For most mothers, prenatal vitamins are a must, and it's one of the first things prescribed by the doctors, but for a pregnant Halsey, these daily supplements had such a bad effect on her body that she had stopped taking them altogether.
In an interview with Allure, the 26-year-old singer and first-time mom opened up about her experiences during the early months of her pregnancy. She said she took prenatal vitamins for two months but decided to stop and ditch the daily necessity because it triggered vomiting side effects.
"I had to make a choice between taking my prenatals and throwing up or maintaining the nutrients I did manage to eat that day," the mom explained, adding that she was also taking other medications as she struggled with the first trimester of her pregnancy.
Halsey said she felt like a failure because she couldn't keep the vitamins down and told her doctor about it. However, she did not reveal if she resumed taking the pills during the latter part of her pregnancy, past the vomiting phase.
The "Graveyard" singer is due to give birth this summer with her boyfriend of four years, Alev Aydin, by her side.
Why Pregnant Moms Need Prenatal Vitamins
According to the Mayo Clinic, pregnant women need the daily supplement because it has folic acid, preventing serious birth defects in the baby's brain and spinal cord in the first few months of the pregnancy term. The pills also contain iron that makes the placenta and fetus healthier because iron creates enough blood supply.
Mothers could start taking prenatal vitamins three months before they become pregnant. Some pills contain calcium and vitamin D, which will also help the baby develop stronger bones and teeth.
However, vitamins are not a substitute for a good, healthy diet while pregnant. Unfortunately, Halsey also said she ate many cookies and bagels during the first five months of her pregnancy.
The singer revealed that she had such a perfect plan in the beginning. She told herself she was going to do yoga and eat healthy food like flaxseeds. She was also going to try essential oils and meditate and start learning the process of hypnobirthing. The new mom had thought of putting everything in a journal, but she never did any of those things.
The quirky singer said she is aware that people on the internet will judge her for revealing her pregnancy missteps, but she also said she's also "angry with herself" for not "doing her job" as a pregnant mom.
Taking Prenatal Pills When Vomiting
According to Dr. Ashlesha Dayal, if prenatal vitamins make moms vomit, they can try taking this at night so that they can sleep off nausea. They should never double up on the intake if they throw up the vitamins, make them sick, or miss some days.
There are two types of prenatal vitamins. One type is regulated and prescribed by the doctor with a specific formulation. The other type is over-the-counter (OTC) vitamin which is not of the same quality as those prescribed by the doctor. If a pregnant mother is taking the OTC kind, she must bring that bottle to her doctor to ensure that it's safe for the baby.
