Huh. I just stumbled upon a pregnant mom-to-be's blog which shall remain unnamed...she is six weeks along, and she mentioned that her OB has told her that there is no need for her to take prenatal vitamins, that just a One-a-Day and a healthy diet will suffice. Far be it from me to take away someone's power of choice, but I've read in several sources that the minimum recommended daily requirement of folic acid is 800 to 1000 mcg in order to prevent neural tube defects, especially in those early weeks of pregnancy. I honestly don't know how much folic acid those One-a-Days provide--I suppose it's better than nothing. I also can't help wondering, why wouldn't you take prenatal vitamins if you were pregnant? It's not like they're controversial, or even that they cause truly uncomfortable side effects. I've had no side effects with mine, and I took them for months even before I became pregnant. Heck, mine even include a separate DHA supplement for brain, eye, and spinal column development.
Not tellin' her what to do or anything, but if my OB were to dismiss something as basic (IMO) and non-controversial as prenatal vitamins, I'd be looking for another OB. The more I think about it, the more I find myself concluding that it's downright irresponsible and potentially damaging.
I'm just sayin'.
Wow! I agree with you - 800 to 1000 mcg of folic acid is important and most multivitamins don't have that much. Yikes. I hope someone commented to her that she should check that.
ReplyDeleteI hope so too! I would think that any OB worth his salt would know that, and wouldn't steer his patients wrong... :(
ReplyDeleteYikes was my first reaction, too! :) I wonder if it's an older OB who isn't up to speed on things?
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