! I'm actually really jealous of you right now :) My doctor won't see me til 9 weeks, so I have to wait a while longer.

I take Nature Made prenatals with DHA (these), and I like them. They seemed huge when I first got them, but I guess the coating is really good because I've never had a problem swallowing them.

Like others I take the garden of Life prenatal. It's vegetarian, but that's not why I got it as I am definitely a meat eater. I looked for folate instead of folic acid as well. They suggest three a day and with you mentioning issues with absorbing them this might help by taking one, three times daily.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B005JAT3TU/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

For DHA I take Nordic Naturals. They were also highly reviewed and don't taste funny at all. I've never had stomach issues or constipation issues due to my pills. Not to say my digestive system hasn't been wonky during pregnancy, just not caused by these, lol.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0062CW1BG/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Congratulations! Yes, start taking prenatals. I started taking mine as soon as we started trying to get pregnant. That was, oh, 2 years ago next month? I take the Nature Made vitamins and they go down really easily.

https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Made-Prenatal-Vitamin-250-Count/dp/B001F1G6SI/ref=sr_1_6_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1495479007&sr=1-6&keywords=prenatal+vitamins

WTT for about 6 more months here. I just started Garden of Life. I'm glad that husband is super sweet when it comes to the various charting paraphernalia that I've purchased.

These Raw Prenatals are considered to be some of the best on the market. They are small because you are supposed to take three spread throughout the day which makes them easier to swallow and easier on your tummy.

First of all congratulations! I am still TTCing but I really like rainbow light pre-natals - they are gluten free and have digestive enzymes so I haven't had any trouble with them. They usually have Iron but no DHA. Also noticed that they have a trimester 2&3 formulation too.

What your doctor meant to say is that you need folate. The form typically found in multis is folic acid but the methylfolate form has been shown to be superior so look for a pill that provides that form. Naturelo has a good one.

From what I've heard, nausea from prenatal vitamins is really common. I don't know if it's just that most women taking them are in the first trimester of pregnancy and naturally nauseous, or if there's something in prenatals that can upset stomachs more than other vitamins. FWIW, I have a really sensitive stomach (and get nauseous as part of my normal PMS symptoms) and I've had no problems taking Prenatal One vitamins.

Your temps look totally normal. It's very expected to have variations of 0.1-0.3 or more from day-to-day. Definitely no need to "preheat" the thermometer. The important thing is that you're able to pick out the pattern of a temp spike after ovulation. You want to see a rise of 0.2 or more above the previous 3 temps, that lasts for at least 3-5 days (really, it should last until AF shows up, 10 or more days).

There are some possible complications from a D&C, but it's more related to the ability for an embryo to implant, not for carrying to term. However, lots and lots of women have D&Cs, it's not considered a high-risk procedure. I'd say there's no need to worry until you've been TTC with no luck for at least 6 months, and your doctor would really be the right person to ask about that.

Finally, your sex drive issues could be psychological or hormonal. It could be related to PCOS causing hormonal issues, or even the paraguard removal. Again, I would worry too much until it's persisted for a much longer period of time. :)

Good luck, and welcome to TFAB!

Personally I dont do multi-vitamins, because I prefer to optimize only for the vitamins I need, without risking depleting other vitamins because I get too much of an antagonist vitamin (e.g. if you take too much A, it depletes D3, or if you get too much copper, it depletes zinc, and the other way around). It's best to know what you need based on what you eat, how you feel, and what your blood tests show, and then go from there.

Now, if you insist on multivitamins, I'd say go for the ones that don't have yeast or gluten or anything like that. I think this one is one of the best I've seen around http://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Light-Prenatal-Multivitamin-150-Count/dp/B00115BJ30/ref=pd_sim_hpc_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=04J9YW4Z94ZB1ZXQMHMH (yes, it's for prenatal women, but that blend is better than the standard daily ones for men/women). Unfortunately, its Magnesium content (which most Westerners are deficient of), is a joke.

So you'll still need K2-Mk4 (which is different from K) and Magnesium separately, and you'd also need some CoQ10 Ubiquinol and PQQ too if you don't eat animal heart on a regular basis. These aren't weird things I suggest. Along D3, they're the "standard" vitamins that the Paleo gurus suggest in their various blog posts. The more "normal" vitamins you find on a multi-vitamin you can get from actual food -- especially Paleo food which is loaded with these.

