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The question of the need for vitamins at pregnancy is of great importance, and at the same time, so far the world has not found an unambiguous answer to it. This is due to the fact that pregnancy is a physiological state that proceeds according to some general, certain rules, but with indispensable features inherent in each expectant mother and determined by the individual qualities of both the woman and the father of the unborn child. In addition to the individual biological, psychological and physical characteristics of a pregnant woman and the father of a child, many factors influence the course and outcome of pregnancy, among which nutrition and drinking are the most significant. After all, it is nutrition that ensures the entry into the body of a woman of all the necessary vitamins, minerals, trace elements and energy substances. And, therefore, the answer to the question of the need for the use of vitamins during pregnancy largely depends on the type of nutrition of the woman carrying the child.

In almost all cases, nutrition is determined by two main factors:
1. The eating habits and traditions of a particular family, ethnic or social group.
2. Opportunities of the family to provide a pregnant woman with various products.

This means that if there are certain traditions and eating habits adopted in a family or group, a pregnant woman will eat according to them, not paying attention to the recommendations and advice of doctors. Usually such traditional food options are inferior, but very tenacious, as myths and legends about their benefits are passed down from generation to generation, actively supported and inflated. Adhering to traditional eating habits, a pregnant woman does not eat many foods that are useful and necessary for her, since they are not on the accepted menu. If such traditions are strong in a family, then the accepted type of nutrition will be maintained even if it is able to afford the purchase of the products necessary for a pregnant woman, since it is this diet that is considered “correct” and “tested for centuries”.

In other cases, families may adhere to the rules and advice of doctors regarding the diet of a pregnant woman, but in the end her nutrition will be determined by material means, which will or will not allow her to purchase any products.

And therefore, the answer to the question about the use of vitamins during pregnancy, in fact, is determined by the nutritional characteristics and the current physical condition of each particular pregnant woman. If a woman did not eat very well before pregnancy, then she is recommended to take vitamins during the entire period of bearing a child. If she ate well and fully before and during pregnancy, then she does not need to take additional vitamins. This is the general conclusion reached by experts from the World Health Organization on the use of synthetic vitamins during pregnancy. Let us consider in more detail all aspects of the use of vitamins during pregnancy in the countries of the former USSR.

Vitamins for pregnant women - the results of studies conducted under the auspices of WHO

Over the past decade, three major studies have been conducted on the effects of multivitamin supplementation in women during pregnancy. The very first such study was conducted in 2005-2006 in European countries, and 73,000 pregnant women from various social strata and income levels participated in it on a voluntary basis.

Then, in 2007, a study was again made of the effect of taking multivitamins (vitamin complexes) on the course and outcomes of pregnancies. However, women from different regions of the world were included in this study because it was conducted by the World Health Organization.

Finally, the latest study on the effects of taking multivitamins was carried out in 2009, also under the auspices of the World Health Organization, exclusively in countries with limited resources, where the nutrition of pregnant women in most cases is not complete and of high quality.

All three studies allowed experts to draw the following conclusions:
1. Regardless of the type of nutrition a woman has, during pregnancy, everyone must take iron supplements and folic acid, which reduces the risk of malformations of the central nervous system. It is this vitamin (folic acid) and trace element (iron) that have proven positive effects on the course and outcome of pregnancy.
2. If a woman eats normally and fully, then taking any multivitamins, with the exception of folic acid and iron, does not affect the course and outcomes of pregnancies, without reducing the risk of congenital malformations, premature birth, etc.
3. If a woman does not eat fully, then taking, in addition to folic acid and iron, also multivitamins can reduce the risk of having a small child and developing severe anemia in a pregnant woman.

Thus, with a normal diet, a pregnant woman needs to take only folic acid and iron supplements, which really prevent congenital malformations in the fetus and anemia in the mother. The intake of other vitamins does not significantly affect the course and outcomes of pregnancy, as well as the health of the mother. Therefore, WHO recommends that women who eat normally and fully, without fail, take only folic acid and iron supplements. And all other vitamins can be taken at the request of the woman herself, or on the recommendation of a gynecologist observing her.

