Importance of vitamins during pregnancy

Vitamins and other nutrients during pregnancy

During pregnancy your baby gets all necessary nutrients from you. So you may need more during pregnancy than you did before pregnancy.

Taking prenatal vitamins and eating healthy foods can help give you all the nutrients you and your baby need during pregnancy.

Make sure your prenatal vitamin has folic acid, iron and calcium in it. Most have the right amount of each of these.

Talk to your provider to make sure you get enough vitamin D, DHA and iodine each day.

Don’t take any supplements without your provider’s OK.

What are prenatal vitamins?

Prenatal vitamins are multivitamins for pregnant women or women who are trying to get pregnant. Compared to a regular multivitamin, they have more of some nutrients that you need during pregnancy. Your health care provider may prescribe a prenatal vitamin for you, or you can buy them over the counter without a prescription. Take a prenatal vitamin every day during pregnancy. If you’re planning to get pregnant, start taking prenatal vitamins before you get pregnant.

Your body uses vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in food to strong and healthy. During pregnancy, your growing baby gets all necessary nutrients from you. So you may need more during pregnancy than you did before. If you’re pregnant with multiples (twins, triplets or more), you may need more nutrients than if you’re pregnant with one baby. Your prenatal vitamin contains the right amount of nutrients you need during pregnancy.

If you’re a vegetarian, have food allergies or can’t eat certain foods, your provider may want you to take a supplement to help you get more of certain nutrients. A supplement is a product you take to make up for certain nutrients that you don’t get enough of in foods you eat. For example, your provider may recommend that you take a vitamin supplement to help you get more vitamin D, iron or calcium.

Which nutrients are most important during pregnancy?

All nutrients are important, but these six play a key role in your baby’s growth and development during pregnancy:

1. Folic acid
2. Iron
3. Calcium
4. Vitamin D
5. DHA
6. Iodine

What is folic acid?

Folic acid is a B vitamin that every cell in your body needs for healthy growth and development. Taking folic acid before and during early pregnancy can help prevent birth defects of the brain and spine called neural tube defects (also called NTDs). Some studies show that taking folic acid may help prevent heart defects and birth defects in your baby’s mouth (called cleft lip and palate).

• Before pregnancy take a vitamin supplement with 400 mcg of folic acid every day.  
• Take a vitamin supplement with 400 mcg of folic acid each day, even if you’re not trying to get pregnant.
• During pregnancy, take a prenatal vitamin each day that has 600 mcg of folic acid in it.

Check the product label to see how much folic acid is in it.

If you’re at high risk for having a baby with an NTD, talk to your provider about how you can safely take 4,000 mcg of folic acid each day to help prevent an NTD. Start taking 4,000 mcg at least 3 months before you get pregnant and through the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. You’re at high risk if:

• You’ve had a pregnancy with an NTD in the past.
• You or your partner has an NTD.
• Your partner has a child with an NTD.

Don’t take several multivitamins or prenatal vitamins. You can get too much of other nutrients, which may be harmful to your health. Your provider can help you figure out the best and safest way for you to get the right amount of folic acid.

You can also get folic acid from food. Citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables and beans are all excellent sources of folic acid. Some foods are also enriched with folic acid, such as cereals, bread, rice and pasta.

What is iron?

Iron is a mineral. Your body uses iron to make hemoglobin, a protein that helps carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. You need twice as much iron during pregnancy than you did before pregnancy. Your body needs this iron to make more blood so it can carry oxygen to your baby. Your baby needs iron to make his own blood.

During pregnancy you need 27 milligrams of iron each day. Most prenatal vitamins have this amount. You also can get iron from food. Good sources of iron include:

• Lean meat, poultry and seafood
• Cereal, bread and pasta that has iron added to it (check the package label)
• Leafy green vegetables
• Beans, nuts, raisins and dried fruit

Foods containing vitamin C can increase the amount of iron your body absorbs. It's a good idea to eat foods like orange juice, tomatoes, strawberries and grapefruit every day.

Calcium (in dairy products like milk) and coffee, tea, egg yolks, fiber and soybeans can block your body from absorbing iron. Try to avoid these when eating iron-rich foods.

