Prenatal vitamins: How to choose the best for your pregnancy

Recently my prescription vitamins went from a "tier 1" to a "tier 2", which for those of you that don't understand the insurance lingo (who does?) that means my vitamins went from $20/month to $120/month!!! Most doctors agree that over the counter (OTC) vitamins are fine to take as long as you are getting your essentials...

"Here, get the 411 on everything you need to know about prenatal vitamins.

A prenatal vitamin is vital for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby, but knowing when to start taking them, which brand to buy and how much of each vitamin and mineral to look for can be daunting. 

Why prenatal vitamins?
It can be hard to eat healthy when you’re dealing with morning sickness and pregnancy cravings, but prenatal vitamins aren’t meant to make up for unhealthy food choices.

“This should complement a healthy diet,” Dr. Mary Rosser, an assistant professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology and women's health at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City said. “It’s really not a substitute for anything.”

Plus, because we tend to lack a lot of vitamins and minerals due to depleted soils, getting those in a prenatal vitamin is even more important, according to Michele McRae, Senior Director of Research, 

When should you start taking prenatal vitamins?
If you’re hoping to get pregnant, you should ideally start taking prenatal vitamins at least three months before you plan to get conceive. Prenatal vitamins have folic acid, which prevents neural tube defects like spina bifida, which develops within 28 days after conception.

Plus, folic acid may reduce the risk of autism, according to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

“The defects can occur very early in pregnancy, many times before women know that they’re pregnant,” Rosser said.

For this reason and because 50 percent of pregnancies are unplanned, experts recommend all women of reproductive age take a multivitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid, whether they’re trying to get pregnant or not.

What to look for in a prenatal vitamin.
Prenatal vitamins are available by both over-the-counter and by prescription. Although formulations can vary from brand to brand, these are the most important vitamins and minerals to look for:

Folic acid
Anywhere between 400 mcg and 800 mcg of folic acid is ideal. If you previously had a baby with a neural tube defect or if you have other risk factors, your doctor may prescribe 4 mg (4,000 mcg) of folic acid.

Iron
Iron is essential for a baby’s growth and development and it prevents you from having anemia. Getting more iron is especially important because your blood volume almost doubles to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the baby.

30 mg is best but your doctor may prescribe more if you’re iron deficient, which most moms are, McRae said.   

Calcium
Your developing baby needs calcium for growth and bone development and strength and she’ll draw that nutrient from you. Because of this, it’s important for moms to get enough calcium— aim for 250 mg a day.

Magnesium
Look for a prenatal vitamin with at least 400 mg of magnesium, which is crucial for baby’s bone development. It will help you relieve muscle aches, improve energy, and aid relaxation.

Vitamin D
Vitamin D not only helps mom absorb calcium and supports healthy blood pressure, but research shows its linked to better birth outcomes, too.

Plus, a recent study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that moms with higher vitamin D levels were more likely to have children with stronger muscles.

Aim for 400 IU to 800 IU of vitamin D. If you’re at risk for bone issues or are a vegetarian, your doctor may prescribe up to 2,000 IU a day.

DHA and EPA
Studies show that DHA and EPA are important for baby’s brain and eye function and may even prevent pre-term birth and depression during pregnancy and postpartum.

Most over-the-counter prenatal vitamins don’t include DHA and EPA, but you can take a supplement or ask your doctor for a prescription. Take at least 250 mg per day.

Vitamin B
Vitamin B6 is important for a baby’s brain development and nervous system, and can maintain your energy and keep your mood balanced. Look for 2 mg of B6, but a prenatal vitamin with a vitamin B complex is even better.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C but is essential for immunity, especially because we don’t produce it. 50 mg a day is best.

Choline
Studies show that choline may help with cognitive abilities and IQ later in life. At least 30 mg a day is ideal".

Of course always speak to your MD as to what vitamin s/he believes will be best for you and your baby ;)

To read the full article, please click here

Posted by Sharon Wyse L.Ac.

The proper way to take Vitamin D for optimal absorption

"Many women take vitamin D while trying to conceive and in preparation for IVF knowing that having stellar vitamin D levels may improve their chances of conceiving considerably. What they may not know, is that taking vitamin D at the optimal time of day can dramatically improve absorption of this vital fertility vitamin.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, this means that you will absorb it far better with food, not just any food, it really needs to be taken with a meal that contains other fats or oils to trigger the digestive enzymes and processes that break down and assimilate fats. Taking vitamin D with a piece of fruit, a glass or water or a light, low fat meal may be akin to taking very little vitamin D at all. Not so great for your fertility."

To read more on the article about the studies conducted, please click here

"Traditional Chinese medicine makes fertility treatments effective"

Traditional Chinese medicine has long been used to ease pain and treat disease.
Now researchers have found it can also boost fertility if used in combination with fertility treatments.
A team led by Dr Shahar Levi-Ari from Tel Aviv University compared the success rates of couples using intrauterine insemination (IUI) both with and without Chinese herbal and acupuncture therapies.
IUI involves a laboratory procedure to separate fast moving sperm from more sluggish sperm.
The fast moving sperm are then placed into the woman’s womb close to the time of ovulation when the egg is released from the ovary in the middle of the monthly cycle. 
The results, which have been published in the Journal of Integrative Medicine, show a significant increase in fertility when the therapies are administered side-by-side.

To read the full article please click here


posted by Sharon Wyse L.Ac.

Acupuncture for induction of labour (Review)

 Here is an interesting study on how acupuncture can help induce labor in women that have gone over their due date. I usually educate women on how acupuncture 6-8 weeks before their due date is optimal, as it has also been researched that acupuncture a few weeks before labor helps to shorten the duration of a vaginal labor. Many women in the study also reported that labor pains were diminished with the administration of certain acupuncture points.

"In a study acupuncture with and without electrical stimulation
was used to induce labor in 12 pregnant women with
a gestational age from 19 to 43 weeks (Tsuei 1974). The success
rate was 83% and average induction to delivery time was 13.1
hours. In the third study, 34 termand post termwomen and seven
women with an intrauterine fetal death were induced using electro-
acupuncture. Labor was successfully induced in 32 (78%)
women (Tsuei 1977). The limited observational studies to date
suggest acupuncture for induction of labour appears safe, has no
known teratogenic effects, and may be effective. The evidence regarding
the clinical effectiveness of this technique is limited."

To read more about this study, please click here 

If you have any questions related to this blog, please feel free to contact me at SharonWyse.L.Ac@gmail.com or via phone at 917.603.8081