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RinTinTin 
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 Topic: Elevit vs Multi Vit
Posted: 10 May 2009 at 4:47pm |
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Hi All
Had an interesting conversation with my MW just now as I am struggling with keeping food down and worried about my vitamin levels.
My MW said don't bother rushing off to buy Elevit cause it gives you nothing more than what a regular multi vitamin and a folic acid tablet would. She said they just market Elevit as a pregnancy multi vitamin to validate the excessive prices they charge.
So just thought that would be interesting for everyone to know.
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MrsMojo
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Posted: 10 May 2009 at 4:54pm |
I agree, elevit is a rip off. You could buy a pregnancy multi and iron tablets for cheaper (or just eat a really good diet - not so easy though when you have food aversions and can't keep things down).
If you are going for a multi-vit make sure you go for a pregnancy one (healtheries and red seal do them).
Normal multi-vitamins (like centrum and women's multis) contain vitamin A which can cause birth defects.
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paulainauckland
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Posted: 10 May 2009 at 6:37pm |
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that's what my midwife said, and I have a long-standing history of iron/folate deficiencies.
Plus - Blackmores Preg & BF tablets are $15.99 at Foodtown/Woolies next week. I saw the phamphlet today - don't know if this is the best price out there but at least it's easy to find.
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mamanee
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Posted: 10 May 2009 at 7:14pm |
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I bought the Blackmores Pregnancy Gold tablets and they've only got 250mcg of Folic Acid in them, and the pharmacy told me I couldn't take one of those and an extra folic acid supplement on top of that because it was too much folic acid. Which is ridiculous to me because why even sell that one when you're supposed to have 800mcg per day. The Blackmores folic acid tablets have a thing on the side that says 'Not to be taken with Blackmores pregnancy Gold'. I feel like I was pushed into buying Elevit. The woman at the pharmacy basically said it was the only real way to make sure I was getting 800mcg of folic acid and everything else I need. I know she was just trying to make a sale, and I relented and bought one months worth. So expensive! I only have one left so I'll be taking the Blackmores one until Thursday when I see my midwife and can get a script for folic acid and iron if I need it. My iron levels were shocking when I was pregnant with Sam and I got severe restless leg syndrome from that so I want to make sure this time I don't let it get that bad.
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KitKat
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Posted: 10 May 2009 at 7:42pm |
Elevit actually made me sick. Has LOTS of iron in it... Some peoples' liver can really struggle to process everything... on top of all the extra work your liver is doing with pregnancy.
And if you werent taking a suppliment before- it can be a lot for the system to suddenly deal with.
I use and highly reccomend Floradix ... its a liquid suppliment and is much more readily absorbed by your system- before it even hits your stomach cos its a liquid... so therefore good if your being sick  Plus it tastes YUMMY!
Supermarket has it.
I did also take folic acid for the first 12 weeks though.... blackmores I think.
Edited by KitKat
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WestiesGirl
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Posted: 10 May 2009 at 9:21pm |
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Im going to play Devil's Advocate here. I am taking Elevit and have been since before I was pg through the 9 months of TTC we had. I like that I dont need to read the label to check whats in it and that it has the exact amount of Folic Acid for pregnancy.
It is a costly affair every 3 or so months to get another box but it was important to me to have a multi vit specifically for pregnancy and also a multi vit that I only needed to take one of each day. I am terrible at remembering to just take one tablet let alone 1 twice or 3 times a day.
I didnt have any problems taking Elevit during MS. I did have issues with the size at first but was all good by the time I was pg.
I recommend Elevit but I guess at the end of the day it comes down to personal choice.
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Nutella
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Posted: 10 May 2009 at 9:25pm |
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Carin, the thing to remember is that as MrsMojo says, the normal multivitamins are too high in vitamin A so they are NOT recommended for pregnancy.
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Gardengirl
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Posted: 11 May 2009 at 8:08am |
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There's no way I was going to spend good money on Elevit when the doctor will write a prescription for the exact amount of folic acid recommended and there are great alternatives out there. I took store bought folic acide pre-conception and ate well (remember if you're eating well you're just peeing out most of the supplements you take anyway) then when I got pregnant moved onto the folic acid 800mg the doctor prescribed for 3 months. I took a pregnancy multi as well, but not every day as I was keeping food down mostly and the midwife said I'd likely be overdoing it and just peeing it right back out.
