Prenatal vitamins (NOT baby related)

Brie2010

I got my hair trimmed last night and I mentioned to my hairstylist that my hair seems to have stopped growing at a certain point.  I'd like to have it a little longer and generally stronger for the wedding, and she recommended prenatal vitamins and a fish oil supplement.

I have regular vitamins at home--are prenatal vitamins all that different?  Has anyone taken them and noticed a difference in your hair or nails?  What kind do you take?

danieliza1127

You might scroll through the AFSB board (Nest Caribbean brides board).  They just had a long post over there this week about prenatal vitamins and types and which ones made them nauseated and which didn't, etc.  I think it was this last week sometime.

My best friend takes these after finding some others that made her feel sick.

http://www.newchapter.com/products/perfect-prenatal

JK10910

It's the extra folic acid, or whatever it is, I think.  Good for your hair and nails.  I haven't used it, but a friend of mine has.  It can't HURT, in any case, as far as I know.

brookelynpaisley

I take them and my hair definitely grows faster. I've definitely noticed that I have to get my (short) hair cut every 4-5 weeks instead of 6 because it loses shape faster.  However, I didn't necessarily take regular vitamins as regularly as I take my prenatals. I've read that it's actually hormones released in pregnancy that strengthen you hair and make it stronger so it doesn't break as easily that actually makes it "longer."

nda_roxybabe

They have extra iron and folic acid

Brie2010

Hmmm, good to know.  I'll check out the Caribbean board and see if they have any recs. 

My hair is weird--the individual strands are really fine, but there's a lot of it, so it's thick altogether and I want it to be a little stronger, especially since I pull it back in a ponytail a lot.

bel138

There really isn't much difference between prenatals and regular multivitamins. In fact, if ladies can't stand prenatals, we tell them to take Flinstones chewables. They are notorious for causing nausea, especially the ones with added iron. Plus, it plugs you up something fierce.

~mRm~

DItto bel. I used to take them and loved what they did for my hair and nails - not so much with the belly issues.

Brie2010

Hmm, good to know.  I have a pretty cast-iron stomach, but I'll take them with food anyway.

I just checked my regular vitamins and they expired about 9 months ago, so...I think I'm due for some new ones anyway.

What about fish oil?  That always confuses me.  Do the prenatals have it or do I need a separate pill?  I've heard it's good for other stuff and want to start taking them regardless of hair issues.

stargazerlily82479

I take the CVS generic prenatals, I've never had a problem with nausea, but I am careful to always take them with my lunch so that may help. I'm also taking biotin supplements, I've heard that can be really good for your hair (most health food/vitamin stores have them), and doing weekly deep conditioning. If you have problems with the prenatals and constipation, you may want to consider a psyllium husk supplement or some other kind of extra fiber in your diet. HTH!

sarah0725

I'm off vitamins entirely because I can't stand taking anything that has iron in it. Nasty stuff.

[Deleted User]

I started taking them last year and my hair and nails grow faster for sure.  I also think my hair is much shinier, a few people at work commented on how shinny my hair is as well, without knowing about me taking the vitamins.  

sucrets4

Ditto roxy on iron and folic acid.

My hair and nails are insane since taking them.

There are many different brands and one that doesn't make someone else sick might make you sick, so you just need to try them.  Mine kinda upset my tummy for the first few days, even after dinner, but then it was fine.  I take the WalMart brand ones.

Brie2010

Thanks, guys.  I'm heading to the store now.  I'll have to check out Biotin too.

brookelynpaisley

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_prenatal-vitamins-not-baby-related?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:a6da4f4a-16b0-4654-a99a-8cacd05a2792Post:db382103-afdf-4fdc-a35c-498e2e92873d">Re: Prenatal vitamins (NOT baby related)</a>:
[QUOTE]Hmm, good to know.  I have a pretty cast-iron stomach, but I'll take them with food anyway. I just checked my regular vitamins and they expired about 9 months ago, so...I think I'm due for some new ones anyway. What about fish oil?  That always confuses me.  Do the prenatals have it or do I need a separate pill?  I've heard it's good for other stuff and want to start taking them regardless of hair issues.
Posted by Brie2010[/QUOTE]

even with a full stomach, mine bother me. I take them before bed so that at least if I feel icky, I'm sleeping through it. Fish oil is a separate pill. You can get them fairly cheap - they were on sale at the grocery store, I got a huge bottle for like $6.

sucrets4

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_prenatal-vitamins-not-baby-related?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:a6da4f4a-16b0-4654-a99a-8cacd05a2792Post:0107960a-2304-432b-a0b4-0c3a23472c58">Re: Prenatal vitamins (NOT baby related)</a>:
[QUOTE]I said basically the same thing to my stylist but that it just seemed weird to me to take bcp and prenatal vitamins, so she told me I could take biotin. I bought a pretty big bottle at Walmart for $5. Its 1000 mg and the bottle says you can take up to 5 a day.
Posted by lovethebeach16[/QUOTE]

Weird...I was in the beginning stages of a study on biotin levels in pregnant women.   Turns out that I was getting enough biotin, so I was disqualified.  I don't think my prenatals have any biotin in them.

katiewhompus

I'm a little late to the game but...

I take the CVS brand ones too and they make me feel a lot better. My hair grows like mad and I feel like my nails are longer/stronger (until I pick them down to nubbins as usual). I've taken them with food, without food, early morning, before bed, no nasea or anything bad. I have noticed a definite increase in energy and just generally feel better.

sucrets4

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_prenatal-vitamins-not-baby-related?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:a6da4f4a-16b0-4654-a99a-8cacd05a2792Post:db382103-afdf-4fdc-a35c-498e2e92873d">Re: Prenatal vitamins (NOT baby related)</a>:
[QUOTE]Hmm, good to know.  I have a pretty cast-iron stomach, but I'll take them with food anyway. I just checked my regular vitamins and they expired about 9 months ago, so...I think I'm due for some new ones anyway. What about fish oil?  That always confuses me.  Do the prenatals have it or do I need a separate pill?  I've heard it's good for other stuff and want to start taking them regardless of hair issues.
Posted by Brie2010[/QUOTE]

I take a separate fish oil pill, but I take it for the DHA which is also in flax seed.

Nebb

Ive been taking them for around 6 months or so now. I dont notice a crazy change in my hair, but I have curly hair so it takes a while to really tell if its growing much or not. I just take the generic drug store brand, and have not had a problem. My doctor told me that the generic kinds have the same nutritional make up as more expensive brands, so I think it will just be a matter of preference. I take mine every morning with my breakfast and have never had nausea or other issues, but I also take fiber supplement with my tea at night too so maybe tahts why ive not noticed the stomach issue.

AmoroAgain

I've never been able to take any form of vitamin because it upsets my stomach way too much.  I have tried lot's of different ones.

Mrs.B6302007

I take mine at night.  I love the brand my insurance provides because they don't bother my stomach or cause constipation (at least for me, anyway).  I took some samples of a differnet brand for a few days while I was waiting for my Rx to be refilled and oh,  my poor bowels.

aMrsin09

I take a Multi Vitamin and the pre-natal.  I was also doing Omega 3-6-9s but they are 30 euro for a bottle of 30 here (1 euro a capsule) so I am passing on those right now.

I can tell the difference in my skin w/o the Omega that's for sure.  The pre-natals have made my hair and nails grow at crazy speeds.  I don't get sick or constipated with mine.  I use Elevit, but I don't know if they sell them in the States.