I've been taking Rainbow Light Embrace Prenatal 35+ this pregnancy. I take the age-specific version, but they sell regular one-a-day prenatals and even a mini pill version.

Pros: it's been easy on my stomach even without food, it's vegetarian and food-based, and it has loads of 'extras' in it like digestive probiotics.

Cons: have to take 3 a day (for the 35+ version) and it's not the cheapest prenatal you can buy.

In my first pregnancy I took a prescription chewable prenatal that I couldn't take without food because it made me nauseous.

Your first purchases should be:

• Good prenatal vitamins for her
  
• Books to inform you of what's happening, what will happen next, what sorts of things you should be doing, etc.
  
  The /r/predaddit Wiki has information on books (a lot of different books listed with brief descriptions - I am partial to The Birth Partner as the husband/partner, but there are a lot of other very useful books there too).
  
  My wife has been taking these prenatals - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003BEDU2M - and she likes them. But everyone has their own opinion on what is and isn't good (though I did research them and they were well-regarded).

I take this: Actif Organic Prenatal Vitamin with 25+ Organic Vitamins, 100% Natural, DHA, EPA, Omega 3, and Organic Herbal Blend - 90 count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LVYT5RL?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Best thing is you only have to take one at a day and it comes with DHA.

That makes me so sad, I love my gummies! The regular Zahler brand ones look pretty small and easy to swallow but they also make a mini that might work even better for you!

You've inspired me, reminded me to meditate. As for what prénatals I take, I read an article/review of the "best" ones and these are what was recommended and what I am taking Garden of Life-Vitamin Code: Raw Prenatal its 3 pills either at once or one 3x/day. I like it because I'm vegetarian, because it lacks a bunch of fillers, but most importantly it doesn't make me nauseous and doesn't smell awful!

Try a prenatal vitamin. I know it works to make your hair longer, but I feel like it has made my hair bigger too, if that makes sense. I take Rainbow Light Prenatal Vitamins . My nails are better too.

I am currently taking this prenatal it's 2 gel caps a day and I'm a wuss when it comes to taking pills but I have managed to get used to them. Previously I was taking the rainbow lite minis + rainbow lite DHA but it was 5 tabs a day. I would cross reference the amounts of each vitamin/mineral in either of these and, keeping in mind any individual needs or recommendations from your physician, see if either could help you reduce the amount of pills you take per day. Hope this helps!

This is the Amazon link, but I always buy in store. I think it's like $20/bottle. My husband just recently had to open a new bottle of his men's sperm health vitamin and I definitely think he felt the anger too lol.

My OB recommended this prenatal - which I like -

Vitafusion Prenatal Gummy Vitamins, 90 Count (Packaging May Vary) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003IP8BC8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_jol2DbKQEYCDP

I also liked this book the first time I was pregnant -

https://www.amazon.com/Mayo-Clinic-Guide-Healthy-Pregnancy/dp/1893005607

Call an OB to schedule your first appointment - which may be 8 weeks out or so. Ask them if there is anything they recommend before your first appointment.

1. My morning sickness started around 8 weeks, and lasted until about 16. I only had a few really bad days where I actually threw up, but I was nauseous most of the time.
   
   
2. I took the Vitafusion Prenatal Gummy Vitamins, which I found to be both delicious and easy on my stomach. They don't have iron, so if you do you would have to supplement separately, but not everyone actually needs iron.

Thanks, I'm walking between 3 and 12 miles each day. The most difficult part was definitely managing bodily function--the first week or two nothing was guaranteed. Best advice I can give: trust no fart.

I also re-read the audio book of Mark Divine's "Way of the SEAL" -- it gives a bunch of exercises to build mental toughness and resilience. I've had little to no hunger/cravings and have cooked several highly aromatic meals for others: homemade pizza, seafood marinara, shrimp and dirty rice, etc.

Overall this has been an exceedingly positive experience my BP has dropped from 140/96 @ 78 bpm to 121/81 @ 74 bmp. I've gone from sleeping 4-5 hours per night with snoring interrupted breathing/semi-apnea (no mask or anything) to 8-10 hours sleeping like a baby. I'm waking up at 5 am before my alarm.