For women who are malnourished during pregnancy, WHO recommends the mandatory intake of folic acid and iron supplements, as well as any multivitamins if possible. Moreover, multivitamins must be taken in courses throughout pregnancy.

Do pregnant women need vitamins?

As can be seen from the reports and recommendations of the World Health Organization, made on the basis of the results of the studies, vitamins are both needed and not needed by pregnant women, depending on the type of their diet.

The only vitamins and minerals really necessary for all pregnant women, without exception, are folic acid (vitamin B c) and iron. Folic acid must be taken by all pregnant women until at least the 12th week of gestation at 400 mcg per day. Moreover, vitamin B c can be taken even before pregnancy, at the stage of its planning. All other vitamins are not needed for a pregnant woman who eats fully. If a woman does not eat fully, then in addition to folic acid, she needs all the other vitamins that must be taken throughout the pregnancy in courses.

To answer the question of whether pregnant women need vitamins, it is recommended to remember a number of factors. Firstly, regardless of the nutrition of a pregnant woman, the fetus will take everything that it needs for its development, literally "sucking out" from all tissues and organs of the body. Moreover, the fetus will take the vitamins, microelements and nutrients it needs only from the tissues of the pregnant woman, and not from the incoming food, since this was provided by Nature.

That is, during pregnancy, the fetus receives the substances it needs indirectly - from the tissues of the mother's body, where they, in turn, come from food. This means that the child will in any case take everything that he needs, even if this causes a literal exhaustion of the mother's body. Therefore, with insufficient intake of vitamins, minerals and nutrients, the health of a pregnant woman deteriorates significantly, which is manifested by tooth decay, hair loss, foliation of nails, the development of chronic pathologies (for example, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, etc.) .

Therefore, in order to prevent a deficiency of vitamins, microelements and nutrients taken by the growing fetus in the tissues of the mother's body, they must be constantly introduced from the outside in the form of a complete, healthy and balanced food. Exactly the same purpose - to replenish the reserves of vitamins, minerals and nutrients, is the intake of various multivitamins, mineral salts, dietary supplements, dry food and other drugs during pregnancy. Therefore, it is clear that the need to take vitamins during pregnancy is due to the woman's diet and its ability to provide her body with all the necessary substances.

This means that good nutrition will fully ensure the replenishment of the reserves of necessary substances in the tissues of the mother's body without additional intake of vitamins, and she will come out of pregnancy still healthy and beautiful. But if a woman's nutrition is inadequate, then in order to replenish the reserves of necessary substances in tissues, she needs to take vitamins, microelements, dietary supplements and special dry food.

By good and nutritious nutrition, WHO means the following:
1. A woman eats fresh or fresh-frozen red meat at least (beef, veal, lamb, etc.) twice a week;
2. A woman eats fresh or frozen fish at least twice a week;
3. A woman eats any dairy products daily;
4. A woman eats eggs at least twice a week;
5. A woman consumes poultry meat at least 2-3 times a week;
6. A woman eats at least five types of fruits and vegetables every day;
7. A woman consumes butter and vegetable oils every day;
8. The volume of carbohydrate foods (buns, pastries, bread, pasta, potatoes, etc.) makes up no more than half of a woman's total daily diet.

That is, if the diet of a pregnant woman approximately corresponds to the above signs, then her nutrition is considered complete. If such a diet is maintained throughout pregnancy, then such a woman needs only an additional intake of folic acid and iron supplements, and she does not need multivitamins.

If the diet does not correspond to the above criteria formulated by WHO, then the nutrition of the pregnant woman is considered inadequate. This means that during pregnancy, such a woman should take not only iron supplements and folic acid, but also multivitamins. In such situations, multivitamins prevent the birth of children with low body weight and allow you to maintain the health of the expectant mother, preventing hair loss, deterioration of teeth, nails, etc. With malnutrition, vitamins are necessary not so much for the fetus, which will take everything that it needs from the tissues and organs of the mother, but for the pregnant woman herself, so that she leaves the pregnancy in a normal, and not exhausted state with fallen hair, crumbled teeth and nails, dull, flabby, saggy skin, etc. It is also necessary to take vitamins for all pregnant women who have bad habits, such as drinking alcohol, drugs, smoking, etc.

