Pregnant women generally need to take a supplement that contains
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:
- Folic acid
- Iron
- Calcium
- Vitamin D
- DHA
- 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
Taking supplements while pregnant - Mayo Clinic Health System
Speaking of Health
Topics in this Post
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Women's Health
It seems there's an endless amount of online information related to what supplements a woman should take when pregnant.
As a result, searching for reliable information related to supplements during pregnancy can be difficult at best.
Here's a Q&A with some advice on which supplements you can use — and those you should avoid — during your pregnancy:
Are dietary supplements OK during pregnancy?
It's recommended that women should not use dietary and herbal supplements during pregnancy. In addition, dietary and herbal supplements should be used with caution in women of reproductive age due to the risk of taking these supplements before knowledge of pregnancy.
Unlike prescription drugs, dietary supplements are not reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safety and effectiveness. As a result, they may contain contaminants, like metals, pesticides, chemicals or bacteria, which may pose risks for pregnancy. Also, most supplements are not thoroughly studied, which can lead to issues related to quality standards for ingredients and strength. For example, vinpocetine — an ingredient found in a number of dietary supplements, including those marketed for weight loss, enhanced memory, focus, mental acuity or increased energy — is not safe during pregnancy.
Other commonly used supplements that may cause harm during pregnancy include melatonin and St. John's wort.
What about meal replacement shakes?
Women shouldn't consume nutritional shakes as meal replacement options during pregnancy, as they're considered supplements and are not approved by the FDA.
Nutritional shakes may contain vitamins, herbs or other substances that have the potential to be harmful during pregnancy, and are difficult to identify on a label. Many supplement labels often read as herbal or proprietary blends. Also, because these shakes are considered supplements, there are similar quality, contamination, safety and efficacy concerns as with other dietary supplements.
What supplements are OK to take?
Folic acid supplementation is recommended for all women of reproductive age and who are pregnant, as it helps prevent neural tube defects or abnormalities, such as spina bifida. Ideally, women should take a daily folic acid supplement for at least one month before conception.
Ginger has also been shown to be helpful for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggests using ginger capsules to treat nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
What about vitamins during pregnancy?
A prenatal vitamin should be a sufficient source of vitamins during a woman's pregnancy. Talk to your health care provider about a prescription for a prenatal vitamin that is approved for use prior to getting pregnant and during pregnancy. Once pregnant, women should avoid taking more than twice the recommended dietary allowances of vitamins and minerals. Excessive intake of vitamins and minerals, such as iodine, can cause problems in pregnancy.
Also, an excessive intake of vitamin A, defined as more than 10,000 IU of vitamin A per day, may be associated with fetal malformations of the bones, urinary tract or nervous system. As a result, women should not take additional vitamin A supplementation outside of what's in their prenatal vitamin.
In general, how can women be healthy during pregnancy?
Women who are pregnant should strive to eat a well-balanced diet that is high in vegetables and fruits, has lots of colors, and includes whole grains and lean meats. Finally, make sure to avoid highly processed foods and foods high in fats, such as fried and sugary foods.
It's essential for women who are pregnant or who have the potential to become pregnant to let their health care provider know if they are taking any supplements, and discuss the risks and benefits of continuing them.
Kristina Rauenhorst, M.D., is an OB-GYN in Faribault, Minnesota.
For the safety of our patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was either recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in a non-patient care area where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.
Topics in this Post
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
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The role of a certified nurse-midwife: Embracing nine months and beyond
Vitamins and pregnancy - articles from the specialists of the clinic "Mother and Child"
Albitskaya Elena Vladimirovna
Ultrasound doctor
Clinical hospital Lapino-1 "Mother and Child"
One of the most frequent questions that pregnant women ask their doctor is what vitamins should be taken 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.
Folic acid
Other names for this vitamin are vitamin B 9 or B c . This vitamin is necessary for cell division and reproduction, so it is especially important in the first trimester of pregnancy, when all organs and systems of the child are being laid. Folic acid plays an important role in the synthesis of hemoglobin, and with its deficiency, anemia can develop. And folic acid also helps to reduce the likelihood of spinal defects in a child, takes care of the correct formation of his psyche and intellect. It is better to start taking folic acid three months before the planned conception, since a small supply of this vitamin will only be useful for both the expectant mother and the baby.
If the pregnancy has come unplanned, then folic acid must be taken as soon as the woman finds out about her situation. On average, the dosage of this vitamin is from 0.4 to 0.8 mg per day.
Calcium
An expectant mother needs about 1200–1400 mg of calcium daily, while an ordinary woman needs 800–1000 mg of this trace element. Why? During pregnancy, the amount of calcium in the body of the expectant mother is significantly reduced, since it is also spent on the growth and development of the child. Especially a lot of calcium is needed in the third trimester, when the baby's skeleton is calcified. But calcium is needed not only for the growth of bones and teeth of a child - with its help, his nervous system, his heart, muscles, skin tissues, eyes, ears, hair and nails are formed. A pregnant woman needs calcium for the full functioning of the kidneys, the prevention of muscle pain, constipation, osteoporosis, caries and toxicosis. In addition, this trace element protects the expectant mother from stress and nervous overload.
