Prenatals???

[Jocie]

My husband and I have been together for 6 years and married for a year and half. I'm finishing up school my BSN...have had my ADN for 3 years. When i graduate again we want to start having babies... only 2. hehe... anyhow I want to start taking prenatals but i'm unsure of what brand is good. I haven't went and had a preconception visit because we don't want to start for about 6 months.... But i do want to start taking my vitamins. Just wondering if there is any over the counter ones that md's have recommended.

Another question... I guess i just wonder when you start to want to get pregnant do you make an appt with your regular family doc and then they refer you to a obgyn? i don't have an ob doc just a primary? Or do i need to set up an appt with an obgyn without a referal?

Thanks

Jocie

[HappyNurse2005, RN]

Most insurances say you don't need a referral for obgyn type appointments iwth an obgyn. just call one.

[SmilingBluEyes]

I would arrange a pre-conception appointment NOW (even if you do not plan to start trying for several months)---- with your OB/GYN or family practice doctor. Beyond that, no one here can advise what you should do. This is up to your doctor/midwife or nurse practicioner to make the proper recommendations and/or prescriptions. It does not take a specialist to help you plan a healthy plan for conception. A visit to a family practice provider would do just fine at this point, unless for some reason, you are high-risk.

That is as much advice as we can give you on these boards. We may not give you advice about medications, supplements or other such things here at allnurses.com. One of the rules of our Terms of Service is to disallow the exchange for medical advice, for the safety of all involved. Please see your family health care provider about all of this; the investment will be worth it.

Good luck.

[BabyRN2Be]

I definitely agree with SmilingBluEyes. Not only because of the TOS saying we can't give out advice, but there are sooo few OTC prenatal vites out there. My husband and I have recently decided to try for kids, and since I don't have an appointment until the end of November, I wanted to get a head start on things and take prenatal vitamins. A while back I remember seeing only one brand at Wal-Mart, and only one at our local grocery store. There are thousands of supplements out there for EVERYTHING (calcium, ginko boloba) but OTC prenatal vitamins are very scarce.

I echo SmilingBlueEyes and say, see your doctor and get a prescription for good prenatal vitamins.

[CEG]

From personal experience I would recommend a midwife rather than an OB/GYN.

Natural foods stores tend to have a huge selection of prenatal vitamins. I am not sure how the RX and OTC ones differ but I know even Women's Daily Multivitamins have the 400 mcg of folic acid that is so important pre-conception.

Good luck!