Vitamins in the human body catalyze almost all biochemical and physiological processes. This happens when they are combined with some protein molecules. With a lack of these substances, the enzymes remain inactive, and therefore all processes are disrupted. This is bad for any organism, what can we say about women who are expecting a baby. Therefore, vitamins for during pregnancy are the basis for the favorable development of the fetus and successful delivery.
New needs to form a new life
Pregnancy is a period when a woman changes the work of most of her body systems. Together with these changes, there is a need for completely different proportions to receive all important trace elements, including womens multivitamins. It is impossible to cover the increased need of a woman only by changing her diet: you will have to greatly increase the amount of food consumed, which can lead to excess weight. Therefore, in addition to a modified diet, doctors prescribe vitamins for pregnant women.
These are special balanced complexes that will help the body not only get, but also absorb all the substances it needs. Of course, many continue to argue, they say, for healthy offspring, our ancestors had enough of what they got from food. This can be objected to the following: food production (including the cultivation of crops) has changed significantly over the past couple of decades. The content of vitamins has also changed. Preservatives, dyes and other chemical elements are added to many finished products that destroy natural vitamins or prevent the body from absorbing them.
Doses of vitamins
Often, for additional intake, doctors prescribe not individual trace elements, but whole vitamin complexes intended for pregnant women. In the 50-60s of the twentieth century, it was believed that with the onset of pregnancy, the volume of all vitamins consumed by a woman should increase by 1.5 times. However, after a series of studies, doctors came to the conclusion that the need for each individual vitamin is different. Moreover, it changes from trimester to trimester. If a woman chooses a multivitamin complex herself, then she should know that for pregnant women an excess of these substances is no less harmful than their lack.
Vitamins for pregnant women are important already at the stage of pregnancy planning. For example, doctors recommend taking E and B9 already at the stage of preparation for conception.
First trimester
In the first trimester of pregnancy, B vitamins are of primary importance. During the period of rapid cell division – the first few weeks after conception – a chemical element that every woman simply needs to take is folic acid. It must be sufficient at the moment when all systems and organs of the embryo are laid: 15-28 days after conception. In addition, folic acid is involved not only in cell division, but also in DNA synthesis. A large deficiency of this vitamin for pregnant women in the early stages can subsequently lead to malformations of the embryo.
It is better for pregnant women not to drink green tea during this period, because it reduces the percentage of digestibility of this element. At the same time, the expectant mother should take vitamin B6. Its deficiency is critical primarily for the nervous and cardiovascular systems. A sufficient amount of zinc should enter the body of a pregnant woman.
In the future, this will help her child avoid problems in the development of the genitourinary system and the brain. Vitamin E, which provides oxygen supply to the cells of the embryo, should be drunk from the first day of pregnancy: it will protect against spontaneous abortion, and riboflavin will ensure the growth of the embryo. Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) will allow a woman not to part with her hair: after all, it is her lack that causes hair loss. It also protects the mother from stress, normalizes her nervous system, and affects the fat reserve, reducing it.
Second trimester
Not all, but many, vitamins for pregnant women at this time will be required as a supplement for other trace elements. Folic acid is still needed, but in smaller quantities and the expectant mother should take it until 16 weeks. Then, starting at 23 weeks, the pregnant woman will need to take calcium. It will reduce the likelihood of preterm birth by 3 times (according to medical research).
Also, a sufficient amount of it 2 times reduces the likelihood of the birth of a child with low weight. Together with calcium, you need to take vitamin D, which helps the absorption of this trace element, and also maintains the balance of phosphorus at the proper level. The embryo grows – the woman’s blood volume increases (by about 1 liter).
In order to produce enough hemoglobin, it is necessary to increase the intake of iron, and this element has its own peculiarity: the body will absorb no more than 10% of the volume that has entered the body. Therefore, it is recommended to take vitamins of group B together with it, which have a beneficial effect on the absorption of iron.
Third trimester
You can completely refuse to take folic acid: now vitamins for pregnant women are important only as auxiliary trace elements. The amount of calcium, and, accordingly, vitamin D, entering the female body, needs to be increased: the child’s skeleton is being formed. For the same purpose, increase the consumption of zinc and copper.
Selenium influences the formation of immunity, and chromium is needed for the synthesis of insulin. Very soon, for a successful birth, both mother and child will need sufficient blood clotting. Here they will help again: vitamin K – it is worth starting to take it during the last trimester.
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very informative and super beneficial for any mom to be.