When you are pregnant you want to ensure the best nutrition for you and your baby. Even if you're eating for two, the nutrients you get from your regular diet may not be enough.
In this case, therefore, it is best to supplement and take vitamins and minerals specifically indicated for pregnant women.
We contacted 25 doctors and asked them to give their opinion on this topic. The exact questions we asked them are as follows:
Should women take supplements during pregnancy? If so, which vitamins and minerals and what are their benefits?
All doctors agree that pregnant women should take dietary supplements. Read on to see what specific vitamins they recommend, why, and in what amounts.
We inform you that it is better to consult your GP and carry out a series of tests before starting any new treatment. This post is designed to inform and prepare you so you know what to discuss with your doctor.
Dra. Kecia Gaither
Women should take dietary supplements during pregnancy. In particular, I always recommend vitamin D supplementation.
There are a number of beneficial physiological effects of vitamin D on the body; It is important for cardiovascular, blood pressure and mental health.
It also acts as an immunity booster, which is good for both mother and baby during pregnancy and is especially beneficial during COVID. Vitamin D also reduces the occurrence of preterm labor.
And finally, it is beneficial for bone development. Vitamin D is produced in the skin when exposed to sunlight. Melanin inhibits its production, so people of color in particular are at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency.
This makes it all the more important for women of color to supplement with vitamin D. The goal is a value of at least 40-60 ng/ml.
Your doctor can check your levels, or you can get your own test kit. Vitamin D is cheap and available in pharmacies. It is generally recommended to take between 1000 and 2000 IU daily.
Mark Trolice -My fertility care
Prenatal vitamins/folic acid
A birth defect is feared by all pregnant women. Larger defects in the fetal brain and spine, so-called neural tube defects, can be significantly reduced by folic acid.
When a woman is pregnant, her folic acid intake should be 600 micrograms (mcg) daily.
It can be difficult to get that much folic acid in a diet, according to the American College of Ob/Gyn (http://acog.org) recommends folic acid 400 mcg per day (found in prenatal vitamins) to begin a month before pregnancy attempts and continue throughout pregnancy. Folic acid can also improve a woman's fertility rate!
Ferro
Pregnancy needs are not limited to vitamins. Iron is vital for oxygenating a growing fetus, and a woman needs more iron than when she's not pregnant—about twice as much!
Fortunately, most prenatal vitamins contain the required daily amount of iron (27 mg or milligrams). Here's a tip for some iron-rich foods: lean red meat, fish, poultry, dried beans and peas, prune juice, and iron-fortified cereals.
calcium
The growing fetus needs to build up its bones and teeth. Therefore, pregnant women (and all women over the age of 18) should take 1,000 mg of calcium daily. Great sources of calcium in foods are milk and other dairy products like cheese and yogurt.
If a woman has trouble digesting milk, other sources of calcium include sardines, broccoli, dark leafy greens, or calcium supplements.
Vitamin-D
We learn more about the benefits of vitamin D before and during pregnancy. Like calcium, vitamin D helps the fetus develop its bones and teeth, but it's also important for healthy skin and vision.
All women, including pregnant women, need 600 International Units or IU of vitamin D daily, either in the form of vitamins or in the form of vitamin D-fortified milk and fatty fish such as salmon. The sun is also a great resource as it converts a chemical in the skin into vitamin D.
DHA
DHA stands for docosahexaenoic acid and helps with growth and development. During pregnancy, you need 200 milligrams of DHA daily for your baby's brain and eye development. Not all prenatal vitamins contain DHA, so good sources include:
Fischthat are low in mercury, such as herring, salmon, trout, anchovies, and sole; Orange juice, milk and eggs (but check the package label)
Iodine
Iodine helps the body produce thyroid hormones. It supports the development of your baby's brain and nervous system. Good sources of iodine are:
- Fisch
- milk, cheese and yoghurt
- Fortified or fortified cereals and breads (see package label)
- Iodized salt (salt with added iodine; see package label)
Brittany Robles -coach after birth
I definitely recommend that women take supplements during pregnancy as it can be difficult to ensure you are getting adequate amounts of each nutrient on a daily basis.
The key nutrients to look out for are:
Folate
Folic acid is one of the most important nutrients you need during pregnancy. It helps in the formation of the neural tube and prevents birth defects related to the spinal cord such as spina bifida.
The recommended intake for women who are not yet pregnant is 400 mcg per day, starting 3 months before attempting to conceive.
vitamin D and calcium
Another common nutrient that pregnant women need is vitamin D and calcium. These nutrients are important for the development of the fetal skeleton.