I can't give you the specifics on the nutrients/micronutrients. Here's my complete shopping list--I'm taking electrolyte pills and not using drops--these were recommended in another thread. It's good to keep those on hand, in case you feel any cramps or light-headedness.

YMMV.



https://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Light-Prenatal-Multivitamin-150-Count/dp/B00115BJ30

https://www.amazon.com/Nutribiotic-Essential-Electrolytes-Caps-Count/dp/B000OP252C

https://www.amazon.com/Posture-d-Calcium-Vitamin-Magnesium-Caplets/dp/B007AHK1EG

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UI9F01C/

https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Made-Magnesium-Citrate-Softgels/dp/B00CU3SX4K

https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Made-Complex-Strength-Packaging/dp/B008PQDCG0

Garden of Life Vitamin Code RAW. Expensive, but it doesn't make me nauseated so I consider that a win.

I take the large version of Rainbow Light Prenatal but they also come in a "petite" size. You have to take 3 of them instead of 1 of the larger. http://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Light-Prenatal-Petite-180-Count/dp/B002CPRLH6

I have heard that the gummies aren't as effective so you may want to look into that claim before going that route BUT less effective is better than nothing.

This is a lovely contest idea, thank you.

My husband and I are trying to get pregnant and I've been trying to be proactive about making myself healthier in the process. I started taking these vitamins after I stopped taking the pill. They're organic and non-GMO which is important to me. The only downside is you have to take 3/day.

Did a little digging on amazon and found a few - search for Vegetarian Prenatal. Most important parts: folic acid and DHA. You can also find DHA as a secondary vegetarian supplement (usually it's from fish oil), it looks like it's not in very many of the vegetarian prenatals. I'll have to check my sample prenatals when I get home and see if there are any that are vegetarian there, then you could call your dr and have them prescribe for you.

This one looks promising, and is gummy! http://www.amazon.com/Vitafusion-Prenatal-Gummy-Vitamins-90-Count/dp/B003IP8BC8/

I also found this book, which I think I'll get, too: http://www.amazon.com/Your-Vegetarian-Pregnancy-Month---Month/dp/0743224523/

I take this actif , I used to take the rainbow light but kept gagging because of the taste and size but these actif ones are great, smooth coating, small-ish and only one a day!

actif

Oh, yes. And they are wonderful. I didn't have any nausea issues with prenatals with my first, but this time around I definitely did, and I should have switched sooner. These are the ones I use, but there are a bunch more out there.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003IP8BC8?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links

(Sorry if the link is wonky, posting on my phone.)

Concerning the prenatals, I was vomiting 2-3 times a day and nauseated morning til night with the Target prenatals I was taking. My OBGYN said the prenatals might be exacerbating the morning sickness.

I switched to twice-a-day Vitafusion gummy ones (no iron and bonus of DHA) and it immediately cut the vomiting down to once every couple of days. It's awesome! I'm still quite nauseated some days but I'm able to make trips to the grocery store now without pulling over to vomit or heaving in the bread aisle :)

I've been told every home remedy under the sun and considered punching the next sucker that said ginger was the "secret". Everyone is different and if you have extreme morning sickness, you might just have to wait it out. My weeks 5-9 were particularly hellish but I finally stopped losing weight last week. Good luck, it's almost guaranteed to get better soon :)

I use Rainbow Lite and really like them. They are rated well enough especially in terms of value, and I like that they have iron and probiotics in them!

I suggest Rainbow Light - they're once a day, I dont get nauseous from them - just the smell makes me nauseous but thats with all pills for me right now. Theyre food-based so you wont get that nauseous feeling from taking them.

I debated leaving them because Im slowly beginning to get nauseous from everything i put in my mouth but I did research on gummies and they lack iron and its vital to our growing babies. So I am sticking with these. :)

I love my SmartyPants gummies! I've been taking them for a long time now, usually 3 in the morning and 3 in the evening. Some people don't like having 6 gummies per day, but I always thought maybe it'd be useful to split it up to one several times a day if morning sickness is an issue for me. It also uses methylfolate, which I was looking for.

