It is difficult to argue with the assertion that pregnancy is a special period in the life of every woman. The birth of a new life and its development, the expectation of a new person in the family and the pleasant chores associated with preparing for childbirth - what could be better? And, of course, all expectant mothers wish only the best for their baby. And for the proper development of the future person, a combination of a whole complex of vitamins is necessary, which as a whole helps the formation of the skeleton of the baby, his brain and other vital organs.
Unfortunately, in the modern world, women rarely have the opportunity to eat right and regularly, and here various vitamin complexes come to the rescue, designed to make up for the deficiency of an element in the body of the future mother, from which the baby draws its resources. Of course, every woman in this exciting period wants to know what are the best vitamins for pregnant women, what are the advantages of some over others and which complex to ultimately choose.
Features of Vitamins for Pregnant Women
The multivitamins that are used during pregnancy differ from conventional complexes, so it is important to drink only special medications intended for a specific period of life. When the question arises, what are the best vitamins for pregnant women, reviews of friends are not a determining criterion. It must be remembered that what is suitable for one person does not necessarily help another. Only a doctor who observes the patient both during pregnancy and before her can most accurately prescribe drugs that are suitable for her. For this, special tests can be prescribed, because an excess of elements in the body is no better than their lack.
The woman's need for vitamins is constantly growing as the baby grows. Thus, the peculiarity of vitamin complexes for pregnant women is a higher content of vital elements, compared with conventional drugs, providing the ability to saturate the needs of the body. That is why, when deciding which vitamins for pregnant women are best, it is necessary to take into account the term of development of the baby. As a rule, the complex is prescribed after the 12th week of pregnancy, in the absence of other indications.
What should contain vitamins for pregnant women?
In addition to vitamin complexes, there are separate drugs designed to fill up the deficiency in the body of certain elements. For example, folic acid, which is prescribed even before pregnancy, during the planning period, and "Iodomarin", which saturates the body with iodine. In addition to these two elements, calcium must be present in vitamins for pregnant women, which affects the correct formation of the baby’s skeleton.
Thus, these three elements must be present in multivitamins. In addition, it should be borne in mind that in complexes, the iodine content, as a rule, does not exceed 150 mcg. Therefore, it is necessary to replenish it in the body by using an additional iodine-containing drug or by including seaweed, fish and any seafood in your diet.
Pregnancy Planning: Choosing Vitamins Right
The stage when the decision to conceive has matured is crucial to ensure the most comfortable conditions for bearing and giving birth to a healthy baby. From how correct this period was, it directly depends on how the pregnancy itself will proceed.
Planning a pregnancy means for both partners the need to undergo a full examination for the presence of chronic diseases and infections, and for a woman also taking certain vitamins. A drug that you must start taking immediately after a conscious decision about future motherhood is folic acid (vitamin B9). His admission is considered the best prevention of defects in the formation of the nervous system of the unborn baby. If pregnancy occurs unexpectedly, the drug should be used immediately after confirmation of pregnancy. The fact that you can drink it before a visit to the doctor is an important criterion by which it is included in the list of “the best vitamins for pregnant women”. Reviews about him are only positive both from the side of medical workers and from expectant mothers who took him.
Another important element at this stage is vitamin E, which improves the reproductive functions of the body and provides optimal conditions for the development of the baby. In addition, it is a good prevention of pathologies such as miscarriage and missed pregnancy.
Thus, it is these two trace elements that are most needed during this period.
First trimester: what vitamins are needed?
As in the planning period, after pregnancy, in the first trimester, the need for vitamins begins to slowly increase. However, many doctors agree that the best vitamins for pregnant women in the early stages are proper, balanced nutrition and positive emotions. As a rule, gynecologists prescribe multivitamins after 12 weeks, when the future mother’s internal resources do not fully cope with the growing needs of the body. At this stage, it is believed that the use of folic acid, as well as vitamins A, E, C and iodine, is sufficient. This choice is explained as follows:
- folic acid serves as a prevention of disorders of the nervous system of the unborn child and severe malformations;
- Vitamin A helps to properly form the nervous system, visual apparatus and skeleton;
- Vitamin E is the prevention of miscarriages, and also helps the proper formation of the placenta;
- Vitamin C enhances immunity, thereby increasing the body's resistance to various viruses and infections, which prevents premature termination of pregnancy;
- iodine is extremely important in the process of proper formation of the nervous system and thyroid gland.