Thus, WHO recommends that you take vitamins during pregnancy with restraint and individuality. So, with normal nutrition, vitamins will not benefit the woman and the child, but, on the contrary, they can harm, provoking too much weight gain by the fetus, as a result of which childbirth will be difficult.

In addition, WHO emphasizes that, regardless of the diet, all pregnant women need to take folic acid and iron supplements. It is recommended to start taking folic acid even at the stage of pregnancy planning and up to the 12th week of gestation continuously at 400 mcg per day.

Thus, the need to take multivitamins, in addition to folic acid, is determined by the individual characteristics of the nutrition and condition of the woman. This means that in each case it is necessary to make an individual balanced decision on the appointment of multivitamins for a pregnant woman.

Can pregnant women take vitamins?

Yes, pregnant women can drink vitamins, and in some cases even need to. In order not to harm your own health, as well as the growth and development of the fetus, you must choose only certified and standardized vitamins or dietary supplements. In addition, pregnant women should carefully study the composition and dosage of each vitamin in a multivitamin preparation. The content of water-soluble vitamins (C, group B, PP, F and N) is of little importance, since their overdose is impossible due to the ability to quickly remove the excess that has entered the body. And the content of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) should not exceed the established optimal consumption rates, since their intake in excess can provoke an overdose.

So, the safe amount of fat-soluble vitamins in the composition of multivitamin preparations is the following:

• Vitamin A - 3000 IU;
• Vitamin E - 200 IU;
• Vitamin D - 400 - 2000 IU;
• Vitamin K - 65 mg.

This means that when choosing a multivitamin complex, you need to read the instructions for exactly what amount of vitamins A, D, E and K it contains. If the dosages of these vitamins are less than or equal to those indicated, then such a drug can be taken by a pregnant woman without any concerns. If the dosage of fat-soluble vitamins is more than indicated, then the multivitamin complex cannot be taken on its own. Complexes containing large doses of fat-soluble vitamins can only be prescribed by a doctor based on the woman's indications for their use.

The norm of vitamins for pregnant women

A pregnant woman should receive the following amount of vitamins per day:

• Vitamin A - 800 mcg;
• Vitamin D - 10 mcg;
• Vitamin E - 10 mg;
• Vitamin K - 65 mcg;
• Vitamin C - 70 mg;
• Vitamin B 1 - 1.5 mg;
• Vitamin B 2 - 1.6 mg;
• Vitamin B 6 - 2.2 mg;
• Vitamin B 12 - 2.2 mcg;
• Vitamin PP - 17 mg;
• Folic acid (vitamin B c) - 400 mcg.

The indicated amounts of vitamins, with the exception of folic acid, a pregnant woman must necessarily receive either from food or from multivitamin complexes and dietary supplements. Folic acid must be taken by every pregnant woman in the form of 400 mcg tablets daily, regardless of her diet.

What vitamin for pregnant women is necessary?

In principle, it is unnecessary to repeat that a pregnant woman needs all the existing vitamins, minerals and nutrients, since not only the growth and development of the fetus, but also the preservation of the health of the mother depends on their adequate intake. However, among all existing, the most important and necessary vitamins for a pregnant woman are the following:

• Vitamin A- ensures normal growth of the fetus. With a lack of vitamin A, a woman's immunity worsens, vaginal dryness, acne and boils on the skin appear, hair becomes dull and lifeless, and may begin to fall out.
• Vitamin C- increases resistance to infections, improves the absorption of iron and participates in the formation of the placenta. With a deficiency of vitamin C, a woman feels constant fatigue.
• Vitamin D- ensures normal growth and bone formation in the fetus, and also prevents rickets and osteoporosis in a pregnant woman. With a deficiency of vitamin D, a woman's teeth begin to break down, excitability develops, and calf cramps appear.
• Vitamin E- ensures normal growth and stretching of the uterus, prevents anemia, muscle weakness and the negative effects of stress. With a deficiency of vitamin E, miscarriage or premature birth can occur.
• Vitamin K- Ensures normal blood clotting. With its deficiency, a woman can develop severe bleeding, and the fetus can develop hemorrhagic disease.
• Vitamin B 1- provides energy to the nervous system and muscles of the fetus, and also supports good sleep in a pregnant woman. With a deficiency of vitamin B 1, muscle weakness, irritability and fatigue can develop.
• Vitamin B 2- ensures normal growth and development of the fetus. With a deficiency of vitamin B 2, a woman may experience dermatitis, and the fetus may have malformations or premature birth.
• Vitamin B 6- ensures the normal formation and functioning of the central nervous system in the fetus and pregnant woman. With a deficiency of vitamin B 6, a woman develops preeclampsia, and in newborns, convulsions and irritability.
• Vitamin B 12- ensures the normal development of the nervous system and the processes of hematopoiesis in the fetus. With a deficiency of vitamin B 12, anemia develops, tachycardia, general weakness and dizziness in a woman.
• Vitamin PP- provides the formation of the nervous system and muscle tissue of the fetus. With a deficiency of vitamin PP, a woman loses her appetite, she develops constipation and pallor of the skin.
• Folic acid (B s, B 9) - ensures the normal rate of growth and development of the fetus, as well as the formation of the central nervous system. Folic acid deficiency can cause CNS pathology in the fetus.
• Pantothenic acid (B 5) - provides a balanced synthesis of sex hormones. With a deficiency of vitamin B 5, a woman may lose and turn gray hair, as well as peeling skin.
• Vitamin H- ensures the normal metabolism of fats and carbohydrates. With a deficiency of vitamin H, a woman is worried about persistent nausea, poor appetite, drowsiness and lethargy.

All of these vitamins are especially important and necessary for a pregnant woman to carry and subsequently give birth to a healthy child, as well as to maintain her own health. However, in each trimester of pregnancy, a woman's body is especially in need of certain vitamins, the deficiency of which can lead to serious consequences, including premature birth, preeclampsia, eclampsia, or fetal deformities. This is due to the fact that different periods of growth and development of the child require different vitamins, minerals and plastic substances. Consider which vitamins are especially necessary for a woman in each trimester of pregnancy.

Vitamins for pregnant women 1 trimester

During the entire first trimester of pregnancy (up to and including the 12th week of gestation), it is necessary to take folic acid (vitamin B 9 or B c) at 400 mcg per day, regardless of the diet. Moreover, doctors recommend starting folic acid intake at the stage of pregnancy planning, since a small supply of this vitamin will only be useful for both the expectant mother and the fetus. Thus, it is necessary to take folic acid from the moment a woman decides to become pregnant. If the pregnancy has come unplanned, then folic acid must be taken as soon as the woman finds out about her "position".

Folic acid is necessary for the normal fusion of the spinal cord canal in the fetus, as well as for the subsequent normal formation of its mental functions. That is, this vitamin is necessary to ensure the normal structure of the fetal brain and the subsequent formation of normal intelligence.

The second vitamin necessary in the first trimester of pregnancy is B 6 (pyridoxine). This vitamin relieves manifestations of toxicosis, reduces nervousness and prevents calf cramps. For normal growth and development of the fetus, vitamin B 6 is especially necessary starting from the 8th week of pregnancy, since it is during this period that the formation and laying of the central nervous system takes place. And pyridoxine is necessary precisely for the proper formation and development of the fetal central nervous system. To ensure optimal intake of pyridoxine in a woman's body, it is recommended to take the complex preparation Magne-B 6 during the first trimester of pregnancy, which, in addition to the vitamin, also contains the trace element magnesium.

The third vitamin that is very important for the normal course of the first trimester of pregnancy is retinol (vitamin A). The fact is that vitamin A is necessary for the normal growth of the fetus. And at the end of the first trimester, the fetus begins to grow very intensively and increase in size, and in order for this to happen normally with all proportions of the body, it needs vitamin A. Therefore, at the end of the first and beginning of the second trimester, a pregnant woman is recommended to ensure adequate intake of vitamin A. However, it should remember that an excess of vitamin A can be harmful to the fetus, so it can only be taken in safe dosages (2000 - 4500 IU per day).