I’ve always taken Nature Made Multi Prenatal Tablets - Rich in Folic Acid, Iron & Zinc Value Size 250 Ct https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001F1G6SI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ir-FAb1PD1MXT.

It has everything that you would need and it’s affordable compared to a lot of others! Also, I’ve never had any nausea or stomach issues from it.

http://hbfit.com/does-biotin-cause-acne/

I am huge on supplements for my skin, but this product seems worthless to me personally. I take zinc, fish oil, turmeric + black pepper, and apple cider vinegar with the mother along with a multi vitamin and extra vitamin C.

edited to add: You'd probably be better off just taking some prenatal vitamins instead of this . . . https://www.amazon.com/Vitafusion-Prenatal-Gummy-Vitamins-Count/dp/B003IP8BC8/ref=sr_1_2_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1498098722&sr=1-2&keywords=prenatal

These are my favorites and it looks like amazon uk has them: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vitafusion-Prenatal-Gummy-Vitamins-90-Count/dp/B003IP8BC8/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1521832190&sr=8-1&keywords=vitafusion+prenatal

I buy them on Amazon. The serving size to get the full dose is 3, and you can take them all at once or space them out. I love it. Here is the link.

I take this prenatal multivitamin because Lab Door (independent testing company) gave it their highest possible rating. (I'm not pregnant, I just figured if it's good enough for pregnant women, it should be good enough for me.)

Thank you! Btw this is inbetweenismine 😂 I was/am using this- fertility supplement

The pregnacare liquid tastes the same as the chewable vitamins - I know, because I have had the same issue as your wife. I bought chewable vitamins on amazon. They are expensive but you get tonnes in the bottle.

I bought these ones
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003IP8BC8/ref=pe_3187911_185740111_TE_item

But yeah, they taste pretty much the same as the pregnacare liquid, which I also bought. I think they are harder to get in this country because they are quite sugary.

I wouldn’t say the pregnacare liquid made me gag. It just had a weird aftertaste, so I just had a glass of juice after.

Edited to add:

In my first pregnancy my midwife told me I only NEEDED to take vitamin D after a certain point, as I have a balanced diet, and that the prenatals were expensive and folic acid is only necessary in the first trimester to prevent neural tube defects, so the expense of the above vitamins might be a one off payment while she still feels sick.
I don’t want to give you medical advice as I don’t know your wife or what her pregnancy is like, but after a certain point she won’t feel sick anymore I hope, and you could go back to cheaper vitamins...

I always had a hard time getting the huge prenatals down until my doctor told me about these delicious gummies. Eat 6 a day. I take a separate iron supp.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00VFYYAC4/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1497760394&sr=8-1&keywords=smarty+pants+prenatals

They make prenatals without iron also! The gummy ones don't have iron (read the first review on this one). One of my friends took Flintstone vitamins without iron instead of prenatals while she was pregnant also (suggested by her doctor). Worth a shot!

I just went and looked at them again and it looks like they lowered the price even more to $7?? Jeeze and right after I order mine too haha

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003IP8BC8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

I take these New Chapter Perfect Prenatal Vitamins and I looooove them. They're fine to take on an empty stomach/with or without food and they were recommended highly in this conception book I read.

https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Made-PrenatalMulti-Softgels-softgels/dp/B005DEK9KE

This is the one I use! It's got everything, but doesn't make my stomach upset at all, and I am prone to vitamin induced upset stomach. Good luck!

These are pricy but are natural and have lots of nutrients. I only bought them since Amazon offers a coupon.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00VFYYAC4/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm taking NatureMade Prenatal+DHA and they've got folic acid, iron, calcium to name a few things. The bottle says "now a smaller pill!" but they are still horse pills.

I've also heard good things about Rainbow Light Prenatals

I take both a prenatal & a DHA, purchased from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005JAT3TU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0039LF25A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The prenatal has folate instead of folic acid which is supposed to be better (folic acid is the synthetic form of folate)?

These are the ones I was thinking of, but there are a few more brands on amazon as well.

The only thing I could handle was the gummy ones, like these. You could even bite it and take small pieces throughout the day if that helps.

