Before pregnancy, women need to prepare in terms of health to create optimal conditions for the development of the fetus. Besides a scientific resting diet, women who are also interested in preparing for pregnancy should take a supplement. The following article will summarize information and give you some suggestions about the medicine you need to supplement.
Time to take supplements before pregnancy
Before entering puberty, a woman's ovaries have about 300,000 follicles . Among them, only about 300-500 follicles will mature, selected to release from the ovaries during the reproductive age of women.
Also according to the biological mechanism, the egg begins to ripen about 3 months before it is released to participate in fertilization. To have a healthy pregnancy, it is not only when mothers know that they are pregnant that mothers begin to supplement with nutrition. Therefore, if mothers take medicines and multivitamins at this time, they will be the best for healthy development of eggs.
Substances to supplement when preparing for pregnancy
In fact, "supplements" are not considered drugs but as supplements. The added nutrients are usually vitamins and trace minerals that are easily deficient due to inadequate dietary intake or decomposition during food preparation and cooking.
According to the recommendation of the International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FIGO) in 2015, the nutrients women should pay attention to provide before pregnancy are: folic acid, iron, calcium, vitamin D, DHA Omega-3 fatty acid / EPA, and Iodine.
Folic acid (Vitamin B9)
Folic acid is essential for the synthesis of DNA, lack of folic acid, cells cannot multiply, leading to limited growth. At a time when cells need to multiply rapidly, a lack of folic acid causes defects in the fetus.
Iron (Fe)
Iron is the building block of Hemoglobin, the carrier of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood, and is very important for both mother and fetus. Iron deficiency causes anemia and anemia disorders: dizziness, dizziness, fatigue, malnutrition , increased obstetric complications, ... In Vietnam, according to the National Institute of Nutrition 2015, there are Up to 37.7% of women of childbearing age suffer from iron deficiency anemia, so right from the time you intend to become pregnant, you should pay attention to supplementing iron.
Calcium
Calcium helps develop baby's bones and teeth, maintains bone density, prevents maternal osteoporosis in the future. Calcium is readily available in food: milk, shrimp, crab, fish ... You can easily supplement from daily food, this is the safest and most effective source of calcium.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D helps to absorb and regulate the distribution of calcium in the body. Very few foods are high in Vitamin D. 80% of the vitamin D supply for the body is due to the synthesis in the skin under the effect of sunlight. According to statistics, women today have a high rate of vitamin D deficiency. One of the reasons is less exposure to direct sunlight. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to vitamin D supplementation from before pregnancy.
Omega-3 fatty acids DHA / EPA
Omega-3 fatty acids DHA / EPA are two long-chain unsaturated fatty acids. The results of many studies show that adequate supplementation of DHA / EPA before pregnancy increases fertility by increasing blood flow to the uterus , ensuring the best nutrition for fetal implantation. This is especially meaningful in the case of in vitro fertilization ...
On the other hand, the mother herself also needs to have an adequate source of DHA / EPA to supply the fetal brain, vision and immune system development in the future. DHA / EPA is absorbed and works best for mother and fetus when it is in its natural form, Triglyceride and DHA / EPA ratio ~ 4/1.
Iodine
Iodine plays an important role in helping the thyroid to synthesize hormones that are needed to regulate metabolism in the body. Therefore, iodine deficiency can reduce the metabolism in the mother and fetus, affecting the brain.
Preparing for pregnancy should take what supplements? Suggest to women some drugs
There are many health supplements on the market today that are advertised as good for pregnancy preparation. Below is a summary of some of the drugs that women often trust.
Pregnacare Plus Omega-3 (British)
This is the kind of functional food "top of the table" that women often "hunt" today. Pregnacare contains many micronutrients necessary for pregnancy, in sufficient amounts.
Pregnacare Plus Omega-3 Ingredients
However, the component in Pregnacare Plus Omega-3 does not contain calcium. Women should consult their doctor about calcium supplements.
Elevit (Australia)
This was and is still a functional food "storming" on the market for women who intend to vote.
Elevit provides complete and necessary nutrients for pregnancy (Folic Acid, Iron, Calcium, Vitamin D, Iodine…), except for Omega-3 Fatty Acid DHA / EPA. Women need to supplement DHA / EPA Omega-3 fatty acids with extra pills! In addition, the iron content in Elevit is quite high, so it can cause constipation, burning, and pimples. Women should incorporate a diet high in green vegetables to avoid this.
Blackmores Conceive Well Gold (Australia)
Each box of Blackmores Conceive Well Gold contains 56 capsules (28 tablets and 28 soft capsules). Every day take 1 capsule with meals.
Active ingredients in each tablet:
- Iodine (as 197 iodide mg of potassium) ………………………………………… 150 mg
- Folic acid …………………………… ………………………………………… 500 mg
- Anhydrous Cupric sulphate (copper 1.3 mg) ……………………………… ..3.3 mg
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin ) ………………………………………………… .1.5 mg
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamin nitrate) …………………………………………… .1, 5 mg
- Manganese sulfate monohydrate (Manganese 5 mg) …………………… ..15.4 mg
- Zinc sulphate monohydrate (zinc 15mg) ………………………… .41.6 mg
- Nicotinamide ……………………………………………………………… ..20 mg
- Iron fumarate (Iron 24 mg) …………………………………… ……… ..75.4 mg
- Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine hydrochloride) …………………………… ..50 mg
- Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin) ………………………………… …… .50 mg
- Magnesium oxide - heavy (Magnesium 200 mg) ………………… 350 mg
- Ascorbic acid ………………………………………………………………. 200 mg
- Calcium ascorbate dihydrate (Total vitamin C 500 mg)… .63 mg
- Selenomethionine (Selenium 65 mcg) ………………………………… .161.5 mcg
- Biotin …………… …………………………………………………………… .100 mcg
- Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid from 5 mg calcium pantothenate)… 4.6 mg
Active ingredients in each soft capsule:
- Tuna oil contains Omega-3 triglycerides about 160mg
- Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 125mg
- Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) 30mg 500mg
- Natural Vitamin E (d-alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate 147 mg) 200 IU
- Ubidecarenone (Coenzyme Q10) 60 mg
- Vitamin D3 (Vitamin D. 10 mg) 400 IU
- Betacarotene (from Dunaliella Salina extract equiv. Fresh cell 37.5 mg) 1.5 mg
Women can see all the necessary supplements in the preparation for pregnancy in a 56-pill Blackmores Conceive Well Gold box. Of course, the cost for this supplement will be higher.
Buy standard - relevant - economical
The article has named 3 cult brands in the "world" of functional foods for women who want to get pregnant. You already know what supplements to take when preparing for pregnancy. And what tonic will you choose during this time?
Each brand has its own recipe. Women need to be alert to choose the right foods to take supplements. How to choose the right "medicine" in the right line, suitable for your condition and affordable - that's what women need to learn!
See more:
What needs to be prepared before getting pregnant for a healthy pregnancy?
What supplements should women take before pregnancy to conceive as desired?
Late pregnancy: When is it too late?