Supplements for pregnant women, is it necessary or not to be consumed?

You are having cravings, lazy to eat, arrived morning sickness when pregnant? In order to keep up with the nutrition that both mother and baby need, supplements are often the recommended choice. The use of supplements for pregnant women is often an option to improve the health of pregnant women and the fetus. However, do all pregnant women need supplements?

Benefits of using supplements for pregnant women

Launching from Healthline, pregnant women need very significant intake of micronutrients, such as carbohydrates, protein and fat.

Vitamins and minerals support the growth of pregnant women and the fetus for the better. This is needed to support the growth of fetal cells in the womb.

Supplements are especially useful if you have several conditions, such as iron deficiency, anemia, and diabetes.

Here are some types of mothers who need additional supplement intake:

Mother lacks nutrition

Some expectant mothers may need supplements because their bodies lack vitamins or minerals. It is very important to correct this nutritional deficiency as it can lead to birth defects. Consult your doctor which type of supplement is suitable for your condition.

Hyperemesis gravidarum

This is a complicating condition characterized by excessive nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. You must take supplements for pregnant women to replace nutrition because of weight loss caused by severe nausea and vomiting.

Smoke

If you still smoke while pregnant, you should take supplements. Supplements serve to increase the nutrients the body needs but may be inhibited from being absorbed because you smoke. But of course, instead of taking supplements it will be much better if you stop smoking.

Pregnant twins

Pregnant women who contain more than one fetus really need to take supplements. Mothers carrying twins require higher nutrition than mothers who only contain one fetus.

The reason is, the mother must supply nutrients to the three bodies at once, namely the mother's own body and the fetus in the womb.

Types of supplements for pregnant women that need to be consumed

Now more and more types of multivitamins and supplements for pregnant women are sold in the market. There are several vitamins that are recommended for consumption by pregnant women, here is the list according to Choice:

Iron

Pregnant women need enough daily iron intake of around 22-27 milligrams per day, maybe even more especially for pregnant women who are also vegan or vegetarian.

Iron is an important nutrient because it is responsible for producing new red blood cells so that the body's needs are fulfilled. In addition, iron also plays a role in increasing the mass of maternal and placental blood flow.

You can take supplements for pregnant women that contain iron according to the dosage prescribed by your doctor. The reason is, excessive consumption of supplements for pregnant women can cause symptoms of indigestion and constipation.

Folic acid

Pregnant women's supplements that contain folic acid help the formation of the spinal cord and prevent birth defects.

A good daily intake of folic acid is 600 mcg for one month before conception. Pregnant women in the first trimester are required to take supplements containing at least 400-500 mcg of folic acid or as recommended by a doctor.

Vitamin D3

Taking supplements for pregnant women that contain Vitamin D3 helps maximize the absorption of calcium and phosphorus which are important for bone formation. This vitamin also helps:

Strengthens the immune system
The arrangement of cell growth
Reduces inflammation
Increase muscle strength
Promotes hormone production
Prevent depression

New research shows that taking supplements containing vitamin D3 can prevent prematurity, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes.

The daily recommendation for vitamin D3 for pregnant women is 400 IU, but some experts are now suggesting supplements should be up to 1000 IU per day during pregnancy.

It is very important to make sure the dosage of vitamins that you are consuming does not exceed what your doctor recommends. Always discuss with your doctor about the correct dosage and avoid sharing your dosage with others.

Excessive vitamin D intake can cause calcification of the placenta and narrowing of the fetal aorta. Both of these conditions will limit the supply of blood and oxygen to the baby.

Several studies have shown that vitamin D3 supplementation during pregnancy can promote optimal bone mass in children later in life.

Most people will get enough vitamin D by basking in the morning and evening for 10 minutes.

Omega-3

Supplements containing Omega-3 are very important for consumption by expectant mothers. Omega-3 contains two acids that are essential for the health of pregnant women: DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid).

DHA is essential for proper brain development, whereas EPA supports healthy behavior and mood.

Lack of DHA and EPA can lead to depression and other mental health problems. Omega-3s are not only important for your baby's development, but also to help prevent your risk of developing postpartum depression.

If you eat some oily fish every week, you won't need to take any special supplements.

This is because oily fish will provide you with lots of omega-3 fatty acids, minerals, and protein that you won't get from supplements alone.

Even so, pregnant women who live a vegetarian lifestyle still need to take supplements that contain omega-3s because they don't get these ingredients in their daily diet.

Vitamin C

The next supplement that is good to take during pregnancy is vitamin C. The need for vitamin C increases during pregnancy because the volume of blood needed during pregnancy is greater. Vitamin C is important for the formation of collagen which is very important in blood vessels.

Consumption of supplements for pregnant women that contain vitamin C has been shown to reduce the chances of preeclampsia and premature rupture of membranes in pregnancy. Research shows vitamin C supplementation can also help prevent birth defects.

The average requirement for vitamin C during pregnancy is 40 mg / day but because each individual is different, some women may need 60 mg / day. Avoid intake of more than 1000 mg per day.

Calcium

Supplements that contain calcium are very important for the growth of bones and teeth of babies. Some products that contain calcium are dairy products and soft bone fish, such as sardines.

For most people, calcium needs can be met through choosing a balanced diet. Women who avoid dairy products (a medical choice or condition) or have a vitamin D deficiency may need additional calcium supplements.

Zinc

Pregnant women's supplements that contain zinc help you to maintain a strong immune system, heal wounds, metabolize fat, and help regulate gene expression.

Zinc deficiency can lead to preterm labor and / or poor fetal development.

The recommended amount of zinc supplements for pregnant women is 9-15 milligrams per day. Zinc can be found in lean meats, fortified grain cereals, milk, seafood, and nuts and seeds.

Pregnant women who are vegetarian tend to be deficient in zinc so that their intake from supplements is recommended.

Iodine

The recommended iodine intake during pregnancy is 220 mcg / day and 270 mcg for breastfeeding mothers. However, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, it is recommended to take supplements containing iodine at a dose of 100-200 mcg per day.

Mild to moderate iodine deficiency can cause learning difficulties. In addition, iodine deficiency also affects the development of motor skills and hearing of children later. You can get iodine from seafood.