Is there any way to get the vitamins in pre-natal pills from food?

Question

Everytime I take pre-natal pills I get sick I throw it up. I can't keep any of them down! So I was wondering if there were any foods that I can eat that have as much vitamins that the pre-natal pills have in them?

Answer 1

I am a nutritionist

Yes you can get everything you need from only eating well (unless you become very anemic then I would recommend an iron supplement)

you are welcome to contact me if you need help with meal planning

prenatal vitamins are not as strong as most people seem to think, in fact many have less vitamins then a regular multi vite, like centrum. here is a common prenatal label of ingredients and the amount of food you would need to eat to get each one.

Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 1 Tablet
Servings Per Container: 100

Amount per Serving % Daily Value for Pregnant or Lactating Women


Vitamin A (25% as beta-Carotene, 75% as Acetate) 4000 IU 50% (about 3 tablespoons of carrots, or about 4 baby carrots)

Vitamin C (as Ascorbic Acid) 100 mg 167% (3/4c orange juice, or 1c broccoli)

Vitamin D (as Ergocalciferol) 400 IU 100% (expose your face and hands to sunlight for 15 min 3x/week)

Vitamin E (as dl-alpha Tocopheryl Acetate) 11 IU 37% (1/2c total cereal, or 1/4c sunflower seeds)

Thiamin (B1) (as Thiamin Mononitrate) 1.84 mg 100% (3/4c total cereal, or 1 5oz pork chop)

Riboflavin (B2) 1.7 mg 85% (1/2c total cereal, or 2oz beef)

Niacin (B3) (as Niacinamide) 18 mg 90% (3 oz beef, or 1/2 chicken breast)

Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride) 2.6 mg 104% (3/4c total cereal, or 8oz beef)

Folate,Folic Acid,Folacin 800 mcg 100% (3/4c total cereal, or 1c rice, or 12oz beef)

Vitamin B12 (as Cyanocobalamin) 4 mcg 50% (3oz beef, or 2 oz salmon)

Calcium (as Calcium Sulfate) 200 mg 15% (1 oz cheese, or 2/3c milk)

Iron (as Ferrous Fumarate) 27 mg 150% (1c total cereal, or 4oz clams, or 5 tablespoons malt-o-meal cereal)

Zinc (as Zinc Oxide) 25 mg 167% (1c total cereal, or 9 oz beef)

Answer 2

The main concern is folic acid and iron. The pills are added assurance that you will meet these needs. Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects and iron helps you from becoming anemic during your pregnancy.

It is really hard to get all of the folic acid you need from just foods. Folic acid is found in cereals, breads, fruits & veggies. Iron is found mostly in meats but also in beans, tofu, raisins and green leafy vegetables.

If your prenatals seem to be too strong, you can try to take them in the evening right before bed or try taking them after you have a little on your stomach. You can also cut the pill in half and take half in the morning and the other half in the evening. If this does not work you can take a children's multivitaim like Flintstones (just make sure it has folic acid and iron) until you are able to tolerate the prenatals.

Good Luck to you!!!!

Answer 3

Folic Acid - Found in Brocoli
Vitamin C - Found in Orange juice
Vitamin B - Oats, Wheats, Bran
Vitamin A - Carrots
Vitamin E - Fish, but too much for pregant women is not good.

I hope this helps you get started without having to take a pill that makes you sick everyday.

Good luck with getting pregnant too, I'm trying too!

Answer 4

i had the same problem. it was horrible. with my first i just split them and took one half in the morning and the other at night. with my second i threw up a lot and couldn't keep anything down. my doc told my to just quit the pills he said they are overrated. he is an ob gyn too!! he told me all you really need is the folic acid from them. go to walmart or something and buy a bottle of folic acid in the vitamin section and take those. find out from your doc first and how many milligrams you should take though. not every doc is the same. or drink some oj until you start getting heartburn oj is the worst for heartburn.

Answer 5

why would you be embarassed. she's a doctor. doctors expect lots of questions. you would only be showing your concern for your unborn child by asking a question like that. i'm pretty sure that you should start taking your pre-natal vitamins as soon as you start trying to have a baby. don't wait until you know you are pregnant.

Answer 6

Yep, eat vitamin fortified cereal, green vegetables and drink orange juice. My sister-in-law didn't take pre-natals at all, but she drank tons of orange juice. I recommend the vitamins just to make sure you are getting your nutrients, but if you can't keep them down, they aren't doing you any good anyway.

Answer 7

Ask your doctor about taking a multi-vitamin. My friend's doc told her she could take Flinstone's vitamins. If you tried to get all the nutrients that you AND your baby need you would be eating 24/7

Answer 8

Eat plenty of green leafy vegetables and lots all fruits for their vitamin contents. Also drink plenty of milk and did you know that milk in itself is a complete food..

Answer 9

TRY TAKING THE PILLS WITH FOOD, YOU REALLY CANT GET ENOUGH VITAMINS IN YOUR DIET, IT COULD ALL BE IN YOUR MIND, I WOULD JUST KEEP TAKING THEM, MAYBE TAKE THEM AT NIGHT AFTER DINNER