Looking for a New Multi-vitamin

Carlson has really great prenatals - though it is 4 pills a day, it is totally worth it. No constipation or general 'icky' feeling.

I take one from Whole Foods that is only one a day, which was hard to find. I think they are actually called, Simply One. They make me sick if I don't eat with it though. Other than that they have worked out great. And they aren't that expensive, I think I broke it down to about $10/month.

I take Trader Joe's prenatal vitamins, they are all natural and its only one pill a day.

PHARMANEX (pharmacutical grade) is one I've taken for about 18 years. I've tried others but continually come back to it. GUARANTEED....the most NATURAL and bioavailable sources known to man. They will give you research info, if you like, etc. They are very research and environmentally oriented. I did ALOT of research before I ended up with them. 100% of optimum levels without being toxic, too! Not just RDA.

Biggest thing......I had experienced bronchitis at LEAST 2-4 times a year for years prior to taking them. I had been on another vitamin consistently prior to that.....won't mention any brands.....for years. Started on them one fall.....haven't had bronchitis SINCE! If nothing else.....my immune system is MUCH better.

I've done a TON of research when it comes to supplements & vitamins. I SWEAR by them!!! Let me know if you need help finding them. NOT sold in stores!

prenatal vitamins have a variety of vitamins and in particular folic acid. You should look for ones that have USP on the container as this means they meet a certain standard for purity and solubility. Because they are synthesized, this means the company can accurately measure the amount of the components and so you should get what you are buying. "Natural products" don't have this same level of consistency, purity, solubility measure etc. You can get many of the components from foods but you won't know how much you are getting and whether it is enough to ensure a healthy pregnancy and in particular prevent the birth defects associated with low folic acid levels. Most prenatal multivitamins are low in calcium and so one should consider seperately taking a calcium supplement.

I've been taking Nature's Plus Ultra Prenatal vitamin for almost 2 years now (I'm still breastfeeding) and really like it. It is only 2 pills and contains twice most of the values of a normal pill and so I think it has helped me maintain my health better. I got my last set from a company on Amazon for the best price.

Hello! I know you said that you wanted something with fewer pills a day, but I have been pregnant with and nursed four children, my 11month-old is still nursing:), and my absolute favorite are the Solaray- Baby Me Now vitamins for pregnant and nursing mothers. You do have to take 5 a day, I take 2 with breakfast, and then 1 with lunch, and 2 with dinner. I know how hard it is to do something so simple sometimes, but part of why you take them throughout the day, is so that your body gets the vitamins and minerals gradually. I like these so much, I have been taking them for years, and I have tried many kinds. These are my favorite! Mild on your stomach too.
Hope you find something you like. It took me a long time to discover these.
gretchen

Just a suggestion, as this is what I did when pregnant, check the content on the labels. I noticed that the ONLY difference in my daily woman's vitamin and the pre-natals was the amount or iron. The pre-natals made me sick (I tried all the tricks) so I checked the labels and talked to my ob about it. I took my daily woman's vitamin in the morning and the iron pill in the evening with no milk (calcium prevents iron from being absorbed and vice versa). You may be able to find a more natural alternative that route.

Hi S.!

I am actually taking an awesome prenatal from a company named Melaleuca. It ia an international wellness company, they are also considered a "green" company, and they are passionate about health and wellness and prevention. Their products are all-natural and they even have the patent on something called "fructose compounding" which is in all of their supplements and basically helps the body absorb more of the vitamin. I love my prenatal pack! It comes in a pack of three different vitamins - The actual prenatal multivitamin (which has the folic acid), the minerals (which has your calcium), and then the Omega-3 fatty acids - great for a developing fetus and also to keep your milk supply up and fortified if you are breastfeeding! I am a little over 2 months pregnant and I have been very pleased and they don't make me sick - yay! Here is their website for more detailed info (look under "health" for all of their vitamins): http://www.melaleuca.com

You have to be a member to purchase the items at a wholesale cost - sort of like an online Sam's for all-natural products. The big difference is that 1. you don't have to buy in bulk and 2. there is only a one-time $29 membership fee rather than a yearly cost. I am currently a member and I would love to answer any questions you might have and help you get your membership set up. :) Just let me know.