Vitamin E
This vitamin is involved in the process of tissue respiration, it helps oxygen to penetrate into every cell of the body. At the same time, vitamin E is an excellent antioxidant: it protects cells from the formation of free radicals that can provoke various diseases. This protective function is especially important at the stage of embryo formation. In addition, vitamin E helps to normalize the hormonal balance of the body. In the early stages, it participates in the formation of the placenta, and also protects against abortion. The dose of vitamin E during pregnancy is 15 mg.
Vitamin E is found in vegetable oils, not less than this vitamin in lettuce, tomatoes, rose hips, parsley, spinach and peas. Some vitamin E is found in meat, eggs and milk.
Magnesium
Magnesium is involved in all metabolic processes, helps to cope with stress, normalizes the functioning of the cardiovascular system and blood pressure, keeps blood vessels in good shape.
Due to a lack of magnesium in the body, cramps in the muscles (usually in the calves) may appear. And since the uterus is also a muscular organ, with a lack of magnesium during pregnancy during gestation, the excitability of the myometrium increases, which leads to active uterine contractions. Therefore, with hypertension and the threat of abortion, magnesium is often prescribed.
Magnesium is found in whole grains and whole grain breads, figs, almonds, seeds, dark green vegetables and bananas.
iodine
Pregnant women are usually prescribed iodine in the first trimester. Up to 16 weeks of pregnancy, the development of the child and the laying of all its organs and systems are "under the protection" of the mother's thyroid gland. And if a woman has little iodine, then this means that some system or organ of the baby may suffer. And even when the child’s own thyroid gland is formed and starts working, she can still take iodine only from the mother’s body.
Its daily dose is 250 mg per day.
Iodine is most easily obtained from seafood and sea or iodized salt. A lot of iodine is found in sea fish, seaweed, squid, persimmon, feijoa, dates, dried figs, dairy products and meat. However, iodine is destroyed by temperature effects, which means that after heat treatment, the amount of iodine in the products decreases sharply.
Iron
Iron is needed primarily to prevent anemia. After all, it is part of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen throughout the body of the mother and child. In addition, iron is involved in protein synthesis, which is involved in the formation of muscle tissue. And iron deficiency can lead to increased uterine tone. The average daily dosage of iron is 30–60 mg. In some cases, if the woman's iron supply was initially reduced, the dosage may be higher.
Iron is found in meat, especially in veal, turkey, hare, pork and beef. There is iron in plant foods, but from there it is absorbed much worse.
Iron is best absorbed when taken together with vitamin C.
If a pregnant woman eats properly and varied, eats a lot of fruits and vegetables, then she may not need an additional complex of vitamins for pregnant women. It may be necessary to drink some vitamins separately, but this should be determined by the doctor. If, before pregnancy, a woman had signs of vitamin deficiency, she eats incorrectly or poorly, then multivitamins cannot be dispensed with.
Inset
Vitamin B 9 (folic acid) found in animal liver, spinach, asparagus, lentils, Brussels sprouts, beans and wholemeal flour. However, it is absorbed very poorly from food, no more than 50%. That is why it is prescribed to almost all pregnant women
At one time, our body will not be able to absorb more than 500 mg of calcium. Therefore, you should not try to get the entire daily norm of this trace element in one meal. Try to eat foods containing calcium in small portions several times a day
To increase magnesium concentration in tissues, vitamin B 6 (pyridoxine) is needed, which facilitates its absorption and acts as a conductor of magnesium into the cell.
Therefore, magnesium and vitamin B 6 are often prescribed together.
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Expecting a baby is a thrilling and exciting process. But while mom is in emotions and preparing for childbirth, restructuring her lifestyle, the body experiences stress and also restructures its work. There are hormonal and physiological changes that need to be controlled.
During this period, the woman's body works "for two" and more resources are required for uninterrupted work than usual.
Today we are talking about the health of expectant mothers and reviewing vitamins, which are designed to help the beautiful half keep the pregnancy healthy, maintain its normal course, and ensure the baby is supplied with all the nutrients.
Vitamins and trace elements necessary for the body of a pregnant woman
For a successful conception and healthy bearing of a baby, firstly, vitamins are required, secondly, hormonal balance, and thirdly, a strong nervous system. I must say that the last two components of a successful pregnancy are provided precisely with the full content of vitamins in the expectant mother.
- B vitamins are essential for a healthy pregnancy. Thanks to riboflavin or Vitamin B2, the body produces part of the hormones, red blood cells and adenosine triphosphoric acid (ATP) are produced, which literally breathes life into our cells.
Therefore, the presence of this vitamin is so important in the body of a pregnant woman. - Vitamin B9 or folic acid is essential for women's health. This vitamin purposefully protects the reproductive system, contributing to the conception and bearing of the fetus and prevents the development of cancer cells.
- Vitamins that cleanse the body of a pregnant woman and a woman who has already given birth from toxins - A and E. They positively affect the nervous and cardiovascular systems, protect eyesight. During pregnancy and childbirth, women may experience eye problems due to hormonal changes.
