Anyone got any advice about vitamins, particularly vit A. I know that you're supposed to avoid it when preparing for pregnancy but I don't know why.
Does anyone know any good multi-vits that don't contain it. I've just finished a box of Pregnacare, which I'm sure are fine, but I can't help comparing them with the multi-vits DH is taking (from the Patrick Holford Optimum Nutrition site) which seem somehow more heavy-duty and serious. D'you know what I mean - they smell horrible and come in a dark container and somehow I have the idea that they're better than something white and harmless looking that comes in a box. God this sounds stupid even as I'm typing it!
What I s'pose I want to know is are there any pre-pregnancy formulas or other multi-vits without vit A that anyone knows of, other than Pregnacare?
Thanks
Caroline
Vitamin A query
Vitamin A query
me - 44, DH - 48
2002 ectopic (natural conception)
2004 1st IVF cancelled following brain seizure
2005 June/July 2nd IVF - negative
2005 Nov FET - postponed cos my Mum died
2006 - Feb FET planned, but neither frostie survived the thaw.
2002 ectopic (natural conception)
2004 1st IVF cancelled following brain seizure
2005 June/July 2nd IVF - negative
2005 Nov FET - postponed cos my Mum died
2006 - Feb FET planned, but neither frostie survived the thaw.
Caroline, it's not that we need to avoid Vit.A only that we must be careful not to take too much - and by default this means avoiding regular multi-vits.
The lovely Zita suggests a daily RNI of 600mcg and no more. The problem is often that we're getting a fair amount from our normal (healthy) diet AND the multi-vit so it's easy to injest too much. Apparently the real problem was that previously women were told to eat things like liver which contain vast amounts of retinol which has been linked to foetal abnormalities.
My (Norwegian) pre/post pg daily multi-vit has 400ug which it says is 50% of the daily recommended dose - helpful isn't it when different sources suggest completly different numbers isn't it??
hth
Debra (who lol at your comment re. the heavy duty comment
)
The lovely Zita suggests a daily RNI of 600mcg and no more. The problem is often that we're getting a fair amount from our normal (healthy) diet AND the multi-vit so it's easy to injest too much. Apparently the real problem was that previously women were told to eat things like liver which contain vast amounts of retinol which has been linked to foetal abnormalities.
My (Norwegian) pre/post pg daily multi-vit has 400ug which it says is 50% of the daily recommended dose - helpful isn't it when different sources suggest completly different numbers isn't it??
hth
Debra (who lol at your comment re. the heavy duty comment
)Me: 44, DH: 31
Game Over.
Dates: Aug 02 - May 06
Tries: 5 fresh + 4 frozen.
Results: 1 daughter, 2 m/c, 1 ectopic.
Game Over.
Dates: Aug 02 - May 06
Tries: 5 fresh + 4 frozen.
Results: 1 daughter, 2 m/c, 1 ectopic.
Vitamin A query
Dear Caroline
I completely understand what you mean about Pregnacare, i am sure they are absolutely fine but compared to all the heavy duty ones i had taken in the past, they seem a bit of a supermarket alternative. I was recommended to take Solgar for pregnant and lactating women. ( I will check out full details on the bottle when i get home for you).
Psychologically i was not too happy about the Solgar initially, as preganancy (let alone lactating!) seems 1000 miles away for me but they seem good, and are not too expensive either. Zita West does do her own pre conception vits, (you can have them mailed to you) but they are expensive. I bought Zita's DHA capsules though as an addition, and doubled the dose when actually on the IVF drugs as per her instructions.
Good luck with everything
Me 32 DP 33
1st ICSI Aug 05 (-ive)
Will try again in November....
I completely understand what you mean about Pregnacare, i am sure they are absolutely fine but compared to all the heavy duty ones i had taken in the past, they seem a bit of a supermarket alternative. I was recommended to take Solgar for pregnant and lactating women. ( I will check out full details on the bottle when i get home for you).
Psychologically i was not too happy about the Solgar initially, as preganancy (let alone lactating!) seems 1000 miles away for me but they seem good, and are not too expensive either. Zita West does do her own pre conception vits, (you can have them mailed to you) but they are expensive. I bought Zita's DHA capsules though as an addition, and doubled the dose when actually on the IVF drugs as per her instructions.
