Vitamins/Supplements

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Permalink Reply by Robin Webb R.N. on June 22, 2011 at 6:17pm

We suggests a prenatal vitamin and well balanced diet, but we do not endorse any fish oil supplements since they are not regulated and the labels can promise anything.  Fish can be part of a healthy diet but with the following guidelines:

Fish containing higher levels of mercury should be avoided. These include shark, king mackerel, swordfish, and tile fish. Generally, the larger more predatory fish at the top of the food chain contain higher levels of mercury that can damage the developing nervous system. Smaller fish portions of 6-12 ounces (about 2 meals) a week are safe. This includes salmon, cod, flounder, sole, crab, shrimp and scallops. Canned “light” tuna and other cooked fish are also okay to eat.
For more detailed information on fish consumption, visit http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/advice/index.html.

In addition to a well balanced diet, include the following supplements:

Folic Acid: Women should take 400 micrograms of folic acid daily in addition to a well balanced diet for at least 1 month before pregnancy, and during the first 3 months of pregnancy. This can help decrease the risk for neural tube defects, which affect the spine and skull of the fetus. This dose is contained in pre-natal vitamins.

Calcium: 1200 – 1500mg per day. To get the recommended amount requires consuming 4 or more servings of dairy products – low fat or skim.

 

 

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Permalink Reply by want2bmom on June 24, 2011 at 9:14am

How about those who used donor eggs? Are the donors required to take folic acid too prior to egg retrieval?

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Permalink Reply by want2bmom on January 13, 2012 at 9:18pm

yes, i am interested with this as well.

were donors required to take pre-natal vitamins prior to retrieval?

 

Also, for recipient, do they have to take pre-natal vitamin prior to transfer?

 

thnks!

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Permalink Reply by Nicole on June 24, 2011 at 10:22am

I also take a B vitamin, CoQ10 and Selenium.  Is this ok?  Or should we ONLY take what Robin has advised in the previous post

 

thank you

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Permalink Reply by Nicole on June 25, 2011 at 10:51am

I was just doing some reading on supplements and saw the chart below on a fertility site.  This is what they suggested one take:  Thoughts?

Nutrients              You            Your Partner
Folic acid            400mcg         400mcg
Zinc                     30mg            30mg
Selenium            100mcg          100mcg
Fish oil               1000mg          1000mg
Vitamin B6         up to 50mg      up to 50mg
Vitamin B12       up to 50mcg     up to 50mcg
Vitamin E           300-400iu        300-400iu
Vitamin C          1000mg           1000mg
Vitamin A          up to 2300iu          -
Manganese         5mg                   5mg
L-arginine             -                     300mg
L-carnitine            -                    100mg
L-Taurine              -                    100mg

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Permalink Reply by Robin Webb R.N. on June 27, 2011 at 5:22am

Hi Nicole,

     There is a lot of confusing advice when it come to nutrition, especially about fish and/or fish oil supplements during pregnancy.  Personally, I take fish oil and a multivitamin, but as a health professional I can't tell you with any certainty that the product you have purchased provides what they label say it provides. Here is another article that I found interesting:

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/omega3fishoil.html

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Permalink Reply by Anonymous baby hope on January 10, 2012 at 10:24am

Thank you Nicole. I am wondering if you found a multi in general that has what you and your spouse need? or have you purchased these all individually?

 

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Permalink Reply by Dr. Andrea Reh on January 10, 2012 at 1:18pm

Thank you for your question.  As with many herbal remedies and medications, there are not a lot of solid studies that have examined the effects of these often non-FDA approved treatments on fertility and pregnancy.  In other words, I believe that the potential (or advertised) benefits of such medications is often outweighed by their unknown risks.  The best supplement is the infamous prenatal vitamin - whether it be the generic over-the-counter variety, or some of the fancier ones that have emerged in recent years.  A balanced diet and the proper vitamins in moderation (and not exceeding the recommended amounts) are, in my opinion, the best and simplest ways to improve your fertility health. 

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