If you’re pregnant and you’ve started taking prenatal vitamins, you may have noticed that they can make you feel a little bit queasy.
But how much nausea is considered normal?
And is it possible that the vitamins are actually making you sicker than necessary?
Let’s take a look.
The Benefits of Prenatal Vitamins
Taking prenatal vitamins during pregnancy is recommended by doctors for several reasons.
They help to ensure that pregnant women are getting enough nutrients—like folate, iron, and calcium—that their growing baby needs. This is especially helpful if their diet doesn't include enough of these key nutrients on its own.
Additionally, some research suggests that prenatal vitamins may reduce the risk of certain birth defects, like spina bifida or cleft lip and cleft palate.
The Lowdown on Nausea From Prenatal Vitamins
It’s not uncommon for pregnant women to experience nausea from prenatal vitamins, particularly if taken on an empty stomach. This is because of the high concentration of iron found in most prenatal supplements. Iron can irritate the stomach lining, leading to feelings of nausea or other forms of gastrointestinal distress.
To minimize this discomfort, try taking your prenatal vitamin with a snack or meal—just be sure it’s something light and easily digestible like toast or crackers.
Taking your vitamin at night before bed may also help as it gives your body more time to absorb its contents without having to deal with morning sickness right away.
You can also try to split your dosage, so you would take half your dosage with breakfast and the other half before bed.
When It's Time to See Your Doctor
In some cases, however, the discomfort caused by prenatal vitamins may be more than just an inconvenience.
Severe vomiting and diarrhea are two signs that something is off and should not be ignored. If this happens to you while taking your prenatal vitamins, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor right away—they may suggest switching brands or dosages in order to get your symptoms under control quickly.
Your doctor may also recommend avoiding certain types of multivitamins altogether if they contain high levels of copper or zinc—metals that can become toxic when too much accumulates in the bloodstream during pregnancy.
Additionally, if you have any preexisting health conditions such as kidney disease or allergies, be sure to tell your doctor before starting any type of supplement regimen so that they can factor these into their recommendations for what will work best for you and your baby.
Overall, nausea from prenatal vitamins is usually nothing more than an annoyance—but it can still be enough to put a damper on your pregnancy experience if left unchecked!
If over-the-counter remedies aren’t helping ease your symptoms and the nausea persists longer than expected, reach out to your doctor right away so they can provide guidance on how best to proceed with supplementation during this exciting but sometimes challenging journey!
We hope this has been an informative report and that you have the information you were looking for.
If you're looking to find the best liquid prenatal vitamins to help ensure that you are getting enough nutrients—like folate, iron, and calcium—that your growing baby needs, click the link below to be taken to our top picks.
We hope your pregnancy is a happy and healthy one!
Thank you for taking the time to read about prenatal vitamins.
