Emergen C and worried

[MaggieMarie]

Hi ladies. Long story short, over the past four days I have taken one package of Emergen C vitamin supplement each day to ward off a cold. I've been sick 3 times in 8 weeks, and just need a break. I didn't think much about asking my OB about it until today at my appointment.

She seemed to say high doses of vitamin C can cause birth defects, but told me not to worry about the amounts I had taken. She said that she isn't really concerned, and She said several times: Don't worry. I think you are just fine. However, she still wants me to come back for an anatomy scan in 3 weeks just for peace of mind and because she said she's a worrywart. Understandably, im still worrying even though she told me not to. I'm not currently taking a prenatal, so I'm not doubling up on any vitamins by taking the Emergen C.

Have any of you taken Emergen C during your pregnancy or been advised to by your OB when sick?

Thanks for any feedback.

 

[Qmama79]

Your doctor is overreacting. There is 1000mq Vit C in Emergency C. It takes a dose of about 12-15000mg taken in seperate ounts over a whole day to cause mc in early pregnancy. The half life is only a couple of hours. If taken more than needed, its excreted. Vit C is not stored in the body & is a good helper in fighting colds.

I supplement with 500mq Vit C every day since about 14 weeks fr two reasons; research has shown it is often low in women with premature rupture of membranes (PPROM last pregnancy) and it helps with absorbing iron (I'm anemic). My doc is fine with it.

Ask your doctor for details if she goes on. I bet she can't give specific quantities. 1000mq will not do anything but support your immune system. I've researched it before starting it and its not linked to birth defects. Excess Vit A is harmful, but not C.

 

[laila 44]

I'm addicted to it but was told not to take it during pregnancy so I haven't. Wouldn't worry too much in your case though it should be fine. In future though don't take anything without checking with your OB first ( I too learned that lesson lol)

 

[Tesh23]

I agree with qmama- I take 600mg of vitamin c plus I eat a lot of fruit high in vitamin c too every day. Needless To say I haven't been sick once so far this pregnancy, not even a cold!

I think u would need very high concentrations of vitamin c in order To affect Baby or yourself. Also our bodies don't absorb all of the vitamins and minerals we take in which I guess is why there are recommended daily doses for vitamins.

Main thing is u shouldn't worry about the emergen c! Not gonna do a thing other than boost your immune system which is essentially the best thing for your Baby- healthy mama equals healthy baba

 

[jenmcn1]

I drank a HUGE 2 litre jar of pure cranberry juice at 6 weeks pregnant because I was so sure that I had a UTI, and I wanted to treat it naturally. Not the sugary stuff, the real deal which has a ton of vit C in it. I'm now going on 19 weeks and I haven't had issues. Baby is fine and healthy as far as I know. Vit A can be super harmful though when consumed through liver and beef. Any vitamin A consumed through vegetables and fruits are fine and don't need to be eliminated.

Don't worry, relax!!