It is this combination that the group called "the best vitamins for pregnant women in the first trimester" suggests.
Second trimester: the right choice of vitamins
After the 12th week, the rapid development of the future baby begins and the formation of its vital organs. To provide it with the necessary resources, you need to start taking vitamin complexes.
The best vitamins for pregnant women in this period are those that contain enough:
Iron is needed to reduce the risk of anemia during pregnancy. Hemoglobin, which consists of it, carries oxygen throughout the body and delivers to the baby. In addition, it is iron that is actively involved in the process of protein synthesis, due to which muscles are formed. Among other things, a lack of iron can lead to an increase in the tone of the uterus.
Iodine is prescribed already in the early stages of pregnancy, however, the need for it increases significantly in the second trimester. It is important in the process of forming the skeleton of the unborn child, as well as the development of his mental abilities. Lack of iodine significantly disrupts the metabolism of the expectant mother, causing general weakness and excess weight.
Calcium is actively involved in the formation of the skeleton, endocrine system and kidneys of a baby, so its proper use is extremely important in the second trimester. It is noteworthy that this trace element is poorly extracted from food, so it is advisable to use it in finished form.
It is this combination of trace elements in the 2nd trimester that answers the question: "What are the best vitamins for pregnant women?" Reviews of doctors and expectant mothers confirm this information.
Third trimester: vitamins
The last three months of pregnancy are the most difficult. The future baby is already strong enough, tremors and movements are becoming more noticeable, the stomach is growing, which leads to some physical discomfort. In the last months of pregnancy, it is difficult to choose a comfortable position for sleeping, and housework becomes quite onerous. At the same time, the baby continues to actively develop, it still needs resources for formation. The main trace elements that are needed at this stage of pregnancy are:
- vitamin C;
- vitamin D.
- magnesium.
Vitamin C improves the immune system of the expectant mother, which is especially important in the 3rd trimester. Any disease at this stage can lead to sad results. That is why it is extremely important to have good immunity, especially if the last months of pregnancy were during the flu epidemic.
Vitamin D serves as a prophylaxis of rickets in the unborn baby and helps to properly form the skeleton in late pregnancy. This vitamin can be obtained from sunlight, therefore, if the 3rd trimester occurred in the summer months, you need to be more in the sun, not forgetting about skin protection products.
Magnesium is a preventive component from premature birth, which is especially true at this stage of pregnancy.
The high content of these micronutrients in the preparation in the 3rd trimester is the best vitamin for pregnant women. Reviews of medical workers at the same time clarify that taking vitamins at this time is not a mandatory measure. It depends on the condition of the future mother and the results of the tests.
The best maternity vitamins list
Today, there are many vitamin complexes designed to replenish the body of a future mother with necessary trace elements. Given the large selection of drugs, it is difficult to determine which vitamins for pregnant women are the best.
However, now there are complexes that are most widely used in practice. They are considered optimal multivitamins that provide the body of the future mother with all the necessary trace elements in sufficient quantities.
Also good vitamins for pregnant women are:
- "Alphabet for pregnant women";
- “Vitrum Prenatal”, “Vitrum Prenatal Forte”;
- "Materna";
- “Pregnakea”;
- "Elevit Prenatal";
- "Femibion."
According to experts, it is these drugs that are the most suitable vitamins during pregnancy in the absence of contraindications. Despite the fact that they contain all the necessary trace elements, their number is different for each drug. That is why only a doctor can prescribe a complex of vitamins that is most suitable for a particular woman. Independent choice in this case is not advisable.
The way to use vitamin complexes for pregnant women
The best vitamins for pregnant women, the name of which was mentioned above, should be taken once a day, in the morning after breakfast. Unless otherwise indicated by a doctor, drugs should be taken in accordance with the instructions. Usually, one course is a month, after which it is necessary to take tests and determine whether to take the drug further. As a rule, if the expectant mother lives in a favorable climatic region, the need for taking vitamin complexes is not constant. You should not abuse them, even if these are the best vitamins for pregnant women.
