May 2006

Question:
I just found out that I am pregnant with my first child. I have been following the Eat to Live recommendations for about 2 months and have lost about 15 pounds, which I am very happy about. I take the Gentle Care vitamins, but now I am being told I should take prenatal vitamins as well. I checked a few of the bottles on the shelf, and they seemed so excessive in the amount of vitamin A, Calcium and a few other vitamins and minerals that I was reluctant to start them. I did add an additional folic acid supplement with my Gentle Care vitamins, but I am wondering do I need to add anything else, like Iron, which I read is very important beginning in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters when the blood volume of the body increases rapidly? Should I be taking a prenatal vitamin, and if so, is there one that isn't so overloaded? I have been including either spinach, romaine or kale in my fruit smoothies for breakfast in addition to the fruit and flaxseed. Also, I try to have a large serving of broccoli once a day, as well as a salad for lunch and a salad for dinner, but I am worried that I am not able to eat the quantities of greens I need for two (me and the baby) because I get full quickly with all the vegetables. I am getting plenty of vitamin A from my Eat to Live diet and definitely want to avoid a prenatal supplement that includes vitamin A, but there doesn't seem to be one. Is what I am doing enough, or do I need to do anything else? So, I would appreciate your input on this.

Answer:
You do not need the extra folate. You are already getting a huge folate load by eating this way. The only thing of value, when you are pregnant and what the Gentle Care does not have, is the iron. So, an option would be to just take a low dose iron supplement each day to fulfill that need. Metagenics makes one called "hemagenics", but there are other low dose iron supplements in the health food store. You can also just follow your iron stores with blood work, if you do not want to take a supplement. Make sure you take the DHA.