One-A-Day prenatal vitamins may be used by pregnant women as a supplement to a healthy diet. An important benefit of this vitamin formulation is that each tablet provides 800 mcg folate, which is important in preventing neural tube defects -- potentially devastating birth defects of the brain or spinal cord. One-A-Day prenatal multivitamins also contain 28 mg iron; this is beneficial in preventing the development of anemia during pregnancy. However, these vitamins may cause several unpleasant side effects.
Constipation
An uncomfortable or even painful potential side effect of One-A-Day prenatal multivitamins is constipation. This side effect is not specific to One-A-Day prenatal multivitamins. According to the Mayo Clinic, the iron content in a variety of prenatal vitamin formulations may trigger this unpleasant effect. Some possible ways to help improve this situation include eating a fiber-rich diet, drinking plenty of fluids and remaining as physically active as possible. In some cases, you may consider taking a stool softener to help relieve the discomfort associated with constipation, if your doctor approves.
Nausea
Another possible side effect of One-A-Day prenatal vitamins is nausea. It is not clear why this side effect occurs. As in the case of constipation, nausea is not specific to the One-A-Day formulation; rather, it may occur in response to many different brands or types of prenatal vitamins. Taking the vitamin on an empty stomach may contribute to feeling queasy; some women may find that swallowing a large pill exacerbates an ever-present feeling of nausea, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy. Some possible solutions to this side effect include taking the One-A-Day tablet with a small snack or taking the vitamin at night. Chewing gum or eating a small piece of candy may help reduce the unsettling feeling of nausea. Finally, if these options do not seem to help, you may consider alternative formulations of prenatal vitamins or taking separate folate, iron and calcium pills.
Fishy Burps or Fishy Breath
The One-A-Day prenatal multivitamins include a liquid-gel capsule that contains the fatty acid DHA. The packaging claim is that DHA may help a developing baby's brain and visual system; however, evidence for this potential benefit is limited. The National Institutes of Health report that several studies have found that taking several grams of fish oil daily during the second half of a pregnancy may improve some aspects of a baby's cognitive development. However, more research needs to be done to truly evaluate the effectiveness of DHA. The One-A-Day DHA gel capsule derives its DHA from fish oil: sardine, mackerel, and anchovy are listed as ingredients. As a result, you may find that you notice a fishy smell to your breath. The fish oil used in the gel capsule also may cause burping, which may leave a fishy taste in your mouth. These are not harmful effects but may be extremely unpleasant. These side effects may improve by taking the DHA gel capsule with food; freezing the capsule may help as well.
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