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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Worried about vitamin A, feel so silly. Please can anyone advise?

46 replies

mrsdicaprio · 16/02/2015 11:31

I found in the cupboard what I thought was a packet of sweets and ate three packets (today). Two yesterday and two one day last week. They are just sweets. However dh has just pointed out to me that they are not. They are multivitamins he bought for dc and forgot about. I was so hungry and greedy I didn't even look I just ate them thinking they were like mini packets of Haribo kept safe for treats.

I've had three packets today. Looked on the back and I should be ok with folic acid and vitamin d and calcium as they are for kids and ill need more than that anyway, but it says they contain 600ug per dose of vitamin A, and when I Googled that it says to avoid in pregnancy all together. I've therefore had 1800ug or micrograms more than I should and it says the danger is birth defects.
I'm out of my mind with worry. What have I done? I'm 30 weeks, someone tell me bump will be ok? Please help

OP posts:
Original poster
mrsdicaprio · 16/02/2015 11:32

Sorry thought I was posting in pregnancy Confused. Can it be moved to pregnancy? Or health?

OP posts:
splodgeses · 16/02/2015 11:37

Bless you, I know what it is like to be feeling greedy hungry when pregnant.

Generally, vitamins aren't particularly dangerous, even in large quantities, but I would see your gp or midwife as soon as you can. At the very least, they might be able to put your mind at ease. If you do feel ill or think that something is amiss, call 111.

Flowers
babyiwantabump · 16/02/2015 11:38

I'd give your local labour ward a call and see what they say .

Original poster
mrsdicaprio · 16/02/2015 11:45

labour ward? really?

OP posts:
TheWitTank · 16/02/2015 11:54

I remember that horrible feeling when I ate a lot of unpasteurised cheese while pregnant- I was terrified I had done something awful, but all was okay.
I would give your midwife or GP a call and they can advise/reassure you over the phone or make an appointment for you to go in. Try not to worry.

babyiwantabump · 16/02/2015 11:57

Mrsdicaprio why not?
Access to health professionals with relevant knowledge.
I'm suggesting she call not rock up there.

Lulaloo · 16/02/2015 12:05

I am sure there is nothing to worry about. I had a similar worry many years ago, midwife was no help at all, I researched it and from what I can remember it is the vit A in liver etc that is a problem, not the one in fruit and vegetables, which I am guessing is similar,to the one you have taken.
Also a one off large amount will probably not be absorbed very efficiently. Hopefully someone more knowledgable will be along to reassure you, but I am sure you and baby are fine.

InfinitySeven · 16/02/2015 12:09

I'd contact the labour ward too. I think it'll likely be okay, but it is quite a lot, and over a few days rather than in one go. The labour ward will either be able to reassure you once and for all, or give you some advice on next steps.

Best of luck.

NeedABumChange · 16/02/2015 12:10

You ate 7 packets without knowing what they were or even looking at the packet Confused

So you've had extra vitamin Atoday, yesterday and one day last week? I think you'll be fine and so will baby but if you are very worried give midwife a call just to calm your nerves and for reassurance.

BarbarianMum · 16/02/2015 12:13

Large amounts of vitamin A (larger than the RDA) are not recommended in pregnancy but I think that's regarding long term over consumption. Suggest you speak to your GP.

NeedABumChange · 16/02/2015 12:13

Also pretty sure vitamin A damage is done in early pregnancy, when the foetus is forming so at 30 weeks you really should be safe.

drbadbride · 16/02/2015 12:15

Please try not to worry, but please seek proper medical advice without delay. I'm not a medical doctor (biomedical PhD), but I do know that high doses of vitamin A can potentially be a problem--depending on how much vitamin A and what stage of pregnancy.

Now, looking at your post--your pregnancy is fairly advanced, so most of the key developmental stuff that is affected by vitamin A has come and gone. And the tablets are for kids, so will have a lower does of vitamin A than adult ones (I'm also not clear how many you ate). So it's possible that everything is fine.

BUT you should certainly call your GP or midwife as soon as possible so that they (ie experts, which I am not) can check you out. Not trying to scare you! It's always better to be safe than sorry.

BarbarianMum · 16/02/2015 12:18

NeedABumChange that's what I've heard too.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 16/02/2015 12:27

Talk to someone medical on real life, or you'll just keep worrying about it Smile

Original poster
mrsdicaprio · 16/02/2015 12:29

Sorry baby I didn't mean to be rude at all I meant it in a panicky way. I'm just really hoping I don't need that.

OP posts:
sparechange · 16/02/2015 12:44

This might be useful...
www.babycenter.com/0_vitamin-a-in-your-pregnancy-diet_675.bc

DamnBamboo · 16/02/2015 12:52

I would speak with someone about this immediately.
Vitamin a is fat soluble so you don't just wee it out like (like the B vits, or vit C), it bioaccumuates. You have consumed a lot!

Do not delay.

drbadbride · 16/02/2015 12:54

...and please don't feel silly, OP, especially if it stops you from seeking medical advice. Accidentally eating a load of extra vitamins doesn't even register on the medical silly scale. Unlike this case, where a man had put a bottle of vitamin tablets up his bum and was unable to remove it. So don't feel sheepish!

DamnBamboo · 16/02/2015 12:57

Yes, what's done is done.
But you do need to tell someone about it so they can do what they need to do.
I had to phone poison control once for something that I did and for which I should have known better (this was in a lab based setting) but they were find and quite helpful.

Original poster
mrsdicaprio · 16/02/2015 13:41

Oh shit. I was really hoping most people's responses might be "oh yes I'm a midwife/dr/nutritionist and you will be totally fine no need to worry".

I do feel really silly. To the poster who questioned me eating so many without checking what they where/ what was in them... They have a cartoon bear on them and are called gummy bears, and there are 5 bears in each pack like the mini Haribo packs. I'm not usually a sweet person but my appetite has been barely there for most of the pregnancy and this week I've wanted to eat everything in sight. I will literally take whatevers left in the back of the cupboards I'm that hungry (not the stuff you can't eat in pregnancy) but you get my predicament, just generally been feeling very greedy Blush .

I know I need to call but I'm scared they may report me to social services or something. I just feel so stupid. Burying my head in the sand Shock What have I done.

OP posts:
Gunpowder · 16/02/2015 13:48

Noooo! No one will report you, they are there to help. Call them now.

FightOrFlight · 16/02/2015 13:51

I know the vitamins you mean - they do say 'multivitamins' in big letters on the front of the pack though.

Just call someone as advised above and double-check if you are okay. Each packet is a child-sized 'dose' so you should hopefully be okay even after scarfing 3 packets.

livsmommy · 16/02/2015 13:56

Call your midwife. She won't report you to social services. Those things look and taste like sweets, it's easily done!

DamnBamboo · 16/02/2015 14:03

They won't report you to social services.
Just phone them.

BarbarianMum · 16/02/2015 14:22

No one will report you, honestly.

Are the packets designed for a child to eat a whole one in a sitting (packet not bear). Cause if so I really don't think you need to worry - I was envisaging you eating a whole pack of 1 a day vitamins.

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