If you don’t get enough iron during pregnancy, you may be more likely to experience:

• Infections.
• Anemia. This means you have too little iron in your blood.
• Fatigue. This means you feel really tired or exhausted.
• Premature birth. This means your baby is born too soon, before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
• Low birthweight. This means your baby is born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces.

What is calcium?

Calcium is a mineral that helps your baby’s bones, teeth, heart, muscles and nerves develop. During pregnancy, you need 1,000 milligrams of calcium each day. You can get this amount by taking your prenatal vitamin and eating food that has a lot of calcium in it. Good sources of calcium include:

• Milk, cheese and yogurt
• Broccoli and kale
• Orange juice that has calcium added to it (check the package label)

If you don’t get enough calcium during pregnancy, your body takes it from your bones and gives it to your baby. This can cause health conditions, such as osteoporosis, later in life. Osteoporosis causes your bones become thin and break easily.

What is vitamin D?

Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium. It also helps your body’s nerves, muscles and immune system work. Your immune system protects your body from infection. Vitamin D helps your baby’s bones and teeth grow.

During pregnancy, you need 600 IU (international units) of vitamin D each day. You can get this amount from food or your prenatal vitamin. Good sources of vitamin D include:

• Fatty fish, like salmon
• Milk and cereal that has vitamin D added to it (check the package label)

What is DHA?

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a kind of fat (called omega-3 fatty acid) that helps with growth and development. During pregnancy, you need DHA to help your baby’s brain and eyes develop. Not all prenatal vitamins contain DHA, so ask your provider if you need to take a DHA supplement.

During pregnancy, it is recommended that women eat 8 to 12 ounces of seafood low in mercury each week. Good sources of DHA include:

• Herring, salmon, trout, anchovies, halibut, catfish, shrimp and tilapia
• Orange juice, milk and eggs that have DHA added to them (check the package label) 

What is iodine?

Iodine is a mineral your body needs to make thyroid hormones, which help your body use and store energy from food. You need iodine during pregnancy to help your baby’s nervous system develop. The nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves) helps your baby move, think and feel.

During pregnancy, you need 220 micrograms of iodine every day. Not all prenatal vitamins contain iodine, so make sure you eat foods that have iodine in them. Ask your provider if you need to take an iodine supplement.

Good sources of iodine include:

• Fish
• Milk, cheese and yogurt
• Enriched or fortified cereal and bread (check the package label)
• Iodized salt (salt with iodine added to it; check the package label)

Last reviewed September, 2020

Nutrition During Pregnancy | ACOG

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

• Eating well is one of the best things you can do during pregnancy. Good nutrition helps you handle the extra demands on your body as your pregnancy progresses. The goal is to balance getting enough nutrients to support the growth of your fetus and maintaining a healthy weight.

• The popular saying is that pregnant women “eat for two,” but now we know that it’s dangerous to eat twice your usual amount of food during pregnancy. Instead of “eating for two,” think of it as eating twice as healthy.

  If you are pregnant with one fetus, you need an extra 340 calories per day starting in the second trimester (and a bit more in the third trimester). That's roughly the calorie count of a glass of skim milk and half a sandwich. Women carrying twins should consume about 600 extra calories a day, and women carrying triplets should take in 900 extra calories a day.

• Vitamins and minerals play important roles in all of your body functions. Eating healthy foods and taking a prenatal vitamin every day should supply all the vitamins and minerals you need during pregnancy.

• Take only one serving of your prenatal supplement each day. Read the bottle to see how many pills make up one daily serving. If your obstetrician–gynecologist (ob-gyn) thinks you need an extra amount of a vitamin or mineral, your ob-gyn may recommend it as a separate supplement.

• No, do not take more than the recommended amount of your prenatal vitamin per day. Some multivitamin ingredients, such as vitamin A, can cause birth defects at higher doses.

• During pregnancy you need folic acid, iron, calcium, vitamin D, choline, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and vitamin C. See the below table for recommended amounts.

