Side Effects of Prenatal Vitamins

Prenatal vitamins are a great way to give your body the nutrients it needs before, during, and after pregnancy. Unfortunately, many women experience side effects from taking a prenatal supplement. As a result, some women stop taking their prenatal, or simply take a child’s chewable vitamin instead.

Most common side effects of prenatal vitamins:

• Iron is often the culprit of prenatal vitamin related nausea. Iron can be hard on a woman’s stomach and prenatals often contain a high level of iron.
• Constipation can result from taking a prenatal vitamin because of the high iron as well.
• Some prenatals are large and can be hard to swallow and may cause a sick feeling.

Here’s what you can do:

• Many women find relief by taking their prenatal vitamin at a different time of day. Some women become nauseated when they take their prenatal vitamin first thing in the morning, but have no problem taking it at night.
• It is best to take your prenatal vitamin with a meal. If this isn’t possible, try taking your pill with a full glass of milk or water.
• Take a prenatal with a lower dose of iron if possible. You might also try Promise Prenatal Vitamins which contain micro-encapsulated iron. This form of iron breaks down more slowly in your stomach, which relieves the sickness many women feel as a result of taking a prenatal vitamin.
• Take a prenatal with a high dose of vitamin B6. Taking a larger dose of B6 during pregnancy has been shown to reduce morning sickness and nausea, especially during the first trimester. Promise Prenatal Vitamins contain 19 mg of B6, an ideal amount to reduce nausea.

If you experience side effects from taking a prenatal vitamin, do not simply stop taking the supplement. Prenatal vitamins are an important part of your nutrition during pregnancy.  Please talk to your doctor or try a different vitamin. Flintstones vitamins were designed for children, not pregnant women, so please leave these as an absolute last resort for a prenatal substitution. Start taking a prenatal vitamin before pregnancy to allow your body time to adjust to the increased nutrients. This may also alleviate side effects during pregnancy.

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