Oh, and a 30 day supply of the prenatal pack is only $36.62.

A.

I am going to second the advice of the Shaklee vitamins. The store brand vitamins (even major chain stores) are not as natural as they say.

I took Shaklee before I had children and continued taking it through both of my pregnancies and after. Infact, when I got pregnant with my first child at my first prenatal appt, my midwife said "so, you'll need a prescription for a prenatal" and I said "well, I do take a Shaklee multivitamin already" and he response was "well, you're doing better than any script that I could write you."

I think its the best one out there!

Let me know if you'd like more info.
B.

I am taking a liquid multi-vitamin called "10 in one".
It is an awesome product with more than only vitamins.
I was kinda hesitant to buy it at first because the liquid stuff usually tastes awefull but that was not the case at all. The taste is great! Even my 5 year old is asking if he can take his vitamin now.
It is safe for kids and for pregnant/breastfeeding women (I am currently breastfeeding). I choose 10 in one because I was tired of having to supplement my supplements, this is taking care of all the things I want to take!
You can check it out here http://www.shopgbg.com/320837.
It also comes with a free business but it is totally up to you if you want to take advantage of that or not.

PS If you are interested in the business aspect you might want to join http://www.cafemom.com/group/mommieshelpingmommies BEFORE you sign up with GBG and find out more how this group can help you build this business. (Totally free to join with no obligation whatsoever). This is not the acutal business but a group of moms looking to help other moms with this business.

I don't know what vitamin you found that requires 6 a day, but any multi-vitamin/multi-mineral is as good or better than designated prenatal vitamins because they actually have more in them. You only take one a day. You just want to take extra folic acid with them to total 800 instead of just 400. If you want something natural, go to Wild Oats or a like store and look at their prenatals, they have a few different choices.

Don't worry, any doc sill tell you that a multi- is as good as a prenatal (my doc even said she hates to prescribe prenatals because they are so expensive, she's happy to tell anyone without full RX coverage to just get something OTC).

I took Shaklee vitamins instead of my prenatals. They gave me more content, are water soluble so you know they are dissolving in your stomach and not your intestines, and they are completely natural. They are tested a ton to make sure you are getting the best source and amount of vitamin. Only issue is that they are a little expensive. I pay $60 for a one month supply.

Have you tried examining your diet and including a variety of food that would fulfill your daily nutritional needs? Vitamins are supplements that fill in the gaps when you are not consuming your necessary vitamins and minerals from the most natural source out there - food. Do a little bit of research and you may not need to even supplement your diet at all.

Hi S.!
Good for you for going natural. I will have to tell you though that there is NOT a single vitamin pill out there that will give you all the essential vitamins and minerals that you need, especially while pregnant. I take natural vitamins from Arbonne, all of their products, including personal care products and a terrific baby line, are all botanically based. The nice thing is that the tablets come in a packet which gives you all the necessary things that you need very conveniently without having so many bottles all over. Even the gel tabs are vegetarian and I don't know of any other company that is doing that. It is very convenient to get all of your needs taken care of thru one website and then delivered to your front door! What help that would be when you aren't feeling good or when you are too tired with the newborn!! I can't tell you what a difference it has made in my health (I haven't been sick in a year!) since I've been taking them. They also have a component that breaks down all of your food since we don't always eat right and digestion doesn't properly take place with certain foods. I would be more than happy to give you more information about the vitamins and all the other products that you and your family would benefit greatly from. Kudos to you for doing the best you can! I'd love to hear from you. Best of luck!

K.

I really love the brand New Chapter. It is made from whole foods and assimilates really well in the body. It is super high quality in my opinion and I also agree with M R that you should look at your diet. Food is the best place to get nutrition for sure!

I go to a doctors office that has the all natural approach and they sell natural medicine you can go online to homefirst.com.
Good luck
Nicki