Vitamins for pregnant women 2 trimester

In the second trimester of pregnancy, it is necessary to take 1 - 2 courses of vitamins that the woman used during the first trimester, and add the following to them:

• Vitamin D necessary to ensure the active and rapid growth of the fetus. If vitamin D is not enough in the second trimester of pregnancy, then the bones in the fetus will not be able to grow and harden normally, as a result of which intrauterine rickets may form;
• Vitamin E provides elasticity, rapid growth and good extensibility of various soft tissues, which is absolutely necessary when the fetus begins to grow strongly and rather quickly in size. Vitamin E provides an increase in the uterus, adequate to the size of the fetus, its good stretching without the risk of rupture and severe thinning of the wall. Also, vitamin E provides good extensibility of the skin on the abdomen, which prevents the appearance of stretch marks (stretch marks). In addition, this vitamin is involved in ensuring the formation and normal functioning of the placenta, which is necessary for the further growth and development of the fetus. With a deficiency of vitamin E, there may be a lag in the development of the fetus, as well as premature birth.

In addition to these vitamins, in the second trimester of pregnancy, a woman also needs additional trace elements, such as calcium and iron, which are consumed in large quantities for building bones and forming the cellular elements of the fetal blood.

Vitamins for pregnant women 3rd trimester

In the third trimester, folic acid can be canceled, since the fetal nervous system is already formed, and the need for this vitamin is minimal. In this period of pregnancy, the child is gaining weight, so he needs plastic substances and vitamins that ensure growth and active metabolism. This means that a woman needs vitamins B 6 and E until the end of pregnancy. Also, until the very birth, it is necessary to continue taking calcium and iron.

Vitamins for pregnant women - typical composition

Various complex preparations for pregnant women include vitamins A, B 1, B 2, B 3, B 5, B 6, B 12, C, D, E, K, H and folic acid in various dosages and combinations. Most often, vitamins for pregnant women contain vitamins of groups B, C, E, D and A. Vitamins K and H are less often included in complex multivitamin preparations intended for pregnant women.

Some complex preparations for pregnant women include not only vitamins, but also trace elements. Most often, the preparations contain zinc, iron, calcium, selenium, magnesium and iodine.

Free prenatal vitamins

Currently, in Russia, pregnant women are indeed given free vitamins. Free provision of vitamins to pregnant women is carried out on the basis of the following laws and regulations:

• Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of December 29, 2007;
• Order of October 06, 2008 No. 748 "On drug provision for pregnant women";
• Order of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 50 dated January 19, 2007;
• Order of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 72 dated February 01, 2011.

The listed orders stipulate that pregnant women can receive vitamins for free, as well as iron and calcium preparations included in a special list, in an amount not exceeding 20-33% of the cost of a birth certificate. This amount does not fully cover the needs of a pregnant woman in vitamin preparations, therefore, gynecologists at antenatal clinics do not always write out appropriate prescriptions, but only if necessary.

The acquisition and distribution of free vitamins to pregnant women is carried out by territorial medical associations (TMOs). And since each TMO receives different funding, depending on the number of people attached to it, the situation with the issuance of free vitamins to pregnant women may be different. In some well-funded antenatal clinics, vitamins are given free of charge to all pregnant women in the amount they need. And in other consultations, due to the lack of necessary funding, free vitamins are given out only to certain pregnant women, for example, the unemployed, those with many children, etc.

The procedure for obtaining free vitamins is simple - the gynecologist writes out a special prescription that can be used for 10 days at the state pharmacy of the area where the antenatal clinic is located. For example, if a antenatal clinic is located in the Sovietsky district of the city, then a prescription for free vitamins must also be presented at the municipal pharmacy of the same district.

