doing research to see if i can be okay with a superb diet. saw an article stating that according to the National Academy of Sciences if you do not have any of a few risk factors (eg smoking) you don't need them. also read that the best source of folic acid is raw fruits and veggies, which i plan to eat plenty of. calcium is generally easy in dark leafy greens and some good salts (my himalayin pink has a ton.) i don't see why taking the time to eat really well shouldn't be enough and am a bit wary of vitamins a supplements. wondering what others have thought and done. obviously we don't want to take unnec risks, but my sense for my body is the best way to go is lots of high vibe organic fruits and veggies across the color spectrum, nuts, coconuts, avos, generally a good raw diet. sorry to sound like such a hippy.
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Re: anybody skip the prenatal vitamins?
Tue, February 19, 2008 - 11:35 AMI would recommened taking a look at www.sunfood.net and read up... see superfoods 101
I take Carlsons fish oils everyday Pregant & while breastfeeding and also Flora Grow from www.ariseandshine.com
I believe if you were doing the super herbs and superfoods you will be better off then if you just took vitmins anyway/
For instance, Jarusalm artichoke is the best soure of iron and iron should be built up through the entire pregnancy naturally not in the end when someone says your low and then gives you a toxic form of iron in a pill (not that you sound like you would do that anyway).
Have you read Sacred Birthing ?
Blessings for a beautiful pregnancy and birth!
Anastacia
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Re: anybody skip the prenatal vitamins?
Sun, February 24, 2008 - 12:54 AMRegarding folic acid: I read some studies of folic acid & birth defects a while back in an epi class, and they found that folic acid supplementation was protective regardless of how much dietary folic acid the mother was getting. So even if you decide to forgo prenatal multivitamins, you should strongly consider taking a folic acid supplement during pregnancy, at least during the first few months. I got a Whole Foods brand 800mcg folic acid supplement (the dose my doctor recommended) that didn't have any weird ingredients in it and was very inexpensive.
I did take a prenatal multivitamin (although when I had morning sickness I often skipped it and took the folic acid instead, since that's the essential one and it's so easy to take). The one I found that I was happy with is called Pregnancy Plus. You have to order it online (CVS.com has it). I liked that it didn't have mega-doses of anything, only had the safe kind of Vitamin A (beta-carotene), didn't have herbal ingredients (some aren't safe during pregnancy), and didn't have artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. It doesn't contain a meaningful amount of calcium. I manage to get enough calcium from my diet, but I eat dairy. If you don't get enough calcium it's not really a risk to your baby, because your body will pull calcium from your bones to meet his/her needs, but that puts you at risk of osteoporosis, so it's worth being vigilant about getting enough during pregnancy to protect your own long-term health.
I also took Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHA (from sardine/anchovy oil). I've been a vegetarian for almost 20 years so this was a compromise for me, but I thought it was important for my baby's brain development, and I'll continue to take them at least as long as I breastfeed. Before I got pregnant I occasionally took Omega-Zen DHA supplements, which are vegan (made from algae) but since the studies on DHA & pregancy all studied fish oil, I didn't want to take any chances. But at least there is a vegan option for people who don't feel comfortable compromising.
One final thought is that you need to be sure to get 75-100g of protein a day. I haven't found that particularly challenging with a vegetarian diet; I seem to get more protein than some of the non-vegetarians in my birth class. Whole wheat toast with peanut butter for breakfast most days, or scrambled eggs w/ mashed pinto beans & salsa when I feel up to it; lots of bean & brown rice dishes, some with cheese; tempeh burgers & bean soup when I have to buy lunch during the workday; and I carry organic string cheese with me as a snack. If you're vegan, you'd probably need more nuts & soy to compensate for the lack of eggs/dairy, but it's completely feasible, it's just worth it to track your diet for a few days to confirm it's happening :)
Good luck!