  Key Vitamins and Minerals During Pregnancy

  Nutrient (Daily Recommended Amount)	Why You and Your Fetus Need It	Best Sources
  Calcium (1,300 milligrams for ages 14 to 18; 1,000 milligrams for ages 19 to 50)	Builds strong bones and teeth	Milk, cheese, yogurt, sardines, dark green leafy vegetables
  Iron (27 milligrams)	Helps red blood cells deliver oxygen to your fetus	Lean red meat, poultry, fish, dried beans and peas, iron-fortified cereals, prune juice
  Iodine (220 micrograms)	Essential for healthy brain development	Iodized table salt, dairy products, seafood, meat, some breads, eggs
  Choline (450 milligrams)	Important for development of your fetus’s brain and spinal cord	Milk, beef liver, eggs, peanuts, soy products
  Vitamin A (750 micrograms for ages 14 to 18; 770 micrograms for ages 19 to 50)	Forms healthy skin and eyesight Helps with bone growth	Carrots, green leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes
  Vitamin C (80 milligrams for ages 14 to 18; 85 milligrams for ages 19 to 50)	Promotes healthy gums, teeth, and bones	Citrus fruit, broccoli, tomatoes, strawberries
  Vitamin D (600 international units)	Builds your fetus’s bones and teeth Helps promote healthy eyesight and skin	Sunlight, fortified milk, fatty fish such as salmon and sardines
  Vitamin B6 (1. 9 milligrams)	Helps form red blood cells Helps body use protein, fat, and carbohydrates	Beef, liver, pork, ham, whole-grain cereals, bananas
  Vitamin B12 (2.6 micrograms)	Maintains nervous system Helps form red blood cells	Meat, fish, poultry, milk (vegetarians should take a supplement)
  Folic acid (600 micrograms)	Helps prevent birth defects of the brain and spine Supports the general growth and development of the fetus and placenta	Fortified cereal, enriched bread and pasta, peanuts, dark green leafy vegetables, orange juice, beans. Also, take a daily prenatal vitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid.

• Folic acid, also known as folate, is a B vitamin that is important for pregnant women. Folic acid may help prevent major birth defects of the fetus’s brain and spine called neural tube defects (NTDs).

• When you are pregnant you need 600 micrograms of folic acid each day. Because it’s hard to get this much folic acid from food alone, you should take a daily prenatal vitamin with at least 400 micrograms starting at least 1 month before pregnancy and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

  Women who have had a child with an NTD should take 4 milligrams (mg) of folic acid each day as a separate supplement at least 3 months before pregnancy and for the first 3 months of pregnancy. You and your ob-gyn or other obstetric care provider can discuss whether you need to supplement with more than 400 micrograms daily.

• Iron is used by your body to make the extra blood that you and your fetus need during pregnancy. Women who are not pregnant need 18 mg of iron per day. Pregnant women need more, 27 mg per day. This increased amount is found in most prenatal vitamins.

• In addition to taking a prenatal vitamin with iron, you should eat iron-rich foods such as beans, lentils, enriched breakfast cereals, beef, turkey, liver, and shrimp. You should also eat foods that help your body absorb iron, including oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, broccoli, and peppers.

  Your blood should be tested during pregnancy to check for anemia. If you have anemia, your ob-gyn may recommend extra iron supplements.

• Calcium is a mineral that builds your fetus’s bones and teeth. Women who are age 18 or younger need 1,300 mg of calcium per day. Women who are 19 or older need 1,000 mg per day.

  Milk and other dairy products, such as cheese and yogurt, are the best sources of calcium. If you have trouble digesting milk products, you can get calcium from other sources, such as broccoli, fortified foods (cereals, breads, and juices), almonds and sesame seeds, sardines or anchovies with the bones, and dark green leafy vegetables. You can also get calcium from calcium supplements.

• Vitamin D works with calcium to help the fetus’s bones and teeth develop. Vitamin D is also essential for healthy skin and eyesight. All women, pregnant or not, need 600 international units of vitamin D a day.

  Good sources of vitamin D include fortified milk and breakfast cereal, fatty fish (salmon and mackerel), fish liver oils, and egg yolks.

• Many people do not get enough vitamin D. If your ob-gyn thinks you may have low levels of vitamin D, a test can be done to check the level in your blood. If it is below normal, you may need to take a vitamin D supplement.

• Choline plays a role in your fetus’s brain development. It may also help prevent some common birth defects. Experts recommend that pregnant women get 450 mg of choline each day.

  Choline can be found in chicken, beef, eggs, milk, soy products, and peanuts. Although the body produces some choline on its own, it doesn’t make enough to meet all your needs while you are pregnant. It’s important to get choline from your diet because it is not found in most prenatal vitamins.

• Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of fat found naturally in many kinds of fish. Omega-3s may be important for brain development before and after birth.

  Flaxseed (ground or as oil) is also a good source of omega-3s. Other sources of omega-3s include broccoli, cantaloupe, kidney beans, spinach, cauliflower, and walnuts.

• Eat at least two servings of fish or shellfish per week before getting pregnant, while pregnant, and while breastfeeding. A serving of fish is 8 to 12 ounces (oz).

• Some types of fish have higher levels of mercury than others. Mercury is a metal that has been linked to birth defects. Do not eat bigeye tuna, king mackerel, marlin, orange roughy, shark, swordfish, or tilefish. Limit white (albacore) tuna to only 6 oz a week. Also check advisories about fish caught in local waters.

• B vitamins, including B1, B2, B6, B9, and B12, are key nutrients during pregnancy. These vitamins

  Your prenatal vitamin should have the right amount of B vitamins that you need each day. Eating foods high in B vitamins is a good idea too, including liver, pork, chicken, bananas, beans, and whole-grain cereals and breads.

• Vitamin C is important for a healthy immune system. It also helps build strong bones and muscles. During pregnancy, you should get at least 85 mg of vitamin C each day if you are older than 19, and 80 mg if you are younger than 19.

  You can get the right amount of vitamin C in your daily prenatal vitamin, and also from citrus fruits and juices, strawberries, broccoli, and tomatoes.

• Drink throughout the day, not just when you are thirsty. Aim for 8 to 12 cups of water a day during pregnancy.

• There are many tools that can help you plan healthy meals. One useful tool is the MyPlate food-planning guide from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The MyPlate website, www.myplate.gov, can help you learn how to make healthy food choices at every meal.

  The MyPlate website offers a MyPlate Plan, which shows how much to eat based on how many calories you need each day. The MyPlate Plan is personalized based on your

  The MyPlate Plan can help you learn about choosing foods from each food group to get the vitamins and minerals you need during pregnancy. The MyPlate Plan can also help you limit calories from added sugars and saturated fats.

• • Grains

  • Fruits

  • Vegetables

  • Protein foods

  • Dairy foods

• Bread, pasta, oatmeal, cereal, and tortillas are all grains. Whole grains are those that haven’t been processed and include the whole grain kernel. Oats, barley, quinoa, brown rice, and bulgur are all whole grains, as are products made with those grains. Look for the words “whole grain” on the product label. When you plan meals, make half of your grain servings whole grains.

• You can eat fresh, canned, frozen, or dried fruit. Juice that is 100 percent fruit juice counts in the fruit category, but it is best to eat mostly whole fruit instead of juice. Make half your plate fruit and vegetables during mealtimes.

• You can eat raw, canned, frozen, or dried vegetables or drink 100 percent vegetable juice. Use dark leafy greens to make salads. Make half your plate fruit and vegetables during mealtimes.

• Meat, poultry, seafood, beans and peas, eggs, processed soy products, nuts, and seeds all contain protein. Eat a variety of protein each day.

• Milk and milk products, such as cheese, yogurt, and ice cream, make up the dairy group. Make sure any dairy foods you eat are pasteurized. Choose fat-free or low-fat (1 percent) varieties.

• Oils and fats are another part of healthy eating. Although they are not a food group, they do give you important nutrients. During pregnancy, the fats that you eat provide energy and help build the placenta and many fetal organs.

• Oils in food come mainly from plant sources, such as olive oil, nut oils, and grapeseed oil. They can also be found in certain foods, such as some fish, avocados, nuts, and olives.

  Most of the fats and oils in your diet should come from plant sources. Limit solid fats, such as those from animal sources. Solid fats can also be found in processed foods.

• Weight gain depends on your health and your body mass index (BMI) before you were pregnant. If you were underweight before pregnancy, you should gain more weight than a woman who had a normal weight before pregnancy. If you were overweight or obese before pregnancy, you should gain less weight. The amount of weight gain differs by trimester:

  • During your first 12 weeks of pregnancy—the first trimester—you might gain only 1 to 5 pounds or none at all.

  • If you were a healthy weight before pregnancy, you should gain a half-pound to 1 pound per week in your second and third trimesters.

  See the below table for recommended weight gain during pregnancy.