It is recommended that pregnant women take 200-600 IU of Vit D daily along with at least 250 mg of calcium.
Ferro
Iron is important in pregnancy as it aids in the production of red blood cells in the mother and also in the health of the baby's placenta, but it is not needed as much during pregnancy as it is when you are not pregnant.
Pregnant women are recommended to take 27 mg daily for better health.
Iodine
Iodine is another essential nutrient for the development of thyroid hormones. It is recommended that pregnant women take 150 mcg per day. Iodine can be obtained from food sources that contain iodized salt.
Vitamin b12
This vitamin is essential for the production of red blood cells in the mother and also for the health of the baby's placenta. It is recommended that pregnant women consume at least 400 mcg per day, especially if they are vegetarian/vegan
DHA
DHA is another overlooked supplement that is necessary in pregnancy. The development of the baby's brain and eyes in the womb is supported by this supplement. It is recommended that pregnant women take at least 200 mg per day.
Dra. Ashley Margeson -Superwoman Code
There are two to three main supplements indicated in pregnancy. The first is folate, a B vitamin that has been shown to drastically reduce the risk of neural tube defects during development.
Folate is such an important part of development that we recommend taking at least one folate if there's a chance you're pregnant.
Two other supplements recommended based on blood tests and symptoms are iron and omega-3 fatty acids. Blood tests for hemoglobin and ferritin indicate whether or not iron supplementation is indicated. In this case, an easily absorbable iron such as heme iron reduces the risk of concentration
Omega-3 fatty acids are indicated because of the baby brain symptom. When this shows up in the second or third trimester, an omega-3 fatty acid is usually needed.
Dr. Alan Lindemann
During pregnancy, women should take prenatal vitamins recommended by doctors. You need to know what supplements you are taking and why. Talk to your doctor about why supplements are important during pregnancy.
My first practice was in a rural Minnesota community surrounded by farmland. In the first six months, two patients gave birth to babies with what are known as neural tube defects (problems with the nerves in the spinal cord).
To me, that looked like a high incidence of this birth defect. At the time I thought it might be something in the area. The connection between too little folic acid and neural tube defects in pregnant women was later established.
Prenatal vitamins should contain 400 microgramsfolic acid.
In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)recommendsthat if you have a neural tube defect during pregnancy, take 4000 micrograms daily when trying to conceive and maintain that level of folic acid through the third month of pregnancy.*
FerroIt's also an important supplement to consider if you're pregnant. Your body produces several units of blood during pregnancy. Because of this increase in blood volume, a pregnant woman may appear anemic during her pregnancy.
Iron is needed to form hemoglobin. It takes about three months for your body to produce red blood cells and for your hemoglobin levels to begin to rise due to the body's increased blood volume.
However, iron supplements can cause nausea and constipation, which you don't need during pregnancy. It helps to eat before taking prenatal vitamins.
If you still have problems with nausea after taking iron supplements, talk to your doctor. There are other ways to increase your iron intake without taking supplements.
You should take the vitamins recommended by your doctor when you are pregnant. If you have trouble taking supplements recommended by your doctor, discuss them with your doctor.
Dr. A.S. A.S. A. S. Tamika Kruz
I really don't recommend anything other than prenatal supplements, so I would say no.
It's better to eat a balanced diet and you can go a long way with a balanced diet, I mean that's the purpose of supplements, to supplement things that we haven't gotten in our diet.
So I generally recommend taking the prenatal vitamins during pregnancy as they give you a little more energy than the average Western diet.
I definitely don't recommend anything else because you really should try to focus on a balanced diet and make sure you're getting protein, carbs, fats, iron-rich foods, folic acid, and the like.
I recommend simply taking your prenatal vitamins and eating a healthy, balanced diet.
Prenatal vitamins/supplements:
There are so many different brands, choose the one that you are comfortable with, be it gummies, pills, whatever. As long as they contain DHA, which most do these days, it's fine.
I just wouldn't do the other supplements because people take the ones people put on the market then they end up taking an excessive amount of vitamins that can even be toxic.
For example, if you have to take too much vitamin A, it can be very bad for the baby, or if you have too much vitamin C, it can be bad for the baby. Therefore, I definitely do not recommend taking additional supplements.
Alaina Brinley Rajagopal -the emergency records
Every woman should take a prenatal vitamin during pregnancy in addition to a healthy diet.
The recommended supplement is a prenatal vitamin containing folate, iron, calcium, vitamin D, choline, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and vitamin C.
