Hi moms! I am 8 weeks pregnant with my second child. I am having some severe constipation and cramping that goes along with it. It is extremely uncomfortable. So I was reading that prenatal vitamins can constipate you. I have stopped taking it for 2 days and it has helped tremendously! However, I know I need to be on a prenatal vitamin, so I am wondering if there are any out there that won't make me all cramped up? Any help is appreciated! Thank you
You can have them prescribe a vitamin that has a stool softener built in. It's life saving. ;)
Edited to add -
I'm taking the same stuff Amy mentions above. I second her recommendation.
Congratulations!!! I take CitraNatal DHA and love it. It has a mild laxative that helps counteract the affects of the high levels of iron. Ask your OB about it. Best wishes! : )
I had the same problem when I was pregnant, my OB put me on prenatal vitamins called "Precare Premier" - it has a stool softener right in it. It made all the difference and I have never had a problem since then. Ask your OB about it.
Talk to your doc about taking a stool softner. I know that with my daughter I was going to take one. Also, make sure to drink all your water for the day. It's the iron in the vitamins that's doing it. Make sure to drink them with lots of water and drink lots of water during the day. Eat more fruits and veggies and take a daily fiber pill. That is what worked for me.
S.,
It did happen to me and I was so uncomfortable. Of course check with your doctor but I was allowed to drink some metamucil, or take fiber con at bedtime and it really helped. Try to increase your water intake and veggies. It is probably the extra iron in the vitamins that are constipating you. My friend would get extremely nauseous when taking them so she would take them before bed. Good luck with your pregnancy.
Try just a regular multi-vitamin, many of the daily requirements are the same and you can supplement with single-component vitamins for those that the multivitamin does not have enough of. Just make sure not to exceed the prenatal recommendation.
Iron can be very constipating. A few suggestions: try a prenatal vitamin with less iron - a stool softener will help - drink lots of water.
Congratulations and good luck.
Talk to your OB/Gyn! He/she can give you a prescription for a vitamin that has less iron, as that's usually the big "plug" problem. :) They may also prescribe one that has a mild stool softener included.
But don't stop taking those vitamins. They're so important!
A prenatal vitamin with a stool softener in it is what you need. I'm pretty sure it's PreCare...ask your midwife about it.
While you're waiting for that, or if that doesn't work for you, ask your midwife about taking a Flintston Complete Vitamin and Expecta instead of a prenatal. (That's what my midwife recommended when the prenatals made me sick.)
