https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 19 May 2026 06:37:26 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vitamin-a-in-prenatals#post-2340453 Fri, 30 Oct 2015 15:26:43 +0000 rachiecakes 2340453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Veggiemama: I took the same and felt confident in the decision because of how it is sourced. I also don't eat any meat or take cod liver oil. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vitamin-a-in-prenatals#post-2340386 Fri, 30 Oct 2015 14:37:43 +0000 WifeMama24 2340386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am currently taking this vitamin and it has 10,000 IU of Vitamin A as Betacarotene. Is this safe and why would they have a vitamin with such a high ammount of Vit if it isnt safe? has anyone else taken these prenatals or another prenatal that has a large ammount of Vit A. This prenatal is called Natures plus Ultra prenatal high potency </p> [attach=6674/15/nx1t70.242x435.natures-plus.png] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vitamin-a-in-prenatals#post-2334991 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 06:15:47 +0000 Greentea 2334991@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Well, I can only find the info that says 5000 IU or less, not 3000 IU or less, so I hope that it is just 5000. I think I have to trust 5000 IU because logically it is all I can find. I had to switch to gummies and they have 4000 IU. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vitamin-a-in-prenatals#post-2334989 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 06:13:14 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2334989@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Greentea: I just re-read my original post; there must have been another article I found that had an even smaller threshold for me to type 3,000 IU. There were a few that I read, but I only linked to the first one that came up as previously read. I'm pretty sure though I did not come across the word micrograms, but 10,000 IUs or 3,000 micrograms are still the "danger zone." Good info all around for anyone stopping by this thread! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vitamin-a-in-prenatals#post-2334981 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 05:59:25 +0000 Greentea 2334981@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: yes, it says 5000 IU or less. Not 3000 IU or less, so I thought maybe at first you were thinking mcg? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vitamin-a-in-prenatals#post-2334970 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 05:28:59 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2334970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Greentea: this is one of the articles I read <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/07/us/study-links-excess-vitamin-a-and-birth-defects.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/07/us/study-links-excess-vitamin-a-and-birth-defects.html</a>. it doesn't state micrograms only IUs.</p> <p>I ended up taking GNC's prenatal which contains 4500 IUs of Vitamin A via beta carotene. I wasn't sure if I was getting enough Vitamin A through fruit &amp; veggies and once my Rx ran out I wanted to get it through a vitamin. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vitamin-a-in-prenatals#post-2334963 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 05:18:56 +0000 Greentea 2334963@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I think you might be confusing micrograms with IU. You can have up to 5000 IU, which is 1500 micrograms. Defects only happened in mothers taking over 3000 micrograms, or 10000 IU. So if your prenatal has 4000 IU, that should be okay. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vitamin-a-in-prenatals#post-2285205 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 20:55:59 +0000 jh524 2285205@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catlady: that's good to hear. I was kinda freaked out. After looking, I feel like the gummy prenatal I was taking was lacking a bit so hopefully I'll like this new one. I am worried about the iron. I've heard it can cause problems and my previous one had zero iron so I guess I'll see what happens ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vitamin-a-in-prenatals#post-2285199 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 20:43:44 +0000 catlady 2285199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just looked into this today and was thinking about changing my pre-natal (mine also had 4000 IU of the retinyl version), but after looking at the actual study, I found that the incidences of high doses of vitamin A for the babies that had the birth defects were basically either before the mothers even got pregnant, or in the first 6 weeks. Plus the sample size of the study was extremely small. Seeing that I am 6 weeks along already, I decided I'm not going to change my vitamin (I also took this same brand for my last pregnancy and my LO is fine). </p> <p>Anyway, just wanted to provide a bit more context to this thread. Obviously it is still useful info for those looking to be cautious, especially those are not pregnant yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vitamin-a-in-prenatals#post-2285187 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 20:21:46 +0000 jh524 2285187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I went and got different prenatals today!! How's this one look? </p> [attach=2785/15/nuc3sb.450x600.image.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vitamin-a-in-prenatals#post-2284435 Sun, 06 Sep 2015 09:17:09 +0000 jh524 2284435@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: is it not realistic to think I cover the rest in my diet? Maybe I need to run, not walk, and get a better prenatal!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vitamin-a-in-prenatals#post-2284375 Sun, 06 Sep 2015 06:14:36 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2284375@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jh524: that kind "retinyl palmitate" is not the preferred Vitamin A source. Look at Vitamins C and E, both are 50% of daily intake too. I don't know if you should read too much into that. The back of one of my Rx samples list %DV ranging from 15% Calcium to 67% Zinc to 178% Iron to 2000% Vitamin B-6. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vitamin-a-in-prenatals#post-2284315 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 22:27:42 +0000 jh524 2284315@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: just looked at mine and it has 4000 IU Vitamin A ( retinyl palmitate) but it says it's only 50% of the daily value for pregnant or lactating women???</p> <p>[attach=2785/15/nu8kij.450x600.image.jpg] </p> [attach=2785/15/nu8kje.450x600.image.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vitamin-a-in-prenatals#post-2284271 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 21:21:13 +0000 Mrs. Peanut 2284271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I double checked and my vitamin A says beta-carotene in parentheses next to it so I would assume that's where it's coming from. What a relief! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vitamin-a-in-prenatals#post-2283949 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 12:57:49 +0000 Greentea 2283949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: yup, I take Perfect Prenatal by new chapter because the vitamin A in them is 100 % beta carotene, which is safe in pregnancy vs. vitamin A palmitate which is the potentially hazardous one, derived from animal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vitamin-a-in-prenatals#post-2283928 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 12:12:48 +0000 Veggiemama 2283928@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I take Rainbow Light which contains 4000 IU mixed palmitate and beta-carotene. However I don't eat any meat or take cod liver oil so I am comfortable with taking some palmitate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vitamin-a-in-prenatals#post-2283915 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 11:50:32 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2283915@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Veggiemama: which prenatals do you take? Does your closely follow the 2500 IU recommendation? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vitamin-a-in-prenatals#post-2283914 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 11:46:30 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2283914@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Freckles: yep, Accurate came up in the research as a definite no-no! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vitamin-a-in-prenatals#post-2283913 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 11:46:02 +0000 Veggiemama 2283913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The issue is the source of vitamin A, preformed vitamin A (listed as palmitate, retinol or vitamin A acetate) is found in animal sources such as egg yolks, milk and liver. Beta-carotene is found in fruits and vegetables. Vitamin A is important for developing vision and immune function however too much of the preformed vitamin A can be harmful, no more than 2500 IU's per day is recommended. Prenatal vitamins contain a safe combination of the 2 forms and unless you are consuming large amounts of animal sources (especially liver) there is very little risk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vitamin-a-in-prenatals#post-2283910 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 11:37:03 +0000 Freckles 2283910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's why you also have to be careful about beauty products and retinol! I freaked out bc I was using a retinol product not realizing pregnant or nursing women shouldn't take it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vitamin-a-in-prenatals#post-2283883 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 10:43:30 +0000 Mrs. Peanut 2283883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Okay that's good to know. I'll keep an eye on the foods that contain vitamin A and try not to go crazy. I can't believe some people take double vitamins! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vitamin-a-in-prenatals#post-2283850 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 09:54:26 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2283850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Peanut: The birth defects include malformed head, heart, brain, and spinal cord. You'd have to take excessive amounts like doubling up on prenatals for it do harm. Our midwife did not knock OTC prenatals at all. But, since we can afford the Rx we'll switch to them; we are first time parents and just being extra cautious. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vitamin-a-in-prenatals#post-2283840 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 09:43:29 +0000 Mrs. Peanut 2283840@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's interesting! I just checked mine and sure enough, 4,000 IU. I take Spring Valley. Did it say what kind of birth defects? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vitamin-a-in-prenatals#post-2283834 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 09:37:52 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2283834@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yesterday Mr. Lime and I met with our midwife for the New OB appointment. We asked her about prenatals- OTC vs Rx. Her response about companies decreasing Vitamin A sent us Googling after the visit for more info.</p> <p>We have decided to go with Rx because of the amount of Vitamin A in OTC prenatals like One A Day and Rainbow Lights. Apparently, too much Vitamin A can cause birth defects and taking supplements with more than 3000 IU of it can do harm because you get Vitamin A through food too. Well the One A Day prenatal I had been taking and the Rainbow Light I planned to switch to both contain 4000 IU.</p> <p>Each of the five Rx samples she sent us home with do not contain Vitamin A at all, which is preferred according to Google. Well, one has it as Beta Carotene, which the research we found is the best way to get it as a supplement. The amount in that particular prenatal is 2700 IU.</p> <p>Just passing the info on in case you want to check with your medical provider. </p>