(no subject)

[ktnzgtklws.livejournal.com]

So my husband and I will be not TTC, but not forgoing with contraceptives and seeing what happens, here shortly.
SO, there are a few questions I figured you lovely folks might be able to help me with!
Currently I use Retin-A for my aweful acne. When do I need to stop using that? As soon as we forego contraceptives? Or would a few weeks on it not be too bad? (Since we're just seeing what happens, I have already stocked up on pregnancy tests!)
I need to select someone for reproductive related health issues. Is a pre-conception exam even done?
Since I really don't like Dr.'s, I was thinking of going with a midwife. Is interviewing before you're even pregnant rude?
Along the same lines, but a wee bit tangental, can midwives do well-woman exams, rather that OBGYN's?
I already take GNC's women's ultra mega (one once a day, rather than the one twice a day that they recommend, reason is next question), and was thinking of switching to the prenatal formula. However, when I compared the two, the ultra-mega has more of, well, everything in it! Why would that be? Is it still ok for me to keep taking what I have?
As is, I take the version without iron, as the one with iron makes me horridly nautious. For some reason, Flintstones vitamins do not. I take a Flintstones so that I get iron. Will this be enough, or do I need to hunt more for non-nausia inducing iron supplements? Any recommendations as far as that goes from anyone?
Thank you, superstars, y'all are the bestest! ;-D

Comments

[tehfanglyfish.livejournal.com]

I can't really answer any of your other questions, but nurse midwives can do well-woman exams. I went to one this summer and it was *so* much better than a regular doctor (although that may have just been her personality).

[enyo.livejournal.com]

If Retin-A is linked to birth defects of any kind, I'd scrap it now.

I went to my family doctor for my pre-conception exam. It was time for a pap anyway, so we both went and combined it with fertility/pregnancy concerns. It's not unreasonable to want your doctor to check things out and make sure it's cool to start trying.

I don't think it's rude to interview before you're pregnant for someone that you want to treat you through your pregnancy. I interviewed pediatricians while I was pregnant with my son. :) Same concept, right?

As for the vitamins thing, my pharmacist actually discouraged adults taking kid's vitamins. We have different dietary needs than children. That being said, I have no answer on that. But you may wish to add folic acid to your regime.

[ktnzgtklws.livejournal.com]

Folic acid is in very high amounts in the multi I already take. And if you look at the back of Flintstones, it's 100% RDA for adults, as well.

[sickofyourbs.livejournal.com]

It should be noted that folic acid recommendations in pregnant women (or those who expect to be pregnant) are about 2x what any other adult needs, hence the doubling of Flintstones that is often recommended. Still, comparing apples to apples, prenatals are cheaper.

[archangelbeth]

I gnawed on (generic) Flintstones whilst pregnant, since the pre-natals made me sicker faster, and the kid seems to be fine... O:>

I would think that any midwife you interview, pre-pregnancy, who got huffy about it... would not be the midwife for you anyway. I'd say call 'em up and ask if you can talk to 'em since you're ditching the contraception deliberately, and want to be prepared. You can also ask if they do well-woman exams, too. (And if not, you could probably ask them who they recommend as a good doctor -- might find someone you could live with, that way, if necessary.)

I don't have any ideas about the rest. Luck!

[vdoeschallenge.livejournal.com]

Hello fellow acne sufferer/Retin-A user! I don't know if you have to stop using it when you are pregnant. I thought you it was possibly expelled through breast milk, but it didn't cause birth defects? idk, fill me in if I need to be filled in!
I think some midwives do well woman exams. At least I've seen that on a sign at a place I walk by some times. I don't know about etiquitte, but if you go for your well woman exam and tell the midwife you are going to be not TTC, but not NOT TTC, then she will probably tell you what to do.
My cousin is vegetarian and anemic and she hate hate hates it. She hasn't found an iron supplement that isn't gross either. Currently she is taking some liquid one that her doctor makes her take, but she hates that one too.

[analogwatch.livejournal.com]

What I've read is that you can't use Retin-A while you're pregnant. Can't use salicylic acid either.