The prenatal vitamin is the only supplement needed, but your obstetrician may recommend a specific vitamin or suggest additional supplements if needed.
The dietary supplement must contain at least 400 micrograms of folic acid in order to achieve the 600 micrograms of folic acid per day required for pregnant women.
Your diet provides some folic acid and it can be found in foods like green leafy vegetables, fortified cereals, fortified breads and pastas, peanuts, orange juice and beans.
Folic acid is important to prevent certain brain and spinal injuries in the fetus. You should start taking your prenatal vitamin at least a month before you get pregnant and continue taking it throughout your pregnancy.
Carrie Lam-Dr. Lam-Coaching
Women should take prenatal vitamin supplements before and during pregnancy because the need for nutrients increases during pregnancy.
Certain supplements are safe to take during pregnancy, for example vitamin B6 is safe to take for nausea, especially in the first trimester.
Folic acid is especially important during pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects.
Vitamin D can also be safely supplemented if a person spends most of their time indoors and doesn't get enough sunlight.
If someone has anemia, iron can be safely taken to increase blood levels.
DR. Danielle Plummer -HGApotheker
Pregnant women should take supplements when their bodies are deficient in nutrients or when higher doses are needed during pregnancy.
All women should take 0.4-0.8 mg of folic acid daily, starting at least 1 month before pregnancy and continuing through 12 weeks, to reduce the risk of developing neural tube defects.
If they had a baby with a neural tube defect or a family history, supplement at 4 mg/day. If they have certain variations of MTHFR gene mutations, take the methylated form known as methylfolate.
Vitamin B12, cyanocobalamin, is also important when working with folic acid to develop a healthy nervous system.
Women with mild nausea may benefit from ginger. Women with severe nausea and vomiting quickly become depleted of essential sustenance and require supplementation through alternative routes including IV, topical, and rectal.
Important supplements include vitamin B1 (thiamine), at least 100 mg, to prevent complications such as Wernicke's encephalopathy, and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) to reduce nausea.
Magnesium and potassium can help women with muscle cramps or restless legs, and vitamin K can help women with clotting disorders. Since most of us are vitamin D deficient, supplementation may be necessary to boost immunity and bone strength.
Dr. William Haas -OvulifeMD
Despite our best efforts to eat clean and maintain a balanced diet, many women in the United States are deficient in some of the key vitamins and minerals needed for pregnancy.
And because a growing baby gets all the nutrients it needs from its mother, more of these essential vitamins and minerals are needed during pregnancy.
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists specifically recommends getting adequate amounts of 10 different vitamins and minerals: calcium, iron, choline, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and folic acid.
These nutrients help with everything from brain development to bone growth. Folic acid is particularly important for preventing birth defects of the brain and spinal cord — which is why it's found in nearly all prenatal vitamins.
Some of the recommended vitamins, like choline, are not as commonly found in pregnancy, so it's important to take a look at the label and verify the specific one you're taking with your OB/GYN.
Dr. Lawrence Gerlis -doctor on the same day
Pregnancy places an enormous additional nutritional burden on the body.
When one considers that a whole new human life must develop within nine months, it is easy to see that the nutritional needs of pregnant women are significant to sustain this development.
Not only are extra calories needed, but certain vitamins and minerals are also very important.
The entire range of vitamins must therefore be supplemented during pregnancy, in particular vitamin B6 B12, as well as the usual vitamins ACD and K.
In addition, minerals are important in the situation and magnesium, calcium and zinc must be supplemented.
The most important thing of all isiron supplementas the new fetus has high iron requirements and iron deficiency anemia is very common in pregnancy, particularly in women on a vegan or vegetarian diet.
Regular blood tests are important to assess iron status and detect vitamin deficiencies at an early stage. Folic acid deficiency in particular can be associated with fetal abnormalities.
Dr. Taylor Graber -IVs as soon as possible
Pyridoxin (Vitamin B6):
Nausea and vomiting are incredibly common, also called morning sickness, pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting, or in more extreme situations, hyperemesis gravidarum.
Taken as a dietary supplement, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) has an excellent safety profile, minimal side effects, is readily available as an over-the-counter supplement, and helps with nausea.
A direct mechanism is currently unknown, but maternal vitamin B6 levels naturally decrease with increasing gestation period.
The dosage as a supplement is 10-25 milligrams every 6-8 hours depending on tolerability up to a maximum of 200 milligrams per day (B6 is safely tolerated up to 500mg per day but the recommended range is up to 200mg per day). . Day).