I like these:

https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Made-Prenatal-Softgels-Value/dp/B005DEK9KE

Taste like nothing to me. The gel surround makes it much less of any taste on the way down

Viva Naturals Prenatal DHA for Moms, Kelp - 325 mcg of natural iodine, and Nature Made Prenatal Multi Vitamin.

Haven't used them yet, but I am stashing samples from my OB as well.

CD34 and WTO still. I'm going to give vitex a try since my cycles have been so irregular, does anyone have experience (good or bad) with it? I ordered this prenatal because why not. I figured it won't hurt and it might help.

New Chapter Perfect Prenatal Vitamins

> Health Optimal Prenatal

Thank you so much, but that ended up having too much iron for me. I'll be taking SmartyPants gummies and supplementing B12 on top.

Here's some pics in the reviews for what to look for. You should be safe if you're getting them locally; I think it's a storage issue at amazon.

Rainbow Light Prenatal One Multivitamin, 150-Count Bottle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00115BJ30/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_3nVsxb9HG3N7G

I tried the gummies one too and didn't like them. Now I'm on these ones: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WJW9DXM
They're not gummies but they do the job, lol.

Can your wife do smoothies? With the prenatals I take they are in one of those openable capsules. You can open them up and pour them into a smoothie to hide the taste. This is the one I use, I'm sure there are others like it.

I gotta be honest with you, I thought they'd be smaller, but I've never taken a standard prenatal. I have a little trouble with them because they're are a little bit wider than a standard Tylenol and I'm just a terrible pill-swallower lol

There's a good size comparison photo in the reviews on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Light-Prenatal-Petite-180-Count/dp/B002CPRLH6?th=1

These are the gummies I take. They have been a lifesaver for me since I can't swallow the huge pills. I found them at one of my local grocery stores.

I did the flinstones gummies until I found Vitafusion gummies. They saved me!!
these

They're just extra strong multivitamins. I take these: http://www.amazon.com/Nature-Made-Prenatal-Vitamin-250-Count/dp/B001F1G6SI

Oh crap sorry, I didn't see that you're in the UK! Hopefully you can find something, maybe you can ask at a pharmacy, they should be able to tell you how big the pill sizes are. The other thing you could do is find one that's in powder form in capsules and just open it up and put it in juice. Maybe something like this? Still not cheap but at least it's two months worth. https://www.amazon.co.uk/NATURELO-Prenatal-Whole-Food-Multivitamin/dp/B01M3Q83PG

I take these and they're quite tasty :)

Vitafusion Prenatal Gummies

They taste good and are practically candy, so I know I'll take them every day!

I am in love with my Rainbow Light Prenatal One vitamins! I have a sensitive stomach when it comes to multivitamins, but these are ahmaaaazing! Not even a WINK of flippy-stomach syndrome. I know my local Target sells them, and some grocery stores do too (I live in CA-USA)

Rainbow Light


Amazon

Of course there are some other variations that you can find on the RL website.

I found these on UK Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B003IP8BC8/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1518342714&sr=8-2&keywords=prenatal+gummy+vitamins&dpPl=1&dpID=51kr1zdC8TL&ref=plSrch

I hope that link works. The vitamins I found on Amazon were so cheap but that's the US 😔.

I have taken these Deva vegan prenatals throughout pregnancy and nursing. The iron in them can make it difficult if you have a sensitive stomach during pregnancy, in which case your OB will probably recommend you take a children's vitamin instead. I took the children's only during the period that iron made me vomit, and then switched back. Deva also has vegan children's vitamins. I also take algae oil, which I used to get from Nordic Naturals but now get elsewhere. I forgot the brand but I'll check- I switched because they are significantly cheaper than NN.

My children take the Nordic Naturals liquid algae oil and enjoy the taste, so keep that in mind for the future.

Each pregnancy has been different in terms of symptoms and difficulties.

I just bought these which have no iron. I love that they're gummies, cuz prenatals are huuuuuge and chalky.

I use these. plenty of folic acid and taste good.

Vitafusion Prenatal, Gummy Vitamins, 90 Count (Packaging May Vary) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003IP8BC8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_zLvHzb1XH9JH2

These taste pretty good! No fishy taste they're raspberry lemon ( almost lemon zest). And they're gummy!
I got them on sale at cvs with a coupon but the 10$ a bottle price seems competitive.

