Most women who take prenatal vitamins as directed by their doctor or midwife experience little or no side effects from prenatal vitamins. The iron in prenatal vitamins may cause constipation, and some women complain of nausea. You also may have diarrhea , dark stools, low appetite, and stomach upset or cramps.
Is it normal for Prenatals to give you diarrhea?
Taking prenatal vitamins is good for your health as well as the health of your growing baby. However, these vitamins may upset your stomach and cause diarrhea . Hormone changes. Hormones may make your digestive system slow down, so constipation may be an issue.
What are the side effects of taking prenatal vitamins when not pregnant?
Taking too much folic acid each day can have the adverse side effect of masking a vitamin B-12 deficiency. Excess iron can be a problem, too. Getting too much iron is associated with health problems like constipation, nausea , and diarrhea.
What happens if you take a lot of prenatal vitamins?
An overdose of vitamins A, D, E , or K can cause serious or life-threatening side effects and can also harm your unborn baby. Certain minerals contained in a prenatal multivitamin may also cause serious overdose symptoms or harm to the baby if you take too much.
Why are prenatal vitamins hard on your stomach?
The iron in prenatal vitamins can be particularly hard to digest , so you might get a formulation with less or none, for now. One high in vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) may be able to quell the quease; ask your practitioner if he or she advises extra B6 supplements.
Is diarrhea a symptom of miscarriage?
But diarrhea isn't a typical cause or symptom of miscarriage . While some women do experience diarrhea around the time of a pregnancy loss, having an episode of diarrhea does not mean that miscarriage is about to happen. 7 Many women get diarrhea while they're pregnant and continue to have a healthy pregnancy.
When should I be worried about diarrhea during pregnancy?
When to see a doctor
A pregnant woman should receive immediate medical care if she experiences any of the following symptoms: stools that contain blood or pus. diarrhea that lasts longer than 48 hours . six or more loose stools in a 24-hour period .
Is it a good idea to take prenatal vitamins when not pregnant?
You may be tempted to take prenatal vitamins because of unproven claims that they promote thicker hair and stronger nails. However, if you're not pregnant and not planning to become pregnant, high levels of certain nutrients over a long period of time may actually be more harmful than helpful .
Do prenatal vitamins make you gain weight if you are not pregnant?
Will They Make Me Gain Weight? There is no evidence that prenatal vitamins make you gain weight . Most pregnant women gain about 25-35 pounds throughout their pregnancy whether they use a prenatal vitamin or not.
Do prenatals make you fertile?
Can prenatals increase my fertility? Taking your prenatal vitamin won't make you any more likely to get pregnant . This one is just a myth we're happy to bust. Prenatal vitamins will, however, make it significantly more likely that you experience a healthy pregnancy.
Is it OK to skip a day of prenatal vitamins?
Missing a day or two of your prenatal shouldn't leave you severely lacking in any vitamins , but it might get you out of the habit of taking your prenatal daily. That means missing one day could lead to missing two, three, four, and so on.
What happens if you don't take prenatal vitamins in the first trimester?
What Happens If You Don't Take Prenatal Vitamins? Taking prenatal vitamins before pregnancy can help prevent miscarriages, defects, and preterm labor. If you're not taking prenatal vitamins, neural tube defects can appear: Anencephaly: This occurs when the baby's skull and brain doesn't form correctly.
How early should you take prenatal vitamins?
When you decide to try to conceive, it's a good idea to begin taking a daily prenatal vitamin right away. Ideally you should start prenatal vitamins at least one month before pregnancy —and CERTAINLY during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy when baby's development is at its most critical point.
Are gummy prenatal vitamins effective?
Many times, prenatal vitamins in pill-form have been known to cause upset stomach—particularly when there are several pills/tablets in one serving. Gummies and liquid supplements are effective and make taking prenatal vitamins easier.
Should I take my prenatal vitamins again if I threw up?
Usually taking two children's vitamins – either chewable or gummy — is a good temporary substitute until we can get you through that time period when the nausea and vomiting are better and we can get you back to your prescription prenatal vitamin that has the optimal nutrients in it for your pregnancy.
Can taking Prenatals affect your period?
Some research has shown that taking a folic acid supplement can elongate your cycle . This can cause your period to arrive slightly later than usual. However, this is nothing to be concerned about. Research shows that women taking a folate supplement may have a lower level of amino acid homocysteine the ovaries.
