Prenatal vitamins are recommended for most pregnant women to ensure they get the vital nutrients their babies require throughout the pregnancy. However, for some women, prenatal vitamins cause nausea, making them difficult to take. A few simple tips and strategies can help pregnant women keep their prenatals down. However, women who continue to have difficulties may have other options.
Prenatals and Nausea
Prenatal vitamins are often big, because they contain numerous nutrients that are vital during pregnancy. They contain more iron than the average multivitamin, which can be tough on a delicate pregnancy stomach. Some women may feel nauseated after they take their vitamin, while for others the act of taking a large pill might trigger an episode of nausea. The good news is, for most, pregnancy-related nausea is only temporary. Most women get over morning sickness -- which can occur at any time of the day -- before they begin their second trimester. In the meantime, however, a few simple changes to the prenatal vitamin routine can help.
Changing Vitamins
Even nauseous pregnant women should continue taking their prenatal vitamins; however, they may need to change what they take to keep these vital nutrients down. Some women respond better to a chewable prenatal vitamin, which may be easier on the stomach. For other women, however, the opposite may be true. Also, different prenatal vitamins contain different amounts of nutrients. Because iron is often the culprit, changing your vitamin to one that contains less or no iron may help. However, if you choose this option, be sure to find another way to get this necessary nutrient in your diet. Pregnant women need 27 mg of iron daily, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Be sure to check with your doctor before making a change to your vitamin regimen.
Other Tips
If you don't want to change your vitamin, there are a few other tricks that may help you stomach your prenatals until the morning sickness passes. For some pregnant women, an empty stomach or fatty foods can trigger episodes of nausea. MayoClinic.com advises women prone to morning sickness to snack often and to choose high-carbohydrate foods. Use these techniques to prevent vitamin-related nausea: taking your vitamin with crackers or bread, or taking it at night when your stomach is less likely to be empty. In addition, sucking on hard candies or chewing gum after taking your vitamin may help ward off nausea.
Severe Nausea
Some women experience severe morning sickness during their pregnancy, which may prevent them from keeping their prenatal down, no matter what they try. If this is the case, talk to your doctor immediately. Some women who experience severe morning sickness may require special medications and IV fluids. In addition, their diet may need to be monitored to ensure the baby gets all of the nutrients it needs.
Member Comments