Prenatal Vitamins Making You Sick?? Try These for a Happy Tummy

Prenatal Vitamins Making You Sick?? Try These for a Happy Tummy

Those Pesky Prenatals

I’m pretty dedicated to my vitamins.  I can get in my 3 doses a day because I have come up with many tips and tricks to make it easier to remember.  So when I became pregnant with my second babe, I was determined I would keep up my supplement regimen to stay healthy physically and emotionally.

That’s until my morning sickness started at 6 weeks.

It didn’t matter what time of day I took my vitamins, how much I separated them and spread them out, or how much food I ate with them, they made me feel like poop.  Yucky, nauseous, gaggy poop.

Sara – my business partner and fellow acupuncturist – gently hinted at taking a break from my vitamins (under the guidance of my doctor) until my stomach subsided, which I vehemently opposed.   I went on and on how important it is for me to get my nutrients right now and the few hours of additional suffering was doable

I had to cut our conversation short because I was feeling increasingly awful and couldn’t talk anymore.

Then I vomited.  From my morning vitamins.

That’s it.  I’m done.  I can’t do this anymore.

So I called Sara back and said maybe she’s right and I need to give my poor stomach a break from these pills.

(to which I’m sure she had a big smile on her face and a “it’s about time you came around” nod of her head) 

The Solution

I researched, discussed with my naturopathic doctor & other health practitioners and here’s the solution we came up with.

Vitamin Injections – ie. folic acid, B12 (and other nutrients if possible) from your naturopathic doctor or family doctor

I cannot tell you how miraculous getting the folic acid and B12 injections have been for me.  Within 24 hours, my intense all day/all night nausea begins to subside and continues to do so over the next few days.  I notice my body and mind are more calm and relaxed and yet my energy is more stable.

If you don’t have access to IM (intramuscular) injections, here are some other options that are way more gentle on your tummy, which I’ve been using more and more over the weeks.

Chewable folic acid/B12 – Genestra makes a great little chewable folic acid and B12.   I like that the folic acid is L-Methylfolate (the active form of folate).   The taste is cherry and very easy to palate.  It has never bothered my stomach (which is super sensitive) and I take about 1-2/day.

I feel in complete control of my nutrient intake since I know how important folic acid is in the first trimester.  Also the B12 is good for blood production, which greatly increases over the course of the pregnancy.

Liquid Magnesium – Genestra makes a very gentle magnesium glycinate liquid that tastes like apple juice and pomegranate.  I keep it in the fridge and take 1 tbsp/day after dinner.  I find keeping it cold makes it taste just like a spoonful of apple juice, which is easy to palate.

Here’s what I love about it.  It reduces my morning sickness.  Seriously.

It stops my twitchy, spazzy body movements in bed at night.  It helps me sleep more soundly.

It reduces all the tension my body is carrying (it’s stressful feeling sick all the time).

It calms my mind.

Yes, it’s really that wonderful.  I love you magnesium.

I’ve been experimenting with lots of different forms of magnesium:

• Ancient Minerals Magnesium Oil (booooo – sticky, itchy, and I don’t notice much difference even though I apply 5+ times a day)
• Magnesium Water (yay – I really liked it, but you have to drink A LOT to get the full benefits)
• Thorne Magnesium Citramate (booooo & yay – this is my go to magnesium, but it kills my stomach right now.  however, if I can suffer the 3 hours of gut wrenching nausea I have the BEST sleep of my life that night)
• Epsom Salt Baths (yay – I’ve been doing this daily.  It really helps and it helps quickly.  I instantly feel better and more relaxed)

There you have it, some alternatives to make it through your first trimester AND keep your tummy happy.  You don’t have to suffer by forcing your vitamins down and increase your discomfort 100 fold.  There are options that work beautifully that make you feel great and give you your folic acid.

The Village carries Genestra’s Chewable B12/folic acid and the Magnesium Liquid if you’re looking to pick some up in Vancouver.

Hang in there mama, it will get better.