Also no iron :) what does the iron do that's bothering you?

I love gummy vitamins, but they don't have iron. I got these instead <http://amzn.com/B001F1G6SI>, they're not too big and only require 1/day.

I take this prenatal, this DHA, and 2 of these vitamin D gummies every day. (Extra vitamin D at the rec of my midwife).

I'm taking Nature Made PrenatalMulti + DHA 200 Mg Softgels.. They didn't bother me until ~8-10 weeks when my nausea was full-force, so I switched to taking them right before bed and all is well again.

I have these, and also recommend their chewable calcium supplements.

Here’s what I’m taking: Zahler Prenatal DHA, Premium Prenatal Vitamins for Mother and Child, Prenatal DHA Supports Brain Development in babies, Certified Kosher (60 Count) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KYBTSQQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_DpAeAbJH5D5CA

Here is the one I recommend: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005JAT3TU/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_jKxRCbAVYQWWJ

You should check out Zahler prenatals, they have folate and DHA. I like them a lot.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01KYBTSQQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1506140680&sr=8-1&keywords=zahler+prenatal+vitamin+dha&dpPl=1&dpID=419aDuMBiCL&ref=plSrch

I’m using Deva vegan prenatals. They’re pretty inexpensive on Amazon. They look a look a little sketchy but they have a decent review on labdoor.

I take the Smarty Pants gummy. I have a heterozygous MTHFR and have done some research that says that I can’t process folic acid correctly. These have a different form of it in them, plus they had more of each of the vitamins than what I was previously taking (VitaFusion gummies).

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VFYYAC4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_hd.ZAbZ2XTDF1

My OB recommended this one (note, this is 2 separate tablets to take, included in the box).

However she was open to any similar ones, so I've been using this one as I find it on sale a lot/buy in bulk for less money. (note - it has epa too but doesn't say it on the front.) Look at the back of any prenatal to confirm it has both epa and dha.

https://www.amazon.com/SmartyPants-Prenatal-Complete-Daily-Vitamins/dp/B00VFYYAC4/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=prenatal+gummies&qid=1565372847&s=gateway&sr=8-4

These are what I take, and have taken for three pregnancies. Don't forget you'll also need prenatal while breastfeeding, if that's your plan. These are labeled for consumption in the states, where the Food and Drug Administration sets minimum daily requirements of each vitamin/mineral, and these list what percentage of that amount they contain if you take the recommended dose. Usually prenatal are 100% of whatever the suggestion is for pregnant women.

BTW, these don't have iron (I've never seen a gummy prenatal that does), so no matter what you choose, you'll also want an iron supplement, probably. During my first two trimesters, I just concentrated on an iron-rich diet, but by the third trimester, my OB said I was a bit anemic and that I should be supplementing with 20-30 mg iron and also an iron-rich diet. He said that while it technically is possible for someone to have too much iron, that's a specific medical diagnosis, which I don't have, so that I basically can't get too much. Something to ask your medical provider about...

I've never heard of someone not being allowed Vitamin A, where did you hear that?

The only ones I've found that don't completely upset my stomach are Vitafusion Prenatal Gummies

> Garden of Life raw prenatal vitamins - they're purely plant-based

[Not 100% true](http://sistahvegan.com/2009/10/11/raw-vegan-organic-prenatal-vitamins/
). They used to claim it was vegan, now they only claim vegetarian. My suggestion would be Rainbow Light Prenatal One, which specifically claims to be vegan (with a little VeganGuard(tm) logo on the bottle -- at least the bottle I'm looking at, the photo on Amazon looks different, but still said 'vegan').

Prenatal Vitamins. I have about a week or two left on my current bottle and currently cannot afford to purchase more. It's been a baaaaad month.

