Today, we have a lovely Q&A with Dr. Gina Sirchio, the founder of the LG Institute of Health, and a wonderful woman who I have had the joy of working with in guiding my pre-pregnancy planning. Here, she shares why starting a prenatal routine before pregnancy is so important and her favorite prenatals on the market today, Metagenics’ Wellness Essentials Pregnancy.

Rita: Why do you prefer Metagenics’ Wellness Essentials Pregnancy Vitamins to other prenatals?

Dr. Sirchio: Metagenics is a company that has the highest rating of GMP [Good Manufacturing Practice Certification]. It is evaluated (and has passed testing) by 3 independent labs.

Rita: Why are these better than the prescription prenatals some doctors might prescribe?

Dr. Sirchio: In many cases, the prenatals that are covered by insurance are NOT the best out there.  Many times I see patients have been given vitamins with artificial colors, fillers, the incorrect chemical form of the necessary nutrient and more.  The attraction is that insurance is picking up the cost, and for some – they have been informed that insurance only covers a good product.  Sadly, this has not been the case.
Rita: Ideally, when should a woman start taking her prenatals? And should she continue taking them after delivery?

Dr. Sirchio: Ideally, a woman should begin 3 months prior to trying to conceive.  Perhaps earlier if she has been using hormonal birth control for a while or has other medical issues. That said, roughly 50% of pregnancies are unplanned – for these moms I advise they begin as soon as they know they are pregnant.  I am not worried about the missed time; I just want them taking best care of themselves as soon as they can.  It is important for moms to continue with their prenatals until they are no longer nursing.  For moms who are not breastfeeding, I would recommend staying with their prenatals until about 3 months postpartum – there is so much healing to allow for.

Rita: There are seven different pills in the Metagenics prenatal packets. Why so many?

Dr. Sirchio: There is a wide array of necessary nutrients and they are in a very absorbable form.  Some of the companies out there that have fewer (sometimes only one!) pill. They have either omitted many ingredients, reduced the dosage given or even compressed it to make it smaller.  This is not necessarily better because most people can’t absorb the nutrients from this compression.

Rita: How can you order the Metagenics Wellness Essentials Pregnancy packet?

Dr. Sirchio: You will need a healthcare provider.  I send my patients to Lgihealth.metagenics.com and they enter the site from LGI Health.  After that they can purchase what they need or consult with me for any additional questions they may have.  I strongly advise against using Amazon for nutrients, there have been some recent cases of capsules being opened and switched. In general, it’s not worth the risk.

Rita: Obviously, I love working with you, but if someone reading this blog wants to consult with you, how can they get a hold of you?

Dr. Sirchio: I would love to hear from you all. You can call and ask for Dr. Gina Sirchio at the LG Institute of Health located in Chicago at 430 W. Erie St # 403 Chicago, IL 60654. You can also call me at 312-255-8810  or email me at drsirchio@gmail.com.

Rita: Before we go, I know you developed a post-graduate series in women’s health. Can you tell my readers a little about that and some of the other work you have done?

Dr. Sirchio: Yes, I developed The Women’s Health Series: The Reproductive Window.  This is a 100 hour course for practitioners and students to get extensive training on health needs from pre-conception, fertility, pregnancy, birth, postpartum and everything that goes along with it!  Additionally, I am the Regional Director for BIRTHFIT Chicago, where we work tirelessly to help educate women about all things related to birth, fitness, pregnancy, nutrition, breastfeeding and more!  You can find us at http://www.lgihealth.com/birthfit. Finally, I am the co-owner with Dr. Kim Bruno of The Nourish Series. We have books on Prenatal Nutrition as well as Baby Nutrition.  www.thenourishseries.com

Rita: Thank you Dr. Sirchio!

And to all my readers, I hope you found this helpful. Dr. Sirchio is one of my favorite people and she is extremely warm, intelligent, and has also given me lots of great referrals. She is a wealth of information and I am so happy to have found her.

Dr. Sirchio graciously accepted my request to participate in this Q&A, and all endorsements are simply out of passion and love for this field of wellness.

If you have any questions, contact me at ritaabro@gmail.com

Wishing you health and happiness,

Rita