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It just comes with the territory of a ton of iron combined with normal hormonal changes in early pregnancy causing nausea. I asked my doctor for a different prescription and she recommended the Target brand prenatal vitamins. They didn't make me sick at all. Helps to drink them with ginger ale too.
@KatyElle: I can't stand the taste or smell of ginger :( But I'll definitely look into the Target brand of Prenatal Vitamins.
Are you taking a prenatal that has iron in it for a reason? If your doctor doesn't think you need the iron maybe a different pill would help, especially since the first trimester when your stomach is most sensitive.
The only time I ever threw up when I was pregnant was after taking my prenatal vitamins. I talked to my doctor to come up with some other options, specific foods to eat to take the place of, other vitamins in place of, etc.
Another suggestion that I have heard from several physicians (I just finished my Ob/Gyn rotation) is that you can also try Flinestone vitamins instead if you can't keep down the prenatal vitamins. Good luck!
@Lillindy: I'm not anemic or anything so I don't think there's any reason for the iron other than the OB said you need a lot of iron for the pregnancy? I'm extremely sensitive to iron, so I know that's what's killing me (so to speak).
I'm not expecting, but taking gummy prenatals specifically Vitafusion with a calcium supplement. I'm not adding iron into the mix until we're pregnant. For now, it's been getting my folic acid levels up. I also suggest gummy vitamins because my vitamin resistant husband (trouble swallowing the pill) is even liking his gummies after trying one of my mine.
I have another issue with iron (I end up peeing it out and it looks like I'm bleeding...which totally freaks me out) so, I take the GNC brand without iron. If your doctor isn't telling you point blank that you MUST have iron then I would find some without. They will monitor your iron through your blood draws.
I am not pregnant, but I wanted to comment. Typically, you shouldn't take iron and calcium containing supplements/ foods together at the same time. Calcium inhibits iron absorption (basically, if you're not absorbing the iron, it's not doing you any good). They should definitely be spaced out by several hours... sorry!
Do you eat foods rich in iron? (red meat, egg yolks, dark, leafy greens, iron-enriched cereals, beans, etc)? If so, you may not need an iron supplement unless instructed by your physician.
Note: this is not meant as medical advice. Always consult your personal physician or pharmacist when making medical decisions.
@EvaBostonTerrier: But isn't taking iron on an empty stomach a bad thing?
I heard at work from ladies that had the same issue especially when pregnant that their physicians told them to take their prenatal vitamins right before they go to bed and that seemed to help them...but thats not from personal experience!
Can you get a pill spitter and cut it into smaller peices to take throughout the day so you don't have the whole shebang at once?
No, taking iron on an empty stomach isn't bad. If you can keep the vitamin down, it's best to take it with just water. If not, you could try drinking V8 instead of milk. It's nice and thick and helps keep your tummy settled.
Like PP said, you could also try chewables for kids. They taste good and don't usually upset your stomach.
If you just can't keep them down, try liquid vitamins at GNC. Maybe it's the pill thing and an already dissolved vitamin may help.
Since you aren't anemic, I would try a prenatal without the iron. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing, so maybe it's making you sick because you're getting all the iron you need in the foods you eat.
@firsttimemom: If you want/ need to continue the iron-containing supplement, could you try taking with someone other than milk (maybe crackers) to help settle your stomach? It sounds like calling your doctor's office and asking if you actually need that supplement would be a good option.
Thank you all for your answers and support. I'm glad I asked because I wouldn't have known any better and would have kept taking it completely oblivious. Thanks again!
I hear this happens to many women and it is ok to skip taking them for a little bit
I have also head the suggestions to try the "gummy" kind because they may be easier on your tummy
I'm like 9.5 weeks along, and have found if I lie down (ie sleep) too soon after eating (or drinking!) anything, I will get up and throw up. If you're doing this, it may not be (just) the vitamin... some days are worse than others for me, it's not really predictable, but now I force myself to stay awake for an hour+ after eating.
I had originally started with the gummy vitamins, but eventually hated the chewing motion/fake fruit taste and started throwing them up (like, literally after I finished chewing them), so I switched to the one-a-day prenatals and have been fine, taking them with a glass of water after I eat dinner.
Good luck! I hope you feel better soon.
@EvaBostonTerrier: Thanks, lady, I was about to mention it.
If you need-need-need the iron so much you couldn't get it from other foods (fish, dried fruit, etc) try splitting and taking half at a time. Otherwise, take a gummy!
Right now I have the gummy pre-natals and am liking them. I used to get an upset tummy jst from regular multi-vitamins, but these so far are really gentle on my stomach. So if you do look for something without iron I would recommend them. One word of warning though, they smell horrendous!
i take the target prenatal vitamins and the target DHA...and ive never ever had an issue with getting sick. i take them around dinner time with 8 oz of water.
Look for pre-natal vitamins that say "gentle on the stomach" on the label. That's what I use now. Some other brands are too harsh and give me an upset stomach. I found mine at our local health food store.
I was anemic my first time around, I'm not sure if they tested me for it this time or not.. I guess I'll add that to my list for my appt. on the 17th. I remember taking those little red pills, and peeing red, ugh..
I didn't take pre-natals the first time, I take a vitamin C and the adult dosage of the gummy vites (My son loved them for a long time, so I stocked up at costco and now he hates them so I have 4 big costco size bottles!)
i am 8 weeks along and i have tested the following 2 prenatal vitamins:
"One a Day" Womens prenatal: HORRIBLE, i swallow and then immediately feel so sick.
"Spring Valley" Prenatal 1 per day dose: MUCH better, i eat a meal in the evening and then a full glass of water, also i make sure i sit up for a while even though i am tempted to take a nap after dinner.
I have no idea why the difference could be just a coincidence but at this point i am really tired of vomiting and i will stick to what works, good luck!
@firsttimemom: I threw up for the first 6 months for both my boys! Morning ,noon and night!!! If you cannot keep them down ask for liquid vitamins or a different kind.. ALso my doctor told me i could take a double dose of Flinstone vitamins and its the same.. and they taste much better.. good luck!!
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The first few weeks I was taking them, I took them with my dinner on a full stomach but found that that was making me very uncomfortable and burping up the taste of metal (that's what 156% DV of iron does to you!) by the time I was ready for bed. So I started taking the vitamin with a glass of milk right before bed. The past 3 nights I've been able to go to sleep but wake up after an hour or two and have to rush to the bathroom and throw up. It's awful.
Has this happened to anyone else?