Currently, the following vitamins and other drugs can be given free of charge to pregnant women:

• folic acid tablets;
• Alpha tocopherol acetate capsules;
• Vitamin E and Vitamin E Zentiva;
• Vitrum vitamin E;
• Zytrum vitamin E;
• Doppelherz vitamin E;
• Tocopherocaps;
• Tocopherol acetate 5%, 10% and 30% solution;
• Maltofer solution and tablets for oral administration;
• Fenyuls Complex;
• Ferretab complex;
• Potassium iodide;
• Iodbalance;
• Iodomarin;
• Microiodide;
• Multivitamin dragee;
• Hexavit dragee;
• Revit and Revit-UVI dragee;
• Undevit and Undevit-UVI dragee;
• Gendevit dragee;
• Beviplex dragee;
• Bio-Max tablets;
• Vitaspectrum tablets;
• Vitaress tablets;
• Vitrum tablets;
• Vitrum Prenatal, Vitrum Prenatal forte and Vitrum Superstress tablets;
• Zytrum Centuri tablets;
• Glutamevit tablets;
• Complivit, Complivit Mom, Complivit Active tablets;
• Megadin and Megadin Pronatal tablets;
• Multimax tablets;
• Multi-Tabs Active, Multi-Tabs Intensive, Multi-Tabs Classic and Multi-Tabs Perinatal tablets;
• Selmevit tablets;
• Supradin tablets;
• Teravit, Teravit Antistress, Teravit Pregna tablets;
• Tri-Vee Plus tablets;
• Ferrovit and Ferrovit forte tablets;
• Elevit Prenatal tablets.

Vitamin complexes for pregnant women - a brief description

Consider the brief characteristics of the main multivitamin complexes for pregnant women.

Vitamins Elevit for pregnant women

Elevit vitamins for pregnant women contain 12 types of vitamins and 7 minerals. The drug contains the necessary dose of folic acid and iron, so when using the Elevit complex, you do not need to take additional folic acid or iron. However, the drug does not contain iodine, so it will have to be taken separately. Elevit can be taken throughout pregnancy, breastfeeding and at the planning stage.

Vitamins Vitrum

For pregnant women, there is a special complex - Vitrum Prenatal and Vitrum Prenatal forte. The preparation contains 9 vitamins and 3 trace elements, including the necessary daily doses of folic acid and iron. Therefore, when using Vitrum, you do not need to additionally take iron and folic acid preparations. However, the drug does not contain iodine, so it will have to be taken separately. Vitrum can be taken throughout pregnancy, breastfeeding and at the planning stage.

Vitamins Femibion ​​and Femibion ​​2

Femibion ​​1, often referred to simply as Femibion, is intended to be taken during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The drug Femibion ​​2 is intended for use from the 12th to the 40th week of pregnancy.

Femibion ​​1 contains 10 vitamins, including the daily dosage of folic acid, as well as iodine. This means that against the background of the use of Femibion ​​1, a woman does not need to additionally take folic acid and iodine preparations. Femibion ​​2 contains the same 10 vitamins and iodine as Femibion ​​1, but in different dosages that meet the needs of a pregnant woman at 13-40 weeks of gestation. This means that when using Femibion ​​1 or 2, a woman will have to take additional iron and calcium supplements.

Alphabet - prenatal vitamins

In the Alphabet series of preparations for pregnant women, Mother's Health is intended. The packages of this drug contain tablets of various colors, in which different complexes of vitamins and minerals are necessary for a pregnant woman. Every day you need to take any one tablet. If a woman is allergic to any vitamin, then you can not take a pill that contains it. Three types of tablets contain vitamins, iron, calcium and iodine. Moreover, only the dosage of iodine completely covers the daily requirement of a pregnant woman for vitamins.

Vitamins Pregnacare

Vitamins Pregnacare contains 11 types of vitamins and 5 minerals, including folic acid and iron. Pregnacare contains a daily dose of folic acid, so it does not need to be taken additionally. But this drug contains a small amount of iron, so it will have to be taken additionally. Also, Pregnacare does not contain iodine at all, so this microelement will need to be taken separately.

Vitamins Materna

The drug contains 10 vitamins (all groups B, as well as E, A and C) and iodine, necessary for a pregnant woman. Materna contains folic acid and iodine in the required daily dosage, so they do not need to be taken additionally. But iron preparations when using Materna, a pregnant woman will have to be taken separately.

Minisan Multivitamin Mom

A complex of 11 vitamins and 6 minerals, contains the right dose of folic acid, iron and iodine. Additional intake of other drugs is not required. A nice bonus is the good magnesium content and the favorable price.