B6 has been shown to be helpful for mild to moderate nausea in several randomized controlled trials.
DR. By Kai Lyn - The Best of Kai LynGynecological patient information
While it's a myth that pregnant women must "eat for two," the need for certain nutrients is significantly higher during pregnancy than in the non-pregnant state.
Therefore, most women are advised to take dietary supplements during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, here is a helpful list of essential vitamins and minerals to include in your diet:
1. Folic Acid.
A dose of at least 400 micrograms per day should be started 3 months before pregnancy and during the first three months of pregnancy.
This helps prevent neural tube defects in your baby, which are abnormalities of the brain and spinal cord and are easily prevented by getting enough folic acid.
2. Calcium.
Increase your calcium intake to promote strong bones and teeth for your baby.
Good sources of calcium are milk, cheese, yogurt and leafy green vegetables. You can take oral supplements that are available over the counter.
3. Vitamin D.
It goes hand in hand with calcium as it is necessary for its absorption. Food sources include fortified milk, cold-water deep-sea fish, and butter.
Go into the sun more often, because that also helps with vitamin D production! Vitamin D is commonly added to your calcium and prenatal supplements, so keep an eye out for it.
4. Ferro.
This is important for the formation of red blood cells for you and your baby. Too little iron in the body causes anemia – in severe cases this can lead to dizziness, fainting, tiredness or even shortness of breath and chest pain.
Try taking vitamin C with iron-rich foods to increase absorption. Remember not to take your iron supplements within 2 hours of taking your calcium supplements as this will interfere with absorption.
5. Omega-3 fatty acid (DHA).
This is vital for your baby's brain and eye development. Although DHA is found in deep-sea fish, use caution as some fish can contain high levels of mercury.
Safe DHA-rich sources include salmon, sardines, herring, halibut, and omega-3-enriched eggs. You can also get your DHA source from oral supplements — including vegetarian options — that are readily available.
Every woman (and her pregnancy) may be different in her own way, so remember to check with your obstetrician to make sure you're taking the right supplements :)
Tracy Lyon -Children's Hospital Santo Antonio
It is recommended that women start taking a prenatal vitamin at least 3 months before attempting to conceive or if they are sexually active and not using contraception.
A prenatal vitamin is preferred over a multivitamin because prenatal vitamins have the correct dosages of vitamins and minerals recommended for the average pregnant patient.
It is recommended that women take 400 µg (micrograms) of folic acid daily. Folic acid helps prevent spina bifida, which can affect your baby for life.
Spina bifida can cause the baby to never be able to walk and was detected around the time you have a positive pregnancy test.
It is too late to start prenatal vitamin supplements after pregnancy to prevent this condition.
Women should NOT take more than 10,000 IU. vitamin A per day. Some multivitamins exceed this amount and can cause birth defects.
Vitamin D is not routinely supplemented, but if a woman has low vitamin D levels, she should take 600-2,000 IU. per day. Low vitamin D levels during pregnancy have been linked to skeletal problems in the baby.
There are no other vitamins that are routinely recommended during pregnancy, but fish oil or omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent premature birth, preeclampsia, and postpartum depression.
A healthy diet with fruits, vegetables and other foods containing B vitamins, calcium and iron can also have a positive effect on pregnancy.
Dr. Kate Killoran -Your doctors online
Proper nutrition is critical to a healthy pregnancy. Getting most of the nutrients from your diet is the best way to get the vitamins and minerals you need.
But often the need for nutrients during pregnancy exceeds what we can provide through food. Therefore, a prenatal vitamin is recommended for all pregnant women.
In fact, it's best to start prenatal vitamin supplements 3 months before conception to ensure adequate levels of essential nutrients.
Some of these important vitamins and minerals are folate, iron, calcium, vitamin D, choline, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and vitamin C.
For many women, a nutritious diet and taking a prenatal vitamin is sufficient. There are several circumstances in which supplemental folate is recommended, including diabetes, smoking, certain medications, or a history of a neural tube defect.
Other supplements that are safe and may have benefits include ginger for nausea, fish oil for brain development and depression, and choline.
Choline has recently been recognized as an important nutrient with numerous potential benefits, including brain development, fetal and placental growth, and even a reduced risk of chronic disease.
Many prenatal vitamins may not contain choline and therefore additional supplementation may be necessary.
Dr. Kristin Saxena -Saxena Family Foundation
It is recommended that pregnant women take a prenatal vitamin daily. Pregnancy increases the need for nutrients, and while these are best obtained from food, a good prenatal vitamin will help ensure these needs are met.
