One of the most important things to remember when you’re pregnant is to take prenatal vitamins. For someone like me, who is not really used to taking any supplements or vitamins regularly, it might be a bit difficult at first to keep track and remember to take them everyday. Eventually, though, you’ll be able to incorporate it in your lifestyle. Think baby’s health and development always. 🙂 I’m thankful, too, for my husband, who had placed alarms in my Fitbit Force gadget to remind me to take my pills (originally, he placed the alarms so I’d remember to walk in the office and not sit all the time). Must read here how supportive and helpful he is!
Here are some of the vitamins my OB advised me to take.
1. Folic Acid ( at least 1000 mcg a day)
Taking folic acid, as I found out from my of-age women friends and other married friends, should be taken even when you’re not pregnant, and months before if you’re planning to have a baby. This will help prevent birth defects on your baby, which is really a very important pill to take.
I took folic acid when Dennis and I were trying to have a baby. I was a bit late in taking it since I just found out that I should be taking folic acid way, way before we start trying. So I think I took it just a month before trying, and continued it until my OB advised me to stop taking it.
I was confused with the dosage, though. Most of the articles I read suggest at least 400 mcg a day, and not more than 1000 mcg. However, my sister-in-law’s practitioner advised her to take at least 4000 mcg a day. I just settled with 1000 mcg a day since my OB didn’t prescribed me to take more.
2. Obimin Plus, Vitamin C and Iberet-Folic
When we found out that we were pregnant (check this post for that exciting moment of our lives), our OB added a few more vitamins, what you might call collectively as prenatal vitamins, for me to take with the folic acid. Here are a few info about them.
Obimin Plus
This pill has all the essential nutrients for you and your baby. It’s a multi-vitamin for pregnant women. Most likely, your practitioner will prescribe you to take this.
Vitamin C
We all know that taking vitamin C helps with your immune system. I take this from time to time when I wasn’t pregnant yet, and decided to take it regularly when I got pregnant, and when we met with our OB, she also advised us to take it. This is also important because you don’t want to get your immune system comprised when you have a tiny fetus who has very low immune system inside you.
Iberet-Folic 500
This is actually an iron supplement. I was given this because I don’t eat meat (beef and pork), which is a main source of iron. Iron is important in your developing fetus of course. It is also a multi-vitamin because it has other nutrients. However, the main “ingredient” it has is iron, so you still need the other prenatal vitamins to have the complete nutrients.
3. Calcium (Calciumade)
When I was nearing the end of my first trimester, my OB added calcium in may daily prenatal vitamins, and took out folic acid. So by this time, my 16th week, my prenatal vitamins include Obimin Plus, Vitamin C, Iberet and Calcium. At this stage, your baby is developing his/her limbs, spine, bones, so this supplement is really important. Aside from this, I also drink a glass of milk a day.
Taking these all at once is not advisable. For one, calcium and iron shouldn’t be taken at the same time. You should at least take them an hour apart because calcium prevents your body from absorbing iron. Also, taking them all at the same time will upset your stomach. At least that’s what happened to me before, when I took all those big pills together. So, as per my OB’s advice, I take Iberet and Vitamin C (which are good together) in the morning after breakfast (just make sure that if you drink milk, wait at least an hour before taking your iron supplement). After a few hours, usually in the afternoon, I take my Obimin Plus. Lastly, after dinner I take my calcium.
View Comments (166)
thanks for the information, i'm 15 weeks pregnant and usually take calcium and iron at the same time. not following what my ob prescribe time in taking those med.
Hi Mae. You should take them separately now, at least an hour apart. You might be wasting your money taking them at the same time because calcium prevents your body from taking in iron. :) Congratulations on your pregnancy!
hi, I take iberet folic and ob max in the morning with milk..I didn't know that milk will lessen the iron content of what im taking..my ob didn't advice me about this fact. anyway, thank you for the info.
Hi Mitzi! I think sometimes they forget. Maybe for them it's like a common knowledge already that they forget to mention it to us new moms hehe.
hello is it bad.. that I am taking obimin plus together with calcium? ohh i hope not that bad.. I always had that together taken. Im 19 weeks preggy :(
Hi Stephanie. There shouldn't be a problem. :) I used to do the same. I drank my Obimin and Calciumate at the same time. If you have a weak stomach though, it's better to drink them an hour apart. I used to get an upset stomach drinking all the vitamins at once.
Hi Stephanie,i am 16 weeks Preg.my Doc advice me not to take Obimin and Calciumate together.its better if you take them at least gap of few hours.
Can iron supplement be taken during 1st trimister? As I eat beef n mutton n chicken. So overdose may create a problem I guess... I m taking iberet folic should i continue or stop taking it?