  Weight Gain During Pregnancy

  Body Mass Index (BMI) Before Pregnancy	Rate of Weight Gain in the Second and Third Trimesters* (Pounds Per Week)	Recommended Total Weight Gain With a Single Fetus (in Pounds)	Recommended Total Weight Gain With Twins (in Pounds)
  Less than 18. 5 (underweight)	1.0 to 1.3	28 to 40	Not known
  18.5 to 24.9 (normal weight)	0.8 to 1.0	25 to 35	37 to 54
  25. 0 to 29.9 (overweight)	0.5 to 0.7	15 to 25	31 to 50
  30.0 and above (obese)	0.4 to 0.6	11 to 20	25 to 42

  *Assumes a first-trimester weight gain between 1. 1 and 4.4 pounds

  Source: Institute of Medicine and National Research Council. 2009. Weight Gain During Pregnancy: Reexamining the Guidelines. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

• During the first trimester with one fetus, usually no extra calories are needed. In the second trimester, you will need an extra 340 calories per day, and in the third trimester, about 450 extra calories a day. To get the extra calories during the day, have healthy snacks on hand, such as nuts, yogurt, and fresh fruit.

• Excess weight during pregnancy is associated with several pregnancy and childbirth complications, including

  • high blood pressure

  • preeclampsia

  • preterm birth

  • gestational diabetes

  Obesity during pregnancy also increases the risk of:

  • a larger than normal fetus (macrosomia)

  • birth injury

  • cesarean birth

  • birth defects, especially NTDs

• You and your ob-gyn should work together to develop a nutrition and exercise plan. If you are gaining less than what the guidelines suggest, and if your fetus is growing well, gaining less than the recommended guidelines can have benefits. If your fetus is not growing well, changes may need to be made to your diet and exercise plan.

• MyPlate
  Healthy eating resources from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
  www.myplate.gov

  • Healthy Eating on a Budget: https://www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/healthy-eating-budget

  • Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: https://www.myplate.gov/life-stages/pregnancy-and-breastfeeding

  • MyPlate Plan: https://www.myplate.gov/myplate-plan

  Food Sources of Select Nutrients
  Examples of foods that are good sources of important nutrients.
  www.dietaryguidelines.gov/resources/2020-2025-dietary-guidelines-online-materials/food-sources-select-nutrients

• Anemia: Abnormally low levels of red blood cells in the bloodstream. Most cases are caused by iron deficiency (lack of iron).

  Birth Defects: Physical problems that are present at birth.

  Body Mass Index: A number calculated from height and weight. BMI is used to determine whether a person is underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.

  Calories: Units of heat used to express the fuel or energy value of food.

  Cesarean Birth: Birth of a fetus from the uterus through an incision (cut) made in the woman’s abdomen.

  Complications: Diseases or conditions that happen as a result of another disease or condition. An example is pneumonia that occurs as a result of the flu. A complication also can occur as a result of a condition, such as pregnancy. An example of a pregnancy complication is preterm labor.

  Fetus: The stage of human development beyond 8 completed weeks after fertilization.

  Folic Acid: A vitamin that reduces the risk of certain birth defects when taken before and during pregnancy.

  Gestational Diabetes: Diabetes that starts during pregnancy.

  High Blood Pressure: Blood pressure above the normal level. Also called hypertension.

  Macrosomia: A condition in which a fetus grows more than expected, often weighing more than 8 pounds and 13 ounces (4,000 grams).

  Neural Tube Defects: Birth defects that result from a problem in development of the brain, spinal cord, or their coverings.

  Obstetrician–Gynecologist (Ob-Gyn): A doctor with special training and education in women’s health.

  Oxygen: An element that we breathe in to sustain life.

  Placenta: An organ that provides nutrients to and takes waste away from the fetus.

  Preeclampsia: A disorder that can occur during pregnancy or after childbirth in which there is high blood pressure and other signs of organ injury. These signs include an abnormal amount of protein in the urine, a low number of platelets, abnormal kidney or liver function, pain over the upper abdomen, fluid in the lungs, or a severe headache or changes in vision.

  Preterm: Less than 37 weeks of pregnancy.

  Trimester: A 3-month time in pregnancy. It can be first, second, or third.

Don't have an ob-gyn? Search for doctors near you.