One of the most important nutrients to look for in a prenatal vitamin is folic acid. It is recommended that pregnant women take at least 600 mcg of folic acid daily to reduce the risk of neural tube defects and birth defects such as cleft palate or heart defects.
It's also good to look for a prenatal vitamin that contains the essential fatty acids DHA and EPA, which appear to be linked to improved baby brain development and possibly a reduction in maternal depression.
Your doctor may suggest additional supplements like iron if you have pregnancy-related anemia.
Other supplements like extra vitamin D, magnesium, and probiotics are probably safe and may be beneficial; Drug administration and most has not been well studied in pregnant women.
DR. Mubashar Rahman -health credits
Although vitamin and mineral tablets are theoretically not needed with proper nutrition, in practice many doctors recommend them. This is because some of these levels tend to fall below normal standards during pregnancy.
The mother's body must compensate for the vitamins and minerals that are being used up by the new life that is developing. For this reason, doctors recommend that pregnant women take the following vitamin supplements:
- folic acid:Several studies have shown that taking supplemental folic acid helps reduce the risk of birth defects in the neural tube, an embryonic structure that makes up the brain and spinal cord.
- Omega-3:Although not considered essential for adults, some studies suggest that a baby's vision and nervous system development may be benefited by consuming omega-3 fatty acids.
- Ferro: Iron is necessary for the regeneration of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying component of the blood. Some women may have low iron levels in laboratory tests and suffer from anemia. This is fairly common in pregnancy as the extra fluid content in the blood dilutes the amount of circulating iron and the baby also uses up some of the mother's stores.
- Calcium:Since the calcium requirements of a developing baby are high, calcium intake should be increased to prevent decalcification of the mother's bones and teeth.
- Vitamin-D:Many calcium supplements today contain vitamin D as it helps in the proper absorption of this mineral and is therefore important for proper bone formation.
DR. Mona Fahoum -Meridian-Medizin
We see many women with a history of chronic vaginitis, sexual dysfunction, and there are ways to restore vaginal health with herbal and pharmaceutical medications when appropriate.
Adaptogenic supplements that naturally balance hormone levels support fertility health. If the body is not happy, there may be a substance or environment with chronic inflammation for ovulation fertility.
Along with a powerful multivitamin to keep overall nutrient levels balanced.
Other nutrients to control vitamin D, zinc, which contains copper (long-term zinc can degrade copper), vitamin C and natural antioxidants from eating fruit!
Sometimes it's very simple procedures that change everything for both men and women - and sometimes we have to go back to the drawing board and find a "reset" button.
Don't go alone, let an expert help you. Working with alternative, functional, and integrative practitioners can be helpful for pre- and post-fertility in the long term.
Fadwah Halaby -Partyra360
We recommend supplements. But only if the client believes that they are not getting all the nutrients their body needs from food. This should be your #1 source of nutrients whether you are pregnant or not.
There are also herbal blends that can be used as teas or infusions to get more nutrients when needed.
If a person wishes to take a prenatal vitamin or supplement, we always recommend a food-based option for better absorption in the body.
Many synthesized vitamins and minerals pass through the system without being absorbed and wasted.
Lots of people are deficientVitamin-D, and even if they're in the normal range, they're probably not high enough in the range (normal is 32-100 - I recommend 50-80).
Magnesiumis another great supplement for a pregnant person. Helps with sleep, constipation, muscle pain, high blood pressure and preterm labor.
Also,Probioticsare an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. Having a robust digestive system, capable of breaking down food and helping the body absorb essential nutrients, is the foundation of a healthy life.
Jacky Montoya -Vitaya MD
Women, and especially women during pregnancy, should begin supplementation before pregnancy and continue throughout pregnancy and postpartum. The most important vitamins include folic acid, calcium, iron, iodine, vitamin D, iron and a combination of B vitamins.
During pregnancy, a woman's body goes through many physiological changes and the body adapts quickly and promptly. It is important for women to eat a balanced and nutritious diet during pregnancy to ensure the body has everything it needs to have a beautiful baby or babies.
Prenatal vitamins include folic acid as it is necessary to prevent neural tube defects in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Foods that contain folic acid are leafy greens, beans and nuts. Calcium is another important mineral that the baby needs to grow, as the mother's calcium is depleted and she can lose bone density during pregnancy.
Iodine is very important for maintaining thyroid function and is usually included in prenatal care.
Finally, iron is important for the production and replacement of blood cells needed to carry oxygen and nutrients to the baby.
