I have always been very active in my exercise and yoga prior to my pregnancy , and i have taken a BCAA supplement to combat muscle aches and repair. So I am wondering, as my first doc appt is several weeks out, is it okay to continue to take that? It is just an amino acids supplement, but i am concerned if it i safe to continue to take them. Has anyone here had any experience with this ? I am 7 weeks.
If it were me, I would not take anything while pregnant before consulting my doctor. That's what my doctor advised me to do. Keep in mind, most supplements are not FDA approved.
I have a few points to make based on my work in food science.
First off, you need to find out if your doctor has any background in nutrition and supplementation. Most do not. The good ones will tell you whether they've had any coursework in this at all, and how long ago it was.
Next, you need to find out if your supplements are MADE (not distributed) by a US manufacturer (or a highly regulated country like Australia), and if they are metabolized as food vs. drugs/supplements. Are they any warning labels at all on the products ("keep out of reach of children" or "do not exceed recommended dosage" or "if you are pregnant or nursing....")???
"Just an amino acid supplement" is not different than "just a vitamin" or "all natural" - if it's not comprehensive (vs. just a few ingredients), if it's not manufactured with the FDA Good Manufacturing Practices certification, if there are no clinical studies (besides those run by the company itself), and if the ingredients aren't brought into the manufacturing facility with an independent certificate of analysis on each one (plus subsequent quarantine and re-testing), then you're taking a risk.
I work in this field and I do recommend certain supplements, but only on the above criteria.
Prenatal vitamins is all I would take.
Stop taking anything else until you talk with your doctor.
Additional:
I found this:
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/branched-ch...
Midway down the page they say:
"Also, avoid using BCAAs if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.".
So - stop taking these and don't start again until you are finished with breastfeeding.
I would not put anything in my body that my Dr. didn't approve of if I were pregnant.
Your FIRST priority should be the baby you a carrying. Ask your DR.
It doesn't really matter if your doctor's appointment is several weeks out (though, why is that?) just CALL AND ASK.
Why not just call your doctor and ask for a prescription for prenatal vitamins. I took them the whole pregnancy.
Call your doctor or you can call/email the March of Dimes and ask
I'm not familiar with this supplement, but my motto for pregnancy is always: when in doubt, unless you NEED it, don't take it.
Stop taking it until you can talk to your doctor or a pharmacist. Pharmacists tend to have a lot of information about supplements because there are many, many drugs that can be affected negatively by supplements. Many supplements are not FDA approved. There may not have been clinical studies done with pregnant women to ensure if it is safe to take. I'd be on the safe side and not take it.
