What supplements are necessary to take during pregnancy?

Pregnancy is one of the most sensitive days of every woman’s life. Any lack of nutrients during this period will have dire consequences for the health of mother and fetus. In the century we live in, most people are deficient in vitamins and minerals due to unhealthy diets and consumption of processed foods. This important issue during pregnancy can not be simply ignored and ignored. Did you know that nutrient deficiencies can even lead to premature fetal death? Fortunately, dietary supplements can easily meet the body’s need for micronutrients. It is usually recommended for all women to use the best multivitamin brand during pregnancy along with their diet. What are the essential supplements during pregnancy besides multivitamins?

Why should a multivitamin be taken during pregnancy?

When a woman becomes pregnant, her body needs more micronutrients. In order to meet this need, a product called multivitamin can be used. It is often recommended that you start taking a multivitamin pill from the time you plan to become pregnant and continue until the end of breastfeeding. The need for multivitamins in pregnancy is due to the following reasons:

• Reduce the risk of miscarriage and premature birth
• Prevention of preeclampsia
• Reduce the risk of low birth weight babies
• Reduce gastrointestinal symptoms of pregnancy
• Helping to give birth to a healthy baby (without birth defects)

It is better to use multivitamin and mineral pills instead of simple multivitamins during pregnancy to help provide the necessary minerals for the body.

Other essential supplements during pregnancy

Apart from multivitamins, other supplements that are often prescribed by doctors for pregnant women are as follows:

folic acid

Folic acid, or vitamin B9, is one of the B vitamins that plays an important role in DNA synthesis, red blood cell production, and fetal growth and development. Folic acid tablets are actually a synthetic form of folate (vitamin B9) found in many supplements. Pregnant mothers are advised to take at least 600 micrograms of folic acid daily for the following reasons:

• Reduce the risk of neural tube defects
• Prevention of congenital anomalies such as cleft palate or heart defects

Because many pregnancies occur unplanned and congenital anomalies usually occur early in pregnancy, all women of childbearing age are advised to take at least 400 micrograms of folate daily.

Iron tablets

Another essential supplement during pregnancy is iron tablets. The body’s need for iron increases significantly during pregnancy because the mother’s blood volume increases by about 45%. Iron is essential for the transport of oxygen to the organs and the growth and development of the fetus and placenta. Statistics show that about 60% of women in Iran suffer from iron deficiency anemia. Anemia during pregnancy can lead to preterm birth, maternal depression, and infant anemia. A pregnant woman needs at least 27 mg of iron daily during this period. Unfortunately, for many people, iron tablets cause side effects such as nausea, constipation and other digestive problems. To reduce these side effects, it is recommended that iron tablets be taken at bedtime or with food.

Vitamin D during pregnancy

This vitamin is one of the fat-soluble vitamins that plays an important role in strengthening the immune system, maintaining bone health and cell division. Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and preterm labor, and also increases the risk of cesarean delivery. Although the recommended amount of vitamin D during pregnancy is said to be 600 IU or 15 micrograms per day, many experts believe that the body needs more vitamin D during pregnancy. It is best to seek your doctor’s advice in this regard and use vitamin D tablets if necessary.

Taking magnesium pills during pregnancy

Hundreds of chemical reactions in the body require sufficient amounts of magnesium. Magnesium pills are not an essential supplement during pregnancy, but they should be taken if they are deficient. Magnesium plays an important role in the functioning of the immune system, muscles and nerves. Magnesium deficiency during pregnancy may increase the risk of chronic high blood pressure and preterm labor. Therefore, taking these magnesium supplements can prevent these risks.

The need to take omega-3 pills during pregnancy

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are omega-3 fatty acids that are essential for a baby’s brain development. Taking supplements containing DHA and EPA helps the baby’s brain develop and reduces the risk of depression in pregnant women. DHA and EPA, found in fish oil supplements or omega-3 pills, prevent premature labor and help protect the fetus’s visual system. If you want to get omega-3 fatty acids from your body through food sources, you can eat mercury-free fish like salmon 2-3 meals a week.

Calcium pills in pregnancy

Almost everyone knows that adequate sources of calcium should be used to protect the health of bones and teeth. If the pregnant mother’s body is deficient in calcium, the calcium needed for fetal growth is supplied from the mother’s bones. This will increase the risk of osteoporosis in the coming years. Calcium levels in the mother and fetus should be adequate to help maintain healthy bones in the body. In case of calcium deficiency, calcium pills can be used during pregnancy with the advice of a doctor.

The importance of iodine intake in pregnancy

The mineral iodine plays a significant role in the growth and development of the baby’s brain. Pregnant women need more iodine than others. Iodine is also essential for the production of maternal and fetal thyroid hormones because it regulates the function of the nervous system. Iodine deficiency increases the risk of pregnancy thyroid. Therefore, it is necessary to use sufficient amounts of iodized salt and other foods containing this substance during pregnancy. You should make sure that the multivitamin you take during pregnancy also contains iodine.

Supplements that should not be taken during pregnancy

We have listed the essential supplements for you during pregnancy. The following micronutrients or vitamins should not be consumed in large amounts during pregnancy:

Vitamin A

Vitamins are usually found in multivitamins during pregnancy. This vitamin has an effective role in the function of the immune system and vision. However, in high doses, this vitamin should not be taken during pregnancy. Because vitamin A is fat-soluble, your body stores extra amounts in the liver. This accumulation can have toxic effects on the body and lead to liver damage or birth defects in the fetus. Studies show that congenital malformations at birth can be exacerbated by overdose of vitamin A.

Vitamin E

This vitamin is also fat soluble and plays a role in improving the function of the immune system. Some studies have shown that taking this vitamin in high doses during pregnancy can lead to premature rupture Amniotic sac And will lead to premature birth.

The final word

In this article, we have introduced the essential supplements during pregnancy. During pregnancy, it is better to avoid taking some vitamins in the form of supplements, which we have also described to you. Now it is your turn to tell us and the readers of Positive Green Online Pharmacy Magazine about your experiences of taking supplements during your pregnancy. Which multivitamin brand did you use during your pregnancy?