The easiest way to approach nutrition during pregnancy is to have the thought, "Everything I put in my mouth must provide some nutritional value to the baby," and every once in a while a craving can be satisfied, knowing that most of your intake is nutritious and valuable vitamins and minerals.
Supplementation is essential as it ensures that all the necessary vitamins are available in abundance and the health of the woman or the baby is not compromised.
Dra. Jessica Nouhavandi -bee health
Prenatal vitamins are recommended for women during pregnancy to ensure the fetus is getting what it needs. The following can be found in prenatal vitamins:
- Folic acid is a B vitamin that is necessary for all cell growth and development. During pregnancy, women need more folic acid than normal for the development and growth of fetal cells.
- Before pregnancy, women should take 400 µg of folic acid daily; During pregnancy you should take 600 µg of folic acid daily.
- Calcium is a mineral that helps in the development of bones, teeth, muscles and nerves in the fetus. During pregnancy, 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day are needed.
- Vitamin D is needed for the body's nerves, muscles, and immune system to function properly. Vitamin D also helps in the growth of bones and teeth in the fetus. During pregnancy, 600 IU of vitamins are needed per day.
- It is also recommended that women consume 27g of iron daily. Iron is used to make hemoglobin, a protein that helps carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
- During pregnancy, twice as much iron is needed to produce more blood so it can carry oxygen to the mother and fetus. The fetus needs iron to make its own blood.
- Iodine is needed during pregnancy to develop the fetus's nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and nerves) so it can move, think, and feel. 220 micrograms of iodine are required per day.
Allie Edwards-The perfect pregnancy plan
It is imperative for women to take supplements during pregnancy. However, they must be very careful about what to take, how much to take, and making sure they are getting the highest quality supplements.
In recent years, through studies of epigenetics during pregnancy, we've learned that prenatal nutrition is obscenely more important than we previously thought.
It is now known that what you eat during pregnancy actually changes the expression of your baby's genes. Essentially, this means you have the power to “turn on” good genes and “turn off” bad genes based on your diet and activity level during pregnancy.
The only prenatal nutrition and fitness program that explains this and how to use it in detail is called The Perfect Pregnancy Plan and is based on the latest scientific research.
While it is ideal to get most of your nutrients from your diet during pregnancy, some of the nutrient requirements for optimal fetal growth and development are so high that supplementation is necessary.
But always know where your supplements are coming from, do your research and look for “as natural as possible”.
DR. Shaista Waheed -health wire
During pregnancy, the growth of the fetus is entirely dependent on the mother's nutrients. Many important multivitamins and other nutrients are known to support PLACENTAL DEVELOPMENT.
Speaking of DHA, here's why pregnant women need to take DHA supplements.
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is an essential structural fatty acid required for the development of the retina and central nervous system in children. Most of a child's brain development is completed during pregnancy, which requires nutritional support from the mother's body.
Under normal circumstances, the omega-3 fatty acid is metabolized into DHA. However, there is a reduction in the metabolic processing of these fatty acids.
Therefore, to support the development of children's brains and retinas, women must take DHA supplements along with a DHA-rich diet during pregnancy.
DR. Madathupalayam Madhankumar -iCliniq
Getting the right nutrients is crucial at every stage of life, especially during pregnancy as you need to nourish yourself and your growing fetus.
Experts from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommend that all pregnant women take prenatal vitamins and folic acid to fill nutritional gaps and prevent developmental disabilities at birth.
prenatal vitamins
These are multivitamins to meet the increased need for micronutrients during pregnancy.
Folate
Folate is a vitamin that plays an important role in DNA synthesis, red blood cell production, and fetal development.
Ferro
Iron is vital for oxygen transport and the healthy growth and development of your baby and placenta.
Vitamin-D
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin for better immune function, bone health, and cell division.
Dr. Burt Webb -vitality mds
Women should take nutritional supplements during pregnancy, but more importantly, they should take nutritional supplements before they become pregnant.
Many women do not feel well during pregnancy, so they do not take dietary supplements regularly.
The other aspect is that most prenatal vitamins are of poor quality. Yes, they have a lot of numbers on the back, but there are questions about how and if nutrients are absorbed.
Pharmaceutical grade supplements are required to have much higher standards of product purity and better absorption than most prenatal vitamins.
Prenatal vitamins must contain iron and folic acid, with levels for each nutrient determined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Thank you to all the medical experts who contributed to this expert round-up! If you enjoyed reading this post, share it with your friends and family on social media.
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