Good luck with everything
Me 32 DP 33
1st ICSI Aug 05 (-ive)
Will try again in November....
em
Thanks Debra and Em
I'll have a look at how much vit A there is in DH's multi-vits and possibly take them. Otherwise I'll see if I can get hold of the Solgar ones. I know the make - they have a gold label and dark bottle and look heavy duty and serious. So they should be good. I'm such a sucker for packaging!
Caroline
I'll have a look at how much vit A there is in DH's multi-vits and possibly take them. Otherwise I'll see if I can get hold of the Solgar ones. I know the make - they have a gold label and dark bottle and look heavy duty and serious. So they should be good. I'm such a sucker for packaging!
Caroline
me - 44, DH - 48
2002 ectopic (natural conception)
2004 1st IVF cancelled following brain seizure
2005 June/July 2nd IVF - negative
2005 Nov FET - postponed cos my Mum died
2006 - Feb FET planned, but neither frostie survived the thaw.
2002 ectopic (natural conception)
2004 1st IVF cancelled following brain seizure
2005 June/July 2nd IVF - negative
2005 Nov FET - postponed cos my Mum died
2006 - Feb FET planned, but neither frostie survived the thaw.
Hi Caroline
I had my consultation at Care this week, and they recommend the Marilyn Glenville supplements - saying these are the only ones proven.
Sandra x
I had my consultation at Care this week, and they recommend the Marilyn Glenville supplements - saying these are the only ones proven.
Sandra x
Me 41 yrs old - dh 49 yrs old. ttc 110 yrs.
1st cycle (ICSI)....Mar 04 -ve.
2nd cycle (ICSI)....Aug 04 -ve.
3rd cycle FET........May 05 -ve.
4th cycle (ICSI) ... Feb 06 -ve
5th cycle FET ..... Feb/Mar 11
1st cycle (ICSI)....Mar 04 -ve.
2nd cycle (ICSI)....Aug 04 -ve.
3rd cycle FET........May 05 -ve.
4th cycle (ICSI) ... Feb 06 -ve
5th cycle FET ..... Feb/Mar 11
Thanks for that, Sand. There's another one to look out for then. God it's all so confusing
me - 44, DH - 48
2002 ectopic (natural conception)
2004 1st IVF cancelled following brain seizure
2005 June/July 2nd IVF - negative
2005 Nov FET - postponed cos my Mum died
2006 - Feb FET planned, but neither frostie survived the thaw.
2002 ectopic (natural conception)
2004 1st IVF cancelled following brain seizure
2005 June/July 2nd IVF - negative
2005 Nov FET - postponed cos my Mum died
2006 - Feb FET planned, but neither frostie survived the thaw.
Just to add my tuppence-worth here, I have tried various combinations. My first cycle I was totally lazy and did nothing other than the folic acid after ET (Pregnacare) – that time I got a BFP then the early m/c. After that, I switched to Zita's VitaFem and her Vital DHA well in advance for the March cycle – BFN. Carried on taking them to finish and then switched to the Marilyn Glenville that Sand recommended. Just before my last July cycle I had downgraded to Pregnacare or the Holland & Barrett version, plus H&B’s Fish Oil Omega 3/DHA tablets. I decided they were all pretty much the same thing (give or take a few ingredients) but H&Bs were just so much cheaper than the Zita. This cycle I got my best ever result in terms of egg quality and quantity.
I’ve now decided not to get too worked up over which vits I take – I really don’t think (at least in my case) that it makes much difference to the result. Since the BFN in August I’ve been totally lazy and eaten rubbish and not taken any vits. I was shocked to see how much weight I’ve put on this year – 3 cycles of IVF have really contributed to weight gain. I plan to start again on the cheapo Pregnacare this week, take some Fish Oil Omega 3/DHA and that’ll do me.
I’ve now decided not to get too worked up over which vits I take – I really don’t think (at least in my case) that it makes much difference to the result. Since the BFN in August I’ve been totally lazy and eaten rubbish and not taken any vits. I was shocked to see how much weight I’ve put on this year – 3 cycles of IVF have really contributed to weight gain. I plan to start again on the cheapo Pregnacare this week, take some Fish Oil Omega 3/DHA and that’ll do me.