If you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant, your health care provider has probably already recommended prenatal vitamins. They contain certain nutrients to help ensure you have a healthy pregnancy, but that doesn't mean they will agree with your stomach. If you experience side effects such as nausea, let your health care provider know.
Nutrients Found in Prenatal Vitamins
Prenatal vitamins are formulated with key vitamins and minerals, including calcium, folic acid and iron. Calcium is included in prenatal vitamins to keep up with your increasing demand for calcium as your baby begins to form bones. If you don't get enough calcium, the baby could deplete your calcium supply, which can result in weak bones and brittle teeth. Folic acid is included to decrease the risk of neurological and spinal birth defects. Iron is included in the formula to keep up with your increased demand of red blood cells; in pregnancy, your blood volume increases to meet the supply and demand of your baby.
Why You Experience Nausea
You could experience nausea from a variety of things, such as increased hormones or due to the increased amount of iron your body is absorbing. Pregnancy hormones can cause morning sickness for some women. Large doses of iron can also cause nausea. Iron can also cause constipation, which can make you feel nauseated. Another reason you may feel nauseated, especially if it's around the time you take your prenatal vitamin, is the size of the vitamin. If you have a sensitive gag reflex, swallowing large pills may make you nauseous.
How to Reduce Nausea
Depending upon the cause of nausea, there may be several things you can try. While you can't change the amount of hormones surging through your body, you can try simple things like getting up from a sitting or lying position more slowly, or lying in bed with a cool washcloth on your forehead until your nausea has passed. Sometimes having a small snack can reduce the symptoms of nausea. Keep a package of crackers near your bed or in your purse so you always have access to a snack. Take your prenatal vitamins before bed. If they're causing you to feel nauseous, you can sleep right through the symptoms.
When to Talk to Your Doctor
If you've tried to rule out every possible reason of nausea and still keep coming to the conclusion that it's your prenatal vitamins, talk to your health care provider. Do not discontinue your prenatal vitamins without physician approval. He may be able to switch you to a different brand or try a prenatal vitamin that's smaller in size. If your health care provider approves, you may cut your prenatal vitamin into halves so you can swallow two smaller pills instead of one large pill.
Member Comments