Anyone NOT taking DHA supplement?

So I know all of the benefits of taking a DHA supplement and desperately want to take one but I just physically can't. I couldn't take one in the beginning of my pregnancy because I had AWFUL morning sickness. I've always been able to stomach my prenatal but the DHA has been near impossible no matter which one I tried. Now that my morning sickness has gotten a little better I set a goal that I would try to begin taking it again at 16 weeks (which was yesterday). Well that didn't go so well. I put it in my mouth and threw up immediately before even swallowing it. I waited an hour and took one before bed but it just didn't sit right and I threw up a second time.

These DHA supplements are just giving me so much anxiety because I want to do everything to help my developing baby, but this supplement just feels impossible to me. Just looking to hear if there are any other moms to be who aren't taking the supplement either, hoping to calm down some of my guilt over not taking it.

Re: Anyone NOT taking DHA supplement?

I originally was taking the Duet pills. I think they are a prenatal and a DHA supplement. Unfortunately, my insurance does not cover vitamins, and I cannot afford to pay $75 a month for vitamins. My OB told me it was fine, and just told me to get over the counter prenatals. I only took prenatals with my DD, and she is in 1st grade and thriving....

Re: Anyone NOT taking DHA supplement?

Is it the size/shape of the pill or the taste/potential after taste? You could also take vegetarian omega 3s which are made from seed sources rather than fish.

If you can't take the supplements, make sure you eat foods that are naturally good sources of Omega 3s:

- oily fish like mackerel, sardines, salmon and anchovies
- tuna
- eggs, bread and juice are often fortified with omega 3
- walnuts
- canola, sunflower and flax seed oils
- dark green veggies

Re: Anyone NOT taking DHA supplement?

I take Prenate DHA which is a prenatal vitamin and DHA supplement in one pill.

Re: Anyone NOT taking DHA supplement?

I only take prenatal, extra folic acid and a b6 complex, my doctor never mentioned a DHA supplement

Re: Anyone NOT taking DHA supplement?

I am on Prenatals only. Am I bad Pregnant Woman????

Re: Anyone NOT taking DHA supplement?

Sorry if I came off as dramatic in the first post.. I was rereading it and thinking "boy I sound nuts", blame it on the horomones...

Thanks for letting me know if you aren''t taking one (like me) and for the suggestions everyone... I had never heard of a combo dha prenatal, and I''m also going to look into the seed based omega 3 pills. My main problem is that my current one is a gelcap and for some reason the consistency and size of it is too much for me.

Re: Anyone NOT taking DHA supplement?

Why don't you take a pill that has the DHA in it already? That's what I take. Primacare.

ETA: I don't know of a prenatal that's not large....they have lots of stuff in them so they're all big...you just gotta get used to it.

Message edited 2/3/2009 9:10:45 AM.

Re: Anyone NOT taking DHA supplement?

i only take prenatals. I take the target brand. My MD told me to take OTC ones, b/c its so expensive. She never mentioned for me to take DHA supplements.

Re: Anyone NOT taking DHA supplement?

Re: Anyone NOT taking DHA supplement?

Have you tried CitraNatal DHA? I had no problems taking these. It's 2 tablets, a regular prenatal and a DHA supplement.

Re: Anyone NOT taking DHA supplement?

I am just taking OTC prenatals - doc never said anything about DHA.

Re: Anyone NOT taking DHA supplement?

Just FYI, I had hyperemsis. I never took even my prenatal. I have the first box from 2+ years ago b/c I couldn't keep them down.

My OB told me that the prenatal is for YOU and that the baby gets everything from you and the vitamin replenishes your nutirients. So you are not hurting your baby.

Re: Anyone NOT taking DHA supplement?

DHA only became a big deal recently. My pre-natal with my DD didn't have any DHA in it and she is smart a whip. Too smart for her own good actually

I wouldn't worry about it if you can't take it. I took regular over the counter prenatals- the most important part is getting enough zinc to protect your baby from birth defects.

Re: Anyone NOT taking DHA supplement?

With my 2.5 year old and 11 month old these DHA suppliments weren't even offered to me. I didn't even know they existed. With this pregnancy the doctor's office gave them to me and I am not taking them. I didn't take them with my other kids and they are just fine. Like you I am lucky to just get the prenatals down.

I honestly would not stress these. Good luck and feel better.

Re: Anyone NOT taking DHA supplement?

I wouldn't stress too much if you can't take them. For many, many, many years, women had perfectly healthy and smart babies without taking a DHA supplement.

Re: Anyone NOT taking DHA supplement?

Doctor told me to take PrimaCare1. Never said anything about DHA... I'll have to ask now.

Re: Anyone NOT taking DHA supplement?

I'm only on a prenatal vitamin (and sometimes take Flintstones instead of that b/c it makes me so sick still). My dr. also never mentioned DHA...

Re: Anyone NOT taking DHA supplement?

Nope I don't take them. My midwife practice prefers us to take in natural sources of DHA from omega 3 fatty acids. You absorb it better when you consume it as food.

SO I eat a lot of eggs, salmon, I have a fruit smootie with ground flax seed in i every morning!

Re: Anyone NOT taking DHA supplement?

I took Expectra during my 1st trimester, along with the m/s I just could not keep anything down, let along tolerate additional pills. So my OB switched me to PrimaCare One, which is one pill that includes DHA.
Speak to your OB and see if switching you to another prenatal vitamin is an option.

Re: Anyone NOT taking DHA supplement?

Re: Anyone NOT taking DHA supplement?

I was taking the citranatal also. But when my morning sickness got really bad I couldn't swallow them. every time I would throw up. So I asked my MD for a chewable. So now I take that. It's so much better!

Re: Anyone NOT taking DHA supplement?

I just take Nature's Way Prenatal's/Lactating Vitamin. I don't take any DHA in a pill.

Re: Anyone NOT taking DHA supplement?

Thank you all for your advice/experience/suggestions everyone has helped put my mind at ease... My DH will really appreciate it because he was getting sick of listening to me stress over this

Re: Anyone NOT taking DHA supplement?

I take Natelle Plus with DHA no problem with these. They come in a two pack one pill is pink and long Mult and the little one is a gel one DHA