I absolutely agree that women need to take care of themselves and ensure they have the right nutrients durig pregnancy .
I worked in the pharmaceutical industry for a few years, have spoken to friends who are med graduates and read numerous reports on the subject. ( I wanted to make sure my baby was getting the best, too ). Unfortunately the medical industry seems to be as much of a money making industry as banks or any other corporate company. The doctors are of course the ones who these pharmaceutical companies appeal to to sell their 'products'. I don't want to doubt doctors' intentions, but like anyone, they want/need to make a living.
The FDA (Federal Drug Association) States: " Because studies cannot rule out the possibility of harm, however, Folic Acid should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. "
Full text: http://www.drugs.com/pro/folic-acid.html
As it says, folic acid is present in yeast, green leafy veges, liver, kidneys... bon apetit Mmmm chicken livers in brandy cream sauce seerved on garlic and cream spinach!
Studies have also shown that added vitamins can be carcinogenic... Denmark has banned added vitamin supplements based on health threats hey pose. http://www.naturalnews.com/032581_Codex_Denmark.html
Sorry, I don't want to be a troll, but I do hope that women can make educated choices about their bodies. The medical industries and doctors are always going to try and convince people that their products are good, so please inform yourselves before making choices.
Take care
Puddy
I've been in pharma (still am) for a decade and don't disagree. But we're not talking about prescription and otc meds here. We're taking more so about the natural health industry when it comes to supplements.
If you read the entire piece on folic acid from your link re: FDA, you'll see the context a lot better. These statements are part of the parcel on virtually any product/supplement/med where they've not seen anything negative in pregnant women, but need to cover their arse. The medical benefits we see in countless studies on folic acid and pregnancy to me make it critical that prenatal care for women includes advice on supplementation. And within the healthcare community, the benefits of folic acid are widely supported - simply because the research is very strong in this area.
I'm with you on vitamin supplements in general having the potential for toxicity. I did a consumer piece on this exact subject a few years back, with a focus on the 2007 Copenhagen study. One thing to note, however, is that short-term supplementation as you would see during pregnancy can't be approached in the same way as studies that are done over significantly longer periods of time. And pregnant women can also avoid a broad spectrum prenatal if they want and just supplement with folic acid.
P.S. I am mesmerized by your avatar..hehe.
Check out this: zhbabysitters.wordpress.com , I found it on a search and it reccommends a really good book for first time mums!
Congrats!
I agree in some parts.
Liver is just gross and I cannot stomach it I am afraid I am taking folic only and plan to unless a doctor specifically says otherwise.
I have also changed my diet as I agree that a lot of the nutrients can be found naturally and more healthly in foods. I've substitued white for brown bread, weetabix and lots of salad and veg. Cutting out processed food too.
So see how I go....
Folic acid and a healthy diet are indeed important. But I feel it is a shame that pregnancy is becoming so much more 'medicalised'. A pregnant woman is not 'ill' or in need of supplements or any medication (apart form the above) in most circumstances. Enjoy
I took folic acid extremely sporadically during the first 3mths (I had severe baby brain already and forgot most days!) I think next time I'll just eat more broccoli, spinach and liver (only chicken in that sauce though, because I hate livers as a rule too )
Puddy
Very sound advice. Don't let yourself get stressed out by the feeling you should eat the "right" things and avoid the wrongs. I remember my first pregnancy, I was so sick for three months and couldn't eat anything at all , later on I was sickened at the thought of meat (hence didn't eat any) and at a later stage all I would eat was McDonald's, cheese sandwiches and drink non-alcoholic beer (and I never liked beer before my pregnancy ).
Had a perfectly healthy baby! And you will, too!
yesterday i found my self pregnant too..6 weeks late. so suppose my due time is somewhere in Oct. which is a little bit a problem, as my husband work contract only last till end of Oct and no prolongation. I don't think a new born baby can take a 20 hr return flight home. so, i also thinking bout giving birth at home, but then my husband will not be there still in dilemma...
although there are lots of good advice here, i do still have some questions.
From my health insurance, i have an appointed doctor (HMo), now that i know that i'm pregnant can i go to any gyn to confirm my pregnancy etc or should i go to my doctor and wait for her to recommended me to a gyne?
Depends on the insurer. SWICA does allow you to choose a gynecologist (and an ophthalmologist) - even under the "managed care" model.
i'm under egk care, and this is what is written on the description
Sie schränken sich bei der Arztwahl freiwillig ein und wählen einen Vertrags-Arzt. Diesen konsultieren Sie primär für alle ambulanten Behandlungen sowie für die Verordnung von Medikamenten und Hilfsmitteln.
Die Behandlung durch andere Ärzte oder Spitäler bedarf der schriftlichen Überweisung durch den Vertrags-Arzt, welche unverzüglich der EGK zuzustellen ist
In folgenden Fällen können andere Leistungserbringer direkt aufgesucht werden:
• Pädiater (Kinderarzt) für Kinder bis zum vollendeten 12. Altersjahr
• gynäkologische Vorsorgeuntersuchungen
• Kontroll-Untersuchungen während der Mutterschaft inkl. Geburt
• eine jährliche Untersuchung beim Augenarzt für die Verordnung von Sehhilfen
• zahnärztliche Behandlungen
• kurzfristige Aufenthalte im Ausland
if i understand correctly, is this means i can go directly to gynecologist?
i'm afraid that if i go to the appointed doctor, i'm gonna need to pay the fee my self.
