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Cherryflakes · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Chiba, Japan

My wife and I have been discussing having children for a while now but I've run into a problem I have difficulty explaining to her. She doesn't want to take prenatal vitamins because she's discussed it with her regular OBGYN and he insists that Japanese can't take those kinds of vitamins because their bodies aren't as strong as "Westerners". I've tried to explain to her how silly this sounds and how it's likely culturally, not scientifically, based but I feel like I haven't been able to really make my point. Of course in the end it's her body and it's something I can't force on her but I'd like to be able to help her understand my point of view.

Is there anybody who has had this discussion with their Japanese spouse?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Get used to it. You are not going to convince her. I don't recall what my wife did for vitamin supplementation during pregnancy, but I didn't interfere or suggest anything. Be careful about this whole topic, or you may find yourselves very alienated from each other whenever a medical topic comes up. You don't want to hear something like this, "Oh, you just don't trust Japanese medicine because you think your home country knows everything!"

Most medication for most ailments in Japan are lower doses than in the west. Some people say the actual requirements are lower for various nutrients!
http://www.stippy.com/japan-life/getting-pregnant-in-japan-4/
http://www.mhlw.go.jp/houdou/2006/05/h0508-1a.html (This is in Japanese and cites about half the requirement for calcium.)

Then again, are you really sure she needs the extra vitamins? Not all doctors in the west prescribe them. And there may be risks.

http://www.pregnancy.org/question/vitamin-requirements-pregnancy
http://www.pregnancy.org/question/can-i-get-too-much-calcium-during-pregnancy
http://www.womenshealthchannel.com/nutrition/diet.shtml
http://www.vitamin-update.com/optimum-health-detail.cfm/id/4.html
http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/prenatal-vitamins

Another handy list of links for the pregnant.
http://www.stippy.com/japan-life/getting-pregnant-in-japan-3/

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

Her doctor is telling her not to take them, so unless you are also an OBGYN, then you know less about it than that person.

Has it occurred to you that taking them may be a cultural thing on the Western side?

jgmodlin · Joined: 01 Mar 2006 Posts: 120 Location: USA

My Japanese wife took them while pregnant in the USA and had no trouble at all tolerating them. There are a great number of brands and formulas. My wife's OBGYN gave her several samples and asked her to let her know if she felt queasy from any of them. She didn't.
There are some real reasons to take them, namely folic acid, which a lack of can lead to birth defects. With most vitamins, what your body doesn't need will be expelled through the urine.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

womblingfree · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 826

While doses may be slightly lower on average than in the USA, Japanese take more medicine than any other country on Earth except for the French.

I think the cult of the vitamin is particular to certain US states. I had some North American friends visiting last summer and was horrified by the amount of food supplements and vitamins they were popping!

A study was done a few years ago that discovered that people that regulalry took vitamins actually lived shorter lives on average than those that didn't! Possibly because extra supplements put unnecessary extra stress on the liver, but could be many other reasons.

Taking a load of supplemental vitamins when pregnant isn't usually necessary if you're eating properly. Taking extra folic acid could be advisable. But there are no vitamins and minerals you can't get from the right foods.

Here's some good advice:

http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/agesandstages/pregnancy/whenyrpregnant/

Remember, Japanese live the longest lives on Earth, which is mostly down to their diet.

norwalkesl · Joined: 22 Oct 2009 Posts: 366 Location: Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-China

ssjup81 · Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 3:19 pm Post subject:

seklarwia · Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 9:59 pm Post subject:

pnksweater · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 173 Location: Tokyo, Japan

The only things you really have to worry about are vitamin A (causes birth defects in high doses) and folic acid before conception (appropriate levels prevent birth defects). Make sure she's getting enough calcium and she'll be fine.

Given the superior infant mortality rates of Japan vs. America I'd place some faith in her doctor.

wintersweet · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 11:14 pm Post subject:

pnksweater has a REALLY good point. Look up the infant mortality rates and ask yourself whether it's worth pressing the issue. Even if you're right about the (admittedly irritating) Nihonjinron-type medication myth issues, whatever Japan does in terms of perinatal care apparently more than compensates for the vitamin thing.

womblingfree · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 826

ssjup81 · Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 3:35 am Post subject:

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

santi84 · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 1317 Location: under da sea

Vitamin use, in general, can't really be compared to a woman in the first trimester of pregnancy. You go from nothing to having a person inside you with their own heartbeat and kicks, in a matter of weeks! Having just escaped that (I'm 21 weeks along), it really depends on the woman.

The reason a lot of women take prenatals is because they are disgusted by many foods (vegetables and meat usually), as well as the vomit issue. Plenty of women lose up to 10-15lbs during their first trimester because everything they eat... comes right back up Embarassed

The first 12-14 weeks of pregnancy is the most difficult, because of fatigue, nausea, and it is the stage where most miscarriages occur.

A fetus can be fine without prenatal vitamins (I took them myself) but she needs to be eating right. You can get folic acid through various foods. If she's throwing up all her food, then it is important to take them.

Japanese women are usually a lot more open to eating veggies, etc. Part of the reason so many western women take prenatals is because they can't be bothered to eat a piece of salad on a good day. If you live on a diet of potato chips, then yes, prenatals are important. If you are still eating leafy greens,beans,etc on the average day, then it isn't so bad.