prenatal vitamins-should have taken sooner?

[Anonymous]

I am ttc #2 and have been taking a one-a-day vitamin for over a year. We're on month two ttc and at my latest ob appointment, she asked if I was on prenatals and I said I had been for the last month. It didn't occur to me until afterward but she acted as though she thought I should have been taking them longer. Should we stop ttc for a few months or should I not worry because it isn't like I haven't been getting folic acid etc. in the one-a-days? I can call the office on Monday but just wondered what advice you all might have or what your drs. have told you.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

I have taken a once-a-day (based on my doctor's advice) before, during, and after my pregnany. During my pregnancy, I added an extra folic acid and iron.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely not. I would not worry about it at all. You have been on multivitamins and are TTC. My Dr told me in all honesty women in this country that have well rounded diets don't even really need to take prenatals (but should just to be on the safe side). A lot of people don't take them until they find out they are pregnant, so I still think that you are ahead of the game. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I didn't start taking them until I was 10 weeks pregnant and DD is healthy. I was however, eating very well and taking 400 mg of folic acid every day. I wouldn't worry about it. My doctor said she doesn't like people to take them until they get pregnant because you can develop a sensitivity to them.

[Anonymous]

You are fine. The one change you might consider is switching OBs if you don't want a ton of stress about this type of largely inconsequential stuff (deli meats, soft cheeses, etc) during your pregnancy. There is nothing worse than getting more stressed out when you go to the doctor when you are actually doing things right. There are plenty of OBs that are low key out there. Just a thought.

[Anonymous]

I do think you will be fine, but I think the 20:33 poster is being harsh on your OB. The general advice is to start taking prenatals before you get pregnant. Yes, most women will be fine without taking prenatals, but there is a small percentage of women who do not consume enough folic acid. This could be because of poor diet or because their bodies are not adept at storing folic acid and they need to consume more folic acid than the average women. Chances are your OB has not idea if you fall into either of these groups, so thus the advice to be risk adverse and start prenatal vitamins early. The need for folic acid starts at conception, thus the reason they want you to try and start before you conceive. I have a friend who had a baby born with a birth defect that the doctors partially attribute to low folic acid early in her pregnancy. Yes, this is very rare but it does happen. With her second child they greatly increased her folic acid before TTC and she had a healthy baby.

[Anonymous]

IMO, you have enough to worry about without dwelling on this. A number of women in my circle conceived unexpectedly (or very quickly after starting to "try" for babies) and all of their children are fine. I also conceived unexpectedly, but have always taken a one-a-day and had a very good diet (lots of spinach and broccoli) before I conceived, so I'm not worrying about it. If you think about it, our generation is ok despite our moms not being told to take prenatals before they conceived!

I worried more about the fact that I drank before I knew I was pregnant (found out at 3 weeks), but the doctor said not to dwell on that either!

good luck!

[Anonymous]

No worries! I didn't start taking prenatals (or any vitamins for that matter) until I got pregnant (it was not planned). During my pregnancy I found out I have a disorder that causes a folic acid deficiency and needed to take supplemental folic acid (which I probably should have started prior to becoming pregnant). My DD is 3 months now and everything is fine! Keep taking the prenatals each day and eat well. That's the best thing you can do for your baby.

[Anonymous]

to the original 10:32 poster: no, you don't need to stop TTC! why should you? you have taken a one-a-day vitamin and that has at least 400 mcg of folic acid in it, right? I think there was a little misunderstanding with your doctor.

to the poster who said sth about getting "sensitized" as per her doctor and taking the vitamins "later" because of that :that's just wrong. you can't get sensitized against vitamins! folic acid is most important in the first few weeks of pregnancy when the neural tube and central nervous system develop, and when most often you don't know that you are pregnant yet, therefore, starting it at 10wks pregnant is really too late for that (if you had a balanced diet though all is fine anyhow)

[Anonymous]

Do stress about it at all! I didn't take prenatal vitamins at all (long story). My son is 10 months old and more than fine and thriving. You have nothing to worry about.