Morning sickness affects most pregnant women at some time; however, many are able to avoid triggers that lead to nausea. Unfortunately for some women, their prenatal vitamin itself might trigger morning sickness. Because prenatal vitamins provide vital nutrients to pregnant women, a few tips and tricks may be necessary to ensure they stay down.
Considerations
While it might be tempting simply not to take the vitamin until morning sickness has passed, a woman who does this may deprive herself and her baby of vital nutrients, especially early in pregnancy. Prenatal vitamins are designed to make up the difference in a pregnant woman's diet, as it can be challenging to get enough folic acid, iron and calcium from diet alone. Simply avoiding the prenatal vitamin is not a healthy solution for mom or baby.
Morning Sickness Solutions
Women who suffer from nausea associated with prenatal vitamins can first try some of the usual morning sickness remedies. According to the Cleveland Clinic, women who are already prone to episodes of nausea during pregnancy may trigger more episodes when taking their prenatal vitamin. For some women, eating smaller, more frequent meals can help. Medline Plus reports that some episodes of morning sickness may be associated with low blood sugar. In addition, they suggest using ginger products such as ginger candy or ginger ale, eating high protein foods with carbohydrates and snacking during the night. Finally, wearing sea sickness bands and keeping air flowing through the room can help minimize nausea.
Timing Vitamins
Sometimes the nausea trigger it is not the vitamin itself, but how and when it is taken. Medline Plus suggests women who are prone to pregnancy nausea take their prenatal vitamins at night, when they are less likely to trigger sickness. In addition, taking vitamins with meals and liquids can help: for some women, a prenatal vitamin on an empty stomach is a recipe for disaster.
Potential for Viamin B6
Another potential morning sickness relief is vitamin B6, which is thought to minimize pregnancy nausea. Medline Plus suggests increasing foods that are rich in B6, such as beans, nuts and legumes. B6 supplements are also an option; however, pregnant women should first discuss this with their doctors. The American Pregnancy Association cautions pregnant women against taking multiple supplements during their pregnancy, as this can lead to potentially unhealthy quantities of certain vitamins and minerals.
Changing the Vitamin
If all else fails, pregnant women may need to change their prenatal vitamin if it continues to trigger morning sickness and nausea. The type of pill may make a difference. Cleveland Clinic suggests that some women may find a chewable version easier to tolerate than a capsule, while for others the opposite may be true. Additionally, not all prenatal vitamins are formulated with the same ingredients, some of which may increase the likelihood of nausea. A doctor can help choose an alternative prenatal vitamin that may be easier on the stomach.
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