The opinion of doctors
As a rule, any gynecologist at one stage or another of pregnancy prescribes the intake of vitamins for the expectant mother. However, at the same time, all experts agree that the most correct way is to get the necessary trace elements in a natural way, through food and sunlight. It must be remembered that even the best vitamins for pregnant women are a medicine, and there is no reason to take medications without urgent need. In addition, the intake of trace elements should be preceded by a thorough examination of the body with blood donation. This is necessary in order to prevent hypervitaminosis, which is possible if the balance of taking drugs is not observed. Every expectant mother should be aware of the degree of her responsibility for the correct intake of complexes, which in any case affects the baby’s health.
If you get the necessary trace elements in a natural way, then the risk of hypervitaminosis is completely absent. That is why the best vitamins for pregnant women, according to doctors, are proper, balanced nutrition, walking and absorbing positive emotions. In addition, medical workers warn that excessive use of vitamins during pregnancy and lactation can lead to allergic reactions in the baby in the future.
The best vitamins for pregnant women, reviews
Despite skepticism from doctors, it is difficult to find a woman who, being pregnant, would not take vitamins. This is due to the fact that not all expectant mothers can eat right and balanced for various reasons. This may be a lack of funds, lack of time for full and frequent cooking, hard work and other factors. In such a situation, the intake of vitamins solves the problem of saturating the body, and therefore the future baby, with the necessary trace elements. That is why in recent years, the intake of vitamins during pregnancy has gained such popularity. If you want to highlight the best vitamins for pregnant women, reviews of women who took them can be useful. So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of multivitamins that are on the list of the best.
- "The alphabet for pregnant women." The advantage of this drug is taking into account the interaction of all the trace elements contained in it. Vitamins are available in tablets of three different colors, so you can refuse a certain one in case of an allergic reaction. In addition, it is in this complex that contains the largest amount of iodine, so there is no need for additional intake. The disadvantage of this drug is a small content of folic acid, so up to 12 weeks, an additional intake of this vitamin is necessary.
- Vitrum Prenatal. The main advantage of this drug, due to which it is very popular among gynecologists, is its high iron content. It is enough for the prevention of anemia at all stages of pregnancy, and for its treatment at the initial stage. In addition, folic acid is abundant here. The minus of the drug in the absence of iodine, however, this deficiency is compensated for in the Vitrum Prenatal forte complex.
- "Materna." Judging by the composition, there is a sufficient amount of iodine and folic acid. However, reviews indicate that this drug has a significant drawback - a high content of vitamin A and B vitamins, which is often the cause of many allergic reactions.
- "Drive." Reviews about this vitamin complex are mostly positive, it contains all the necessary vitamins during pregnancy. However, there is also no iodine, which is why an additional intake of iodine-containing drugs is necessary.
- "Elevit Prenatal." This drug receives a lot of positive reviews. The advantage that both doctors and expectant mothers note is a high magnesium content, which is the best prevention of abortion. In addition, it significantly improves blood circulation, and this is quite important during pregnancy.
- "Femibion." Perhaps this is the only vitamin complex to date, which contains in the right amount all the necessary elements during pregnancy, including iodine and folic acid, which is the basis for positive reviews about it. This drug is available in two versions: Femibion-1, suitable for the first trimester of pregnancy, and Femibion-2, after 12 weeks. The main advantage of the drug, which is noted by pregnant women, is that it combines all the necessary vitamins. Accordingly, there is no need to take additional drugs, and this is very convenient. His only drawback, which is noted - is a rather high price.
Thus, judging by the reviews, the best complex of vitamins for pregnant women is Femibion. This is the only drug that combines all the necessary trace elements during pregnancy. Therefore, you do not need to take additional tablets in combination with it.
Nevertheless, do not forget that any complex of vitamins, regardless of its quality, has its contraindications. That is why to choose the best vitamins for pregnant women and the method of use should only be a doctor who observes a woman throughout pregnancy.