I'm now taking Floradix and have become a big fan of the stuff.
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Mum_mum
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Posted: 11 May 2009 at 9:01am |
I ended up taking the blackmores pregnancy gold and then to top up took a folic acid tablet until 15 weeks, it did mean that i was taking 1050mcg of folic acid, but apprently the excess gets let out with your wee so didnt think it was a problem. Our baby is healthy from scans so dont think it did any damage!
And i tried to take the Floradix but jsut could not stand the taste! it tastes like gross prune juice or something  definatly not for me.
Edited by Hannahbil
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kebakat
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Posted: 11 May 2009 at 9:16am |
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I do think elevit is a rip off.
Just a note on the folic acid thing you can't take too much. I've been prescribed 5mg of folic acid which is over 6 times the "recommended amount" of 800mcg just in case I get preggers again to prevent another fetal abnormality and it's completely safe. NZ has one of the lower amounts of folic acid given to preggy ladies.
Edited by kebakat
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Babe
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Posted: 11 May 2009 at 9:41am |
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I didn't take any supplements when I was preg with J but with us TTC now I'm getting my doc to prescribe something til we get BFP then I'll use something like floradix as I tend to get horrific MS and taking pills is impossible.
Elevit made me really sick too and I agree with everyone who recommended a healthy balanced diet. More than anything else I think its the best way to help grow a healthy baby. If you really wana take Elevit you should be able to get it free thorugh your midwife.
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Chickaboo
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Posted: 11 May 2009 at 9:41am |
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I guess with elevit as well its what you can afford - it is expenive but like what rianna08 said I am not one to read the labels and work things out so its good to know its all ok for me to take.... must admit though after around 16 weeks I don't take them as regularly and after having bubs do not keep taking them. (although it says its recommended)
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KitKat
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Posted: 11 May 2009 at 1:16pm |
You can add the Floradix to juice so you cant taste it too... actually its good too, as youd be getting the Vit C too.
One thing I had a rough time with in the first 16 weeks was guilt about what I could eat. I had great intentions about eating a balanced healthy diet, and ended up so ill. All I wanted was 2 min noodles (major nono for me ussually) and mashed potato... so not a huge buffet of vits or minerals by any means.
My Ob did say though- baby will take from you what it needs, its basically a parasite... that made me feel better about it. Im not saying dont take anything, and eat anything, but do what you can, and dont put large amounts of pressure on yourself.... its counterproductive (I found).
What I found helped with the sickness was drinking dandelion tea.... a liver cleanser. get it from Health shop.
Good luck
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Gardengirl
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Posted: 11 May 2009 at 6:10pm |
I have a theory about the Floradix taste. I believe your body will let you know when you need it and when you don't. I find that sometimes I love the taste and at other times it tastes bad, and I think that when I don't need that stuff (ie when I've got good stores of the vits in it) then it will taste off.
Sorry if that sounds weird 
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paulainauckland
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Posted: 11 May 2009 at 8:11pm |
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DF reckons I have Floradix breath...can't win! It's what my GP prefers me to take usually, as there are no uncomfortable side effects, like nausea or constipation.
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KitKat
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Posted: 12 May 2009 at 10:12am |
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hehehe floradix breath. thats funny.
I have noticed it changes taste a bit from bottle to bottle.
Sorry- this has become a floradix thread- lol
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RinTinTin
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Posted: 12 May 2009 at 2:21pm |
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Might go looking for this Floradix stuff...it sounds quite good although I'm a bit worried about the taste. At least with pills you just swallow and it's all over.
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Mum_mum
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Posted: 12 May 2009 at 2:45pm |
I think you cvan buy floradix pills - unless i was seeing things at the chemist 
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HoneybunsMa
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Posted: 13 May 2009 at 10:59pm |
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My mw told me that vitamins aren't necessary so long as your eating properly. They are good if your skipping meals etc but other then that you should be able to get everything you want from a good diet
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Nutella
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Posted: 14 May 2009 at 11:41am |
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The reason I take pills is coz I am a vegetarian and for years my iron levels were fine as anything but then started giving blood and over a year they dropped off so much that I had to stop giving blood and still have not recovered. So even if someone is eating a perfectly healthy and balanced diet, there can be other factors for needing to taking supplements.
Which is why it is a good idea to get blood tests to check I guess!
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Elevit vs Multi Vit
