One of the first things your doctor may suggest after you have a positive pregnancy test is prenatal vitamins. Many women have trouble tolerating them, though, especially in the first few months of pregnancy when queasiness is at its worst. If you have trouble swallowing pills in the best of times, getting prenatal vitamins down may be out of the question. Liquid prenatal vitamins may be easier to swallow, literally and figuratively, but read labels carefully for added ingredients you may not want or need.
Ingredients
At one time, prenatal vitamins were available only by prescription. Today, prenatal vitamins are on every drugstore shelf, which has advantages and disadvantages. The good thing is that you can try different brands to see which one you tolerate best. The bad news is that there are no "standard" prenatal formulas. Different manufacturers include not only different amounts of vitamins, but different vitamins altogether; some include herbs. Read labels carefully. Most prenatal vitamins include 1 mg, or 1,000 micrograms, of folic acid to prevent neural tube defects, according to Marie O'Sullivan, R.N. explains on BabyZone.
Benefits
Liquid supplements can be easier to get down, since you can add them to juice to mask the taste. Liquid supplements may also absorb quickly, since they don't have filler or a coating to break down.
Concerns
Liquid vitamins contain iron, which has a strong smell and taste and could still upset your stomach. Many liquid prenatal vitamins are sold in health food stores and have added herbs. Since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not regulate the ingredients in vitamins and supplements, according to eMedTV, compare the ingredients to a standard well-known vitamin brand or take it in to your doctor and make sure he approves. Some vitamins, especially vitamin A, are harmful in large quantities in pregnancy.
Caveats
Some liquid brands contain herbs; since pregnancy is not a time to experiment with herbal preparations, skip these brands unless your doctor approves them. One brand contains both chamomile and red raspberry leaf, which can cause uterine contractions when taken in large quantities, BabyCentre UK warns. Your doctor may want you to avoid these herbs, especially early in pregnancy.
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