Vitafusion prenatal gummy in lemon & raspberry lemonade flavors.

this one

I use this one: https://www.amazon.com/Vitafusion-Prenatal-Gummy-Vitamins-Packaging/dp/B003IP8BC8

https://www.amazon.com/Garden-Life-Vegetarian-Multivitamin-Supplement/dp/B0032EZOAM/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=3PBQC2A5EE228&keywords=raw+prenatal+vitamins&qid=1556849576&s=gateway&sprefix=raw+pre&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1

I take these and they don’t make me nauseous at all.

https://www.amazon.de/DEVA-Prenatal-Multivitamin-Mineral-Tabs/dp/B000V865DW/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr0_1?keywords=Deva+Vegan+Vitamins+Prenatal+Multivitamins%2C+90+Coated+Tabs+Bottle&linkCode=gs3&linkId=b502625cab32a35c97e1b7d685633960&qid=1572040609&s=drugstore&sr=1-1-fkmr0

These ones.

Ingredients for a common one are listed here.

I take these.

Predicting someone is pregnant because they bought this is not impressive data analysis.

This is the one I take, no idea if it actually does anything but my hairdresser is always commenting on how fast my hair grows https://smile.amazon.com/Neocell-Super-Collagen-Tablet-6000mg/dp/B00028NGEC/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1525193574&sr=1-4&keywords=collagen+supplements and these are the vitamins https://smile.amazon.com/Nature-Made-Prenatal-Softgels-Value/dp/B005DEK9KE/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1525193648&sr=1-4&keywords=prenatal&th=1 be careful with those though, I take those ones because they have iron and I am slightly anemic, but if you aren't anemic the iron may not be good for you.

These are the ones I've used and I don't see anything in ingredients or nutrition that indicate sugar. Can there be a concern-able amount of sugar in a one-a-day swallow vitamin? Unless you need a chewable (which will always have way more sugar) I can't imagine there's enough to worry about...

I know my OBGYN office won't see anyone until at least 8 weeks. I was seen at 9w4d. That's partly because there's such a high risk of miscarriage and partly because it's usually around 10 weeks when they can find the heartbeat (even though it starts beating around 6 weeks).

For a prenatal, I've been taking this one: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EE8036/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1449868666&sr=1&keywords=rainbow+light

It's a real horse pill, so if you have trouble with large pills it's not the one for you. It gets high reviews and good lab test results. I feel like it actually helped a small amount with my morning sickness. I suggest taking it at bed time.

I've also been using an app called Ovia Pregnancy. You'll find it's pretty popular with the bumpers on this sub. It has a food guide when you swipe left, symptom checker, and you get little facts about your baby everyday.

For nausea/vomiting, vitamin b6(25-50mg) taken with unisom sleep tabs is what got me through the worst of it (I took half a sleep tab). I started with just at night, then during the day if I'm starting to get bad, I take about 1/4 of a unisom tab and can still work/do school/etc. It's prescribed form is called Diclegis and is category A which means it's been proven to be safe for use in pregnant women. Unisom is listed as category B which means nothing has happened to suggest that it is not safe during pregnancy. However, if it does not work for you and you find yourself not being able to keep anything down, call your OB even if you haven't been seen.

Food restrictions [short list version] - no sushi (raw - cooked is okay but cannot have touched the same surfaces as the raw), no lunch meat (think like subway style) unless it has been heated/toasted, no red meat, no soft cheeses (like bleu), nothing unpasteurized.

Also, see the Wiki/FAQ on the sidebar. It has tons of helpful info!

My wife was having a hell of a time with her vitamins - same deal where the thought of it made her gag and occasionally she'd be unable to keep them down. We got her these gummy ones and she's doing much better with it - she actually looks forward to them. The appear to have omega-3 in them as well.

These expensive bastards. They were recommended to me because the last set I had made me throw up (unless I took them 45 minutes after eating a large meal).

Rainbow Lites are Vegan. They're giant horse pills so it helps to break them apart. I took these for a year and a half while we were TTC and for the first six months of my pregnancy. They're okay. Were a bit hard on my stomach, but I switched over to some Gummy One a Day (not vegan) vitamins for the last three months because I started gagging really bad on the horse pills (I think by then I was just so fucking tired of choking them down every day my body was like NOPE. NOT TODAY) and they were no better on my stomach.

I take the Rainbow Light ones another poster mentioned. Like they said, they aren’t small but it’s only one per day, and I personally don’t find them disgusting. I take them before bed and have had no issues. No DHA though so I take a separate thing for that.