Prior to conceivng I took blackmores folate supplement and a Swiss multi vitamin for women. When I found out I was pregnant my doctor recommended I use Elevit which I have been using for the first 3 motnhs of pregnancy. A friend mentioned that Elevit doesn't contain iodine which is important and as such she takes blackmores
Any advice on iodine and elevit and if I should swap to balckmores?
Personally I believe that folate is the only supplement required during pg, and for some women iron. I think the vitamin companies make a lot of money convincing us that we need things we don't. Iodine is important, but if you use iodised salt that should be enough. It's much cheaper than multi-vitamins. Folate tablets are also pretty cheap.
I agree with MantaRay. With DS I took Elevit, he had a major birth abnormality (6x heart defects) and so this time I asked my OB and my sons cardiologist. I am only on MegaFole which is 10x normal level of Folate and 100mg of Asprin. I am taking each for preconception and now OB wants me on both for the remainder of preg (Asprin I will stop around 36 weeks).
I'm the same. My ob said the only thing you need is folate. The rest is all marketing and making some people very rich. So I wouldn't worry about which one you choose to take.
I like taking a pg multi, but personally think elevit is too expensive...and it made me constipated when I was pg with DD (the first and last time that has ever happened with me during pregnancy). Have tried blackmores, but I hate the fact that you have to take 2 of them a day, so now I use a one a day pg vitamin with iodine...atm its nature's own brand.
I noticed this too when I was comparing supplements and mentioned it to my GP. She suggested that I just change the salt I use in cooking to iodised salt as you only need minute amounts, and also to eat foods that contain iodine such as silverbeet if/when I can (haven't eaten silverbeet this entire pregnancy!).
I took Elevit for the first trimester just because I wanted 'the best' but it is really expensive so then just went onto Fefol after I ran out.
My understanding is that in developing countries - where the diet is very bad - iodine is sorely missed and has certain effects on the baby's development. This could be said for very many vitamins and minerals in these parts of the world. We do not live in a developing country and have diverse and interesting diets in which enough iodine is taken in. It's not necessary to supplement it. If you're really worried about it, buy iodised salt. Having said that, the iodine in Elevit isn't going to hurt either.
My dad had me "packing it" about iodine last pg - and this is the info I found out. I've been eating heaps of broccoli and such for the folate - rather than concentrating on the iodine. Not sure what the RDI is on iodine, but I don't expect it's terribly high.
Folate is the big one you want to concentrate on though.
Actually it has been found that a lot of adults and children are deficient in iodine...it was on tv not long ago. The RDI is not huge though, its just that a lot of people don't seem to eat the foods with iodine in them - and most of the salt you can buy at the supermarket is not iodised, you have to check the label closely to make sure it is. Seafood is another good food for iodine.
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Elevit?
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