- Vitamin C - helps the body mobilize the protective barrier of the body, with a sufficient amount of iron in humans, it is absorbed better. Iron deficiency leads to anemia and low hemoglobin, which is not the best option for a pregnant woman.
- Iodine is a true friend of the thyroid gland, which is responsible for the production of hormones that are vital for a person, and even more so for a pregnant woman.
- Calcium - a sufficient amount of it in the body - is a guarantee that the entire skeletal system of the baby will develop normally.
What is the difference between regular vitamins and prenatal vitamins
A pregnant woman needs more vitamins and minerals, which she will share with the fetus for its normal development: so the first difference is the dose. Which is adjusted depending on the duration of pregnancy. With each trimester, the fetus grows and develops, and therefore, the composition of useful substances for him and the expectant mother, which maintains these processes in order, may change. From ordinary vitamin complexes, specialized ones differ in composition and dosage, which are created taking into account the characteristics of the body of a pregnant woman, and taking into account the optimal maintenance of those processes that are launched in it.
The recommended norm of vitamins and minerals, its dose for pregnant women looks like this:
| Vitamins - daily dose | Trace elements - daily dose |
| AT 12 - 3. | Iron 30-60 mg |
0-4.0 µg; First trimester vitamins:
The most important, which requires a more reverent attitude and attention from the woman herself, the doctor and, perhaps, all family members. Because during this period the nervous system of the future baby is laid, the circulatory and cardiovascular systems are formed. In order for these processes to proceed safely, a woman needs to include vitamins such as:
- For normal growth and proportions of the future baby - vitamin A;
- To reduce the likelihood of toxicosis and convulsions, as well as relieve nervous excitability - B vitamins, in particular B6, which is recommended to be taken with magnesium;
- For the correct formation of the neural tube of the fetus, from where the brain and spinal cord will form, it is vital to take another B vitamin - B9 - folic acid.
- For the normal development of the circulatory system of the unborn baby and the maintenance of the development of the embryo as a whole, iodine and iron are needed.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW: Folic acid is one of the few vitamins that is not produced by our body and we have only a small amount of it only thanks to beneficial intestinal bacteria that synthesize folic acid. Food or vitamins from a pharmacy is the only sure way to meet the daily requirement.
Second trimester vitamins:
No less important than the beginning of pregnancy. And if at the end of the 1st trimester all the systems and organs of the baby are already formed, then the 2nd trimester is the time for its active development and growth. So, at this stage it is important to include in the diet of a woman:
- All the same B vitamins - for the normal functioning of the baby's nervous system, to maintain normal production of amino acids and chemical elements, prevent hemoglobin cell deficiency, reduce the risk of late toxicosis in a woman;
- Vitamin for immunity - C;
- Vitamin and mineral for the healthy growth of bones and the cardiovascular system of the baby and the prevention of bone tissue destruction in a woman - D; calcium
- Vitamin to maintain the normal state of the placenta and reduce the risk of early birth - E;
- Maintaining a normal level of hemoglobin and reducing the risk of anemia to zero - iron;
- Maintenance of the thyroid gland, which produces vital hormones in the body of a pregnant woman and the normal development of the brain in the fetus - iodine.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW: the baby receives all the nutrients, including the necessary vitamins and minerals from the mother. So, the food habits of the unborn child, his health and immunity are formed even in the womb. Therefore, it is very important to monitor the diet of a woman who is expecting a baby.
Third trimester vitamins:
3rd trimester - the final stage of pregnancy, at which the fetus reaches a large size, becomes more active. The load on the woman's body is increasing. Why and what vitamins are needed now:
- Vitamin D - is important for maintaining the normal metabolism of calcium and phosphorus - the main elements for the formation of a healthy skeleton, and this vitamin is also important for preventing childhood rickets and bone deformities.
- B vitamins - are required to reduce the risk of late toxicosis, for the normal circulation of fluid in the female body and its excretion; to produce growth hormone, which is important for the baby.
- Vitamin for immunity - C - but, in addition to protecting the health of the baby and the pregnant woman, this vitamin protects other incoming fat-soluble vitamins from oxidation, thereby contributing to their better absorption.
- Vitamins for the normal functioning of the placenta, good elasticity of the skin and walls of the uterus - A, E.
Among the large availability of vitamins for pregnant women, we recommend paying attention to the following manufacturers, with an optimal price / quality / safety ratio:
Multi-tabs PERINATAL fetus, improve placental circulation, reduce the risk of placental insufficiency, fetal hypoxia, gestosis, premature birth). Femibion natalker (contains 9 vital vitamins and iodine, balances carbohydrate metabolism and energy supply, useful vitamins for hematopoiesis and strengthens the nervous system). Complivit Mom (combined multivitamin preparation, contains a set of micro- and macroelements that maintain the stability of erythrocytes, contributes to the normal development of the placenta and embryonic tissues, the vitamins that make up stimulate the synthesis of amino and nucleic acids, and inhibits the development of anemia).