Hi Sonia! One of my mommy friends didn't take any supplements when she was pregnant. I think not even Obimin Plus. She wasn't advised by her OB also because she was having enough iron from the food she ate. It might be best to ask your OB about taking anything, even supplements. In my case, though, I was advised by my OB to take these supplements around 5 weeks of pregnancy up until I gave birth. It's because I don't eat pork or beef. :)
hi, my first ob gyne gave me aprescription oof obimin and iberet once a day, sinve we moved to a new place i need to get another ob and she said i should not take obimin together with iberet since there is a recent study where she read that there is something i forgot what is it that can cause autism if im going to take those meds. she told me i can take it everyother day, if i take iberet now i will take obimin tomorrow but im confused, i want to make sure my baby is healthy.
Hi Haiz. I haven't heard about that research. I was taking my Obimin and Iberet at the same time when I was pregnant and Light turned out fine naman. :) I think it's up to you. My OB suggested that I take Iberet before because I wasn't eating pork or beef so my iron intake wasn't enough. I have a friend who didn't take any prenatal supplements at all during her pregnancy and her baby was healthy. If you want to be sure, you can follow your new OB. Just eat meat I guess so your iron intake will be enough. :D
Hi im in the stage of confuse if i am pregnant or not my last menstration was last sept 2,2016 and its only day..this oct im delayed for 5 days.i notice i fell dizziness,constipated,and i feel so tired.im 34 yrs old and if pregnant hopefully this is my first baby..i take folart(folic acid)everyday.please help me do i need to go my ob or just wait for few more days?
Hi Jacqueline. You can take a pregnancy test first. And remember to wait a few minutes because sometimes the lines don't appear immediately. Good luck! :)
I just read about obimin and can take it before, during and after pregnancy..is that true? Been trying to get preggy...hopefully this will help
Hi Sarah. I've heard some mommies taking Obimin even after pregnancy. I used to take it during and after pregnancy, until my daughter was about a year old. It was prescribed by my OB that I take it even after pregnancy since I was breastfeeding. My OB said that Obimin Plus has DHA which is good for babies so it's good to take when breastfeeding. I'm not sure if it helps women get pregnant. You can ask your OB about it. :) But I do hope you get pregnant, and let us know when you do, or if indeed Obimin helped. I'm excited for you! :)
Hello! Thank you for the info you have provided. I just have a question though... Im 8 weeks preggy now and Im taking Mosvit Elite and Folic acid recommended by my first Ob. I usually take the vitamins after breakfast. What do you think is the best time to take these vitamins? Because Ive also read in a blog that this certain woman is taking Mosvit before bedtime. Im taking these vitamins for over a month now.. Im just curious of when is the best time of the day to take it. And oh, i only drink Pro Mama once a day before bedtime. I heard from friends i should drink the milk twice a day.. Would that be a problem? Thank you so much in advance!
Hi Keshia. Congratulations on your pregnancy! :) I like taking my vitamins spread out throughout the day to avoid getting an upset stomach. I'm not sure with Mosvit but my OB did mention that taking calcium before bedtime is a good time to take it. That's why I took Calciumade before I sleep at night. I think depending on your weight, if you're not overweight you can drink maternal/prenatal milk twice a day. I was overweight during my pregnancy so my OB suggested I didn't take any of those anymore and just drink a glass of ordinary cow's milk a day. :)
Can i take the calciumade without taking the prenatal vitamins?
Hi Mommy! It should be fine. Not all expectant moms are prescribed to take all the prenatal vitamins. If you need to take Calciumade only, it should be fine. Just make sure you get enough nourishments from your food or diet.
I am 7 weeks pregnant, Is it ok to take calcium lactate?
Hi Mharj. I think it's okay. Most pregnant women are prescribed by their OBs to take calcium supplements. I was taking it during and after pregnancy. You should double check with your OB though. Sometimes we don't need them anymore since we're getting enough calcium from our diet.
Hi.. i have difficulties in swallowing pills, especially those big ones, can i open up the shell or crushed the pills? Tq in advance.
Hi Georgina. I think there's no problem if you cut or crush the pills. I also think getting rid of the capsule shell is okay. You can ask your OB what she thinks too. :)
Hi.. Now I'm preggy 7weeks... I more to eat meat like beef pork... But every night I feel so tired & sleepy... What vitamin or prenatal pill should I take to make me more energetic ?
Hi Sandy! Congratulations on your pregnancy. :) You should ask your OB about vitamins or taking any medication. It's safer that way. Lack of energy and sleepiness, unfortunately, are part of pregnancy. I think most pregnant women experience those. I would recommend carrying healthy snacks like fruits around so you'll have energy boosters when you feel tired or sleepy. And try to sleep early at night or get enough sleep so you'll feel refreshed the next day. :)