One thing every site I've looked at has advocated is prenatal vitamins. It's established custom to start early and take them through the length of the pregnancy. Some people advocate taking them while breastfeeding. Some people recommend a normal multivitamin plus a folic acid supplement. Every US based site seems to be emphatic about the need for vitamins to supplement your diet.
My mom was pretty horrified to find out that Japanese doctors don't recommend them and in fact don't mention them to patients. The assumption is that the baby won't be suffering, since it takes what it needs from Mom regardless, and that Mom can make it back up later. My husband was pretty surprised that it's considered a pregnancy staple in the US.
He's asked me not to take them. He's worried about me taking something that doesn't seem to be medically necessary, especially when he doesn't know what's in it. I'm sure it doesn't help that he can't read the available literature easily.
My mom is very worried because i haven't been taking any supplements.
as far as i can tell the major need is for folic acid, which is super important in the first few weeks and should be taken up through the first trimester. I'm at the end of that now; the ship has sailed, sans folic acid. Intense morning sickness kept me from eating much for the last few months so i'm not sure how much it would have helped. All i know is that the only foods i desperately wanted to eat (and actually could eat! joy of joys!) at that time turned out to have high folic acid concentrations. Kiwi fruit, cantaloupe, broccoli... Hopefully that'll be enough.
I'm trying to eat a reasonable diet although it's difficult to handle most foods. Currently the main worry is protein, since meat isn't working out for me. Someone has ordered vitamins off of iHerb and is sending them to me, which is very sweet. Should i take them? Does it make a difference at this point?
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For ladies who would like to take prenatals: http://jp.iherb.com/search?sug=multivitamins+-+prenatal&kw=prenat&rank=3
they do ship to japan! and it looks like they offer free shipping for orders over ¥4000. If it's hard to meet that limit by yourself, it's probably worth it to order together with a friend. shipping fees can be brutal!
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