Needless to say, this pregnancy has caused some AWESOME pimples on my chin. :)

[ktnzgtklws.livejournal.com]

Not even SALICYLIC ACID?!? OMG. I'll just wear a bag, then. :-( *sigh* The benzyl peroxide, it does nothing! *weeps, clings to Retin A*

[vdoeschallenge.livejournal.com]

What about benzoyl peroxide?
I'm hoping pregnancy completely changes my face like my mom says it will, I doubt it though. I was pregnant and had an abortion and the only thing that changed was that I was not lactose intolerant any more. Sadly I am back to no milk.

[krisssa.livejournal.com]

The only prenatal I am able to take is Prenatal One. I have tried other brands and they made me sick, but this one is all natural and has ginger in it (an anti-nausea remedy) so I have been fine with it. You have to be careful about getting too much of certain vitamins/minerals, so I'd ask a doc/midwife about whether or not the mega one is safe while you're 'seeing what happens.'

My friend was too nauseous to take vitamins of any sort while pregnant, so she only took a flinstone. I think the flinstone for the iron would be fine if you continue to take the vitamins you have (if a health professional says it's ok.)

You can definitely do a pre-conception exam. That's what I did when we were TTC. And I think it's a great idea to interview midwives. I think most of them are really about your experience and so it would make sense that they would want you to feel comfortable. I think that anyone you would WANT to be your midwife would be welcoming an interview!

Good luck!

[necromance.livejournal.com]

Prenatal vitamins tend to have their numbers for pregnant/lactating women who need more of somethings, where as regular vitamins have the numbers for regular men/women. (if that sentence made any sense at all)

I think if you tell a midwife up front that you're only passively trying to get pregnant, they would understand. I had to look up what 'TTC' meant, so I'm not an expert in the ways of babymaking, but I would think the difference between active TTC and passive TTC would be tracking ovulation and forcing yourself to have sex on days you're ovulation and stuff like that where passive would be just kinda letting nature do it's thang. Any midwife/doctor/person who is against you doing that isn't one you want helping you anyways.

And I totally think you should get a pre-conception checkup. You're body is going to go through some pretty big changes so it wouldn't hurt to make sure everything is in tip-top shape first.

Random fact (sorry I'm so long winded but this is cool and I feel the need to share): Women produce more hormones during a term of pregnancy then they will in 150 years of non-pregnancy.

[paraxeni.livejournal.com]

Got an old packet of retin-a here and it says you must consult your healthcare provider if you wish to become pregnant, or if you find yourself pregnant.

[littlravn.livejournal.com]

Yes, a good midwife or dr would certainly do a preconception appointment and if they are unwilling and you want one done they are not the provider for you.

There is a prescription only prenatal vitamin that is blue. There is something special about the iron in it, its easier to digest or something like that, and I took those and they didn't make me puke and I was only bummed I didn't find out about them like 3 pregnancies sooner.

I would stay away from retin-a when you ditch the birth control.

Have fun!
Making babies is definitely an enjoyable experience, imo. :)

[mangofandango.livejournal.com]

You can certainly have a pre-conception visit, and I think that would be a great time to ask questions, get to know the midwife, etc. etc. It's not rude, just let her know that you're not pregnant yet but may be in the near future and wanted to get checked out beforehand, get to know her, etc.

I would say, if a drug is contraindicated or discouraged in pregnancy, you should get off of it before going off of birth control if possible. While a lot of people do a lot of things in the early stages of pregnancy because they don't know they're pregnant, etc., and things are fine - there's a lot of important stuff forming in those first few weeks and months, and if you can be avoiding something potentially hazardous, I'd say avoid it. I'm pretty sure most acne treatments are discouraged and some are outright dangerous. Here's a page that might be helpful:

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/acnetreatment.html

Also an explanation of the catergories:
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/fdadrugratings.html

I find a lot of good info on whether i should be taking something or not by googling "'drug name' and pregnancy". You can (and should) also consult your midwife or a pharmacist about things you feel you need on a long-term or regular basis, things that are questionable, etc., but I oten rely on Google for quick decision-mkaing.