FAQ001
Last updated: March 2022
Last reviewed: December 2021

Topics:

Pregnancy During Pregnancy Health and Safety During Pregnancy Nutrition and Exercise

Copyright 2023 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. All rights reserved. Read copyright and permissions information.

This information is designed as an educational aid for the public. It offers current information and opinions related to women's health. It is not intended as a statement of the standard of care. It does not explain all of the proper treatments or methods of care. It is not a substitute for the advice of a physician. Read ACOG’s complete disclaimer.

The role of vitamins during pregnancy for women

During pregnancy, a woman's body experiences a serious load. It is not surprising, because from the very first days a whole organ system of the baby is being laid. Of great importance during this period is the full-fledged proper nutrition and the intake of vitamin complexes, which are necessary for the healthy bearing of the baby.

Undoubtedly, food is the best source of vitamins and minerals. But during such a responsible and difficult period as pregnancy, even healthy food cannot always fully replenish the necessary reserve of vitamins that are necessary for the proper development of the fetus. nine0004

Each trace element has its own physiological function, so the intake of vitamins should be made taking into account the requirements of the daily intake, developed and recommended by the Russian Federation of obstetricians and gynecologists.

Surprisingly, the body immediately begins to give signals about the lack of a particular vitamin through various symptoms. Malaise, drowsiness, headache - the cause of each of the symptoms is a lack of the corresponding vitamin. nine0004

• Vitamin A is involved in the formation of visual pigments. With it, nails become brittle and brittle, visual acuity decreases.
• Deficiency of vitamin B1 can cause cramps, numbness of the fingers and toes.
• Vitamin E is responsible for the elasticity of the skin and when it is deficient, women notice dryness, peeling, and irritation on the skin.
• Vitamin C is the strongest antioxidant responsible for immunity and performance. Drowsiness, apathy and irritability can be the cause of the lack of this element. nine0016
• B2 is responsible for the regulation of hematopoiesis and its deficiency causes burning, dry skin, tearing, dizziness.
• Vitamin D regulates the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body, which is needed to keep bones and teeth healthy. Bleeding gums, enamel damage and joint pain are the first signs of deficiency.
• Calcium is responsible for the formation of the nervous system of the fetus, its lack is expressed in brittle nails, brittle bones. nine0016

If you notice any unpleasant symptoms, discomfort, you should immediately contact a specialist. A gynecologist in Novosibirsk, after a complete examination, will prescribe the appropriate drugs and vitamin and mineral complexes.

Do not self-diagnose hypovitaminosis and prescribe treatment. Remember that you are now taking all the drugs and vitamins with your baby.

Importance of folic acid in early pregnancy

Folic acid is one of the most important elements in the formation of a healthy child. The significance and importance of vitamin B9 has been known to medicine for a long time, but in the last 10 years gynecology has begun to pay special attention to this microelement.

Deficiency of folic acid, which plays an important role in the formation of DNA and the development of the baby's neural tube, can lead to serious consequences, up to placental abruption and miscarriage.

Clinical studies have shown that 80% of births of children with congenital defects of the brain and spinal cord can be avoided with the timely use of folic acid before pregnancy and during childbearing. nine0004

Considering that this microelement is excreted from the body of a pregnant woman 4-5 times faster, the daily requirement for microelement B9 in healthy women is 0.4 mg. It is especially important to adhere to this recommendation in the first trimester of pregnancy.

The intake of prescribed vitamins in no way replaces proper and nutritious nutrition. Therefore, the fulfillment of all the appointments and prescriptions of the doctor, walks in the fresh air and the correct regimen will be the key to the successful bearing and birth of a healthy baby. nine0004

Vitamins and pregnancy - articles from the specialists of the clinic "Mother and Child"

Kurbatskaya Olga Nikolaevna

Obstetrician-gynecologist

Lapino-1 Clinical Hospital "Mother and Child"

One of the most common questions that pregnant women ask their doctor is what vitamins should I take during pregnancy? Let's say right away whether expectant mothers need to drink pharmaceutical vitamins or not - there is no unequivocal answer to this question. Some doctors believe that the necessary nutrients should be obtained from natural products. Others are in favor of taking pharmaceutical multivitamins. It can only be said unequivocally that vitamins and microelements must necessarily enter the body of a pregnant woman. We will tell you which of them are most important for the expectant mother. nine0070