Hi,
I went in for my first pregnancy checkup yesterday at the Zurich University hospital. Tests showed that I am in the eighth week of my pregnancy and the doctors said things seemed to be progressing fine. Actually, we went to the hospital directly since that was the only place that gave us an appointment within a reasonable period of time.
However, I am interested in suggestions as to whether I should stick with using the hospital facilities all throughout my pregnancy or whether I should look for an independent gynecologist instead. I must say that I was quite satisfied with the session at the unispital yesterday.
How are all our mothers-to-be going on? Everything OK? Hugs to all of you
not so good actually...
my obgyn told me that i might be infected with toxoplasmosis and required additional blood works. and i'm really really worried.....
Hey there, I'm newly sprugged up as well (8 weeks; first time; surprise). My normal Gyno was a bit causual for my taste, so I'm looking for another with the help of my GP. Where are you located? Do you speak the language or are you going to need English birthing classes and the like? I'll be glad to ask my docs what they know if you're based in Zürich.
Happy growing.
Jessy
Well since posting I have struggled terribly with morning sickness. Vomiting up to 8 times a day has not been pretty. I've tried the usual remedies advised; eat little and often, ginger tea , plain foods etc. The only thing that has worked for me is Itinerol given to me by the gynae. It's my new best friend and apparently safe to take. Hopefully the sickness will pass. Also not slept much despite all advice to sleep so been resting mainly. Insomnia is a bitch.
After finally coming to terms with being pregnant I am starting to look forward to the future. Went to the gynae and all is ok so far. Got to see the heart pumping. Amazing!
For me I'd like to find English speaking birth classes it what ever they are called that prepare you for labour. We don't have any locally according to my gynae. She did suggest that the on call midwife could do individual sessions with us, but I guess I'd like to see if I could find a group of people in a similar situation to me that can speak English. Am I hoping for too much here?
Congratulations to all our recently pregnant ladies! What a lovely thread - why did I not read it sooner?
Just one thought comes to mind - when I was pregnant with my first (and this is now going back 9 years) it was in the UK and liver was definitely on the banned food list for pregnant women on account of it containing too much .. mmmhhh .. would it be vitamin A? Too much of some vitamin or mineral which if taken in large quantities would be dangerous for baby. I think you would have to eat it sort of 5 or 6 times a week but still, I steered clear of it.
Looking forward to how this thread develops ... (And yes, for those first time mums, I can confirm the baby has to get out somehow. I kept wondering if it was possible just to keep being pregnant for the rest of my life because I just couldn't imagine giving birth (or wanting to ..) but you know what, you have no choice, it comes out and you and baby will be just fine! Honestly )
Oh I really feel for you... I too had morning sickness, it was terrible. And it lasted for 6 months!
Some practical advice:
- always have some disposable plastic bags for dog poo with you. They are waterproof and will come in handy when you suddenly have to throw up in public. I know, I relied on them many times.
- never let your stomach go empty, it triggers the nausea
- eat only what appeals to you. Avoid strong smells.
- Primperan is stronger than Itinerol and also totally safe. A suppository in the morning can save your life!
Good luck!
Oh, and apparently the sicker you are the less likely you are to miscarry. That's a positive side!
Liver pizza fish fingers cheese weetabix grapes coffee and tea and the list continues.
Bread and honey seems to be ok and Ritz crackers. Mini cheddars bought from the UK by family seems to also help me survive.
I'm at 15 weeks exactly as of today, and I STILL have really bad morning sickness... all. day. long. What makes it worse is the metallic taste in my mouth that only gets worse after eating.
I agree ginger tea = not so nice. But there are some nice ginger cookies sold at (most) Migros called Anna's best. Those helped for a while. The thing that helped the most (until it stopped helping) was lemonade. But not too sweet, because sweet things also made me feel worse. I made it myself to taste. Use as much lemon with as little sugar as you can stand.
Any kind of strong minty gum also helps. But only chewed for less than half hour at a time.
I agree that you just need to eat what you can stand. Try to figure out what triggers the nausea to be worse. (For me it's tomato sauce.) And yes, avoid strong smells, as it will just make you feel worse.
My doctor also smiles and says "Great" and "Wonderful" after I tell him I feel like crap. He told me the worse I feel the better it is for the baby. I have to keep reminding myself I WANTED to be pregnant.
Congratulations, and remember you will get through this! And I"m sure any time now that little energy sucking vampire inside you (as I like to call mine) will catch up with your insomnia and you will be sleeping half the day away.
Grilled chicken breast and plain rice was my food of choice for the first 3 months. To the exclusion of practically everything else - I lost half a stone in weight in the first 12 weeks
Smells also made me ill - one memorable day queuing in Marks & Spencers and the "smell" of a metal handrail had me grabbing for my plastic bag inside the paperbag in my handbag. Still, it got me to the front of the queue!
You feel like death warmed up when its at full flood but one day it will mysteriously vanish and you'll even be asking yourself what all the fuss was about. Just for some unlucky ladies that day can be rather a long time coming .. but think on the bright side - for most of you, it's probably just round the corner.
And I breezed through my second pregnancy without a single hour of sickness .. so just because you have it once, doesn't mean it will come again.
Hang in there ladies!