The best prenatal vitamins

In medical science and practice, in principle, the concept of “best” is not used, since in each specific situation, even for the same person, different drugs of a certain pharmacological group can become the best and most effective. Usually, the best drug in a particular situation is considered and is called optimal. Therefore, in medicine there is a concept not of the best, but of the optimal drug. Moreover, in each case, even for the same person, the optimal drug may be different, and it will be the best one in this particular situation. The same goes for prenatal vitamins.

This means that it is impossible to single out 1, 2 or 3 best vitamin complexes for all pregnant women, since different preparations will be optimal for each woman. And it is the optimal vitamin preparation in this particular case that will be the best for this pregnant woman. Moreover, in the first pregnancy, one vitamin preparation may be the best for a woman, in the second - another, in the third - again the first or even the third.

Vitamins for pregnant women - reviews

At present, the overall tone of reviews of various prenatal vitamins is positive. That is, women note the positive effect of vitamins on their condition, on the basis of which they conclude that these drugs are undoubtedly beneficial. However, reviews about each specific vitamin preparation vary.

So, the greatest number of positive reviews is available for the drugs Pregnacare, Elevit, Vitrum and Materna. However, each woman will have to select the drug individually, based on her own well-being and the tolerance of a particular vitamin complex. So, women note that Vitrum, Elevit and Materna can cause nausea and poor health, which completely disappear after their cancellation.

Alphabet and Femibion ​​have slightly more negative reviews, which is associated with the peculiarities of the application and the pharmacological characteristics of the drugs. So, Femibion ​​is not a medicine, but a dietary supplement (BAA), to which many women are distrustful, believing that they undergo insufficient control before they hit the shelves of pharmacies. As soon as women find out that Femibion ​​is a dietary supplement, they immediately begin to treat the vitamin negatively, even if they have taken it up to this point and were quite pleased with the result. As you can see, in the case of Femibion, negative reviews are not due to the properties of the drug itself, but to its belonging to a certain group.

Women do not like the alphabet, because it often causes nausea, and also because in one package there are tablets with various vitamins and minerals that cannot be mixed and must be taken in turn. According to women, this arrangement of the drug is confusing.

Vitamin D - biological functions, consumption rate, symptoms of deficiency and excess. Instructions for the use of vitamin D

Vitamin E - biological role, deficiency symptoms, content in foods. Instructions for use of vitamin E

"Vitamin-mineral complexes bring huge benefits to manufacturers of vitamin-mineral complexes"

“Do pregnant women need vitamins” is one of the most relevant holivars of our time. Dozens of spears have been broken, doctors are accused of collaborating with pharmaceutical companies, and manufacturers of vitamin complexes are accused of conspiring to destroy all life on earth.

The slogans of opponents of vitamins are well known: “in no developed country of the world, especially in the USA, vitamins are used”, “the effectiveness of essential micronutrients has not been proven”, “vitamin B6 is thiamine, and thiamine is toxic to the liver!”.

However, even those who occupy the most radical positions are forced to admit that it is impossible to completely do without vitamins and minerals.

As a result of these positional contradictions, domestic vitamin phobia began to take completely ridiculous forms: considering vitamin and mineral complexes an absolute evil, doctors “make concessions” and continue to recommend a certain set of vitamins and micronutrients to pregnant women.

Concession #1: "It's Enough to Take Folic Acid"

Deny the importance of taking folic acid at a dose of 400–800 mcg/day. impossible. The association of folate deficiency with neural tube defects in the fetus has been well documented in the popular and professional literature. The incidence of other birth defects in folate deficiency is much higher. First of all, these are congenital heart defects (incidence 1:100), defects in large arteries, fetal hypotrophy, Down syndrome, cleft palate.

At the same time, there is a misconception that the use of folic acid to prevent fetal malformations is sufficient. Unfortunately, this is absolutely not the case. There are two extremely important points in the folate story. First, start taking folic acid 12-16 weeks before conception. Only in this case can one count on a preventive effect, because neural tube defects and the most gross defects form very early - before the 28th day of gestation. Secondly, it is necessary to take the correct dose of folic acid.

In Russia, there has been an alarming trend - the appointment and consumption of folic acid in excess doses of 5000 mcg per 1 tab. and 1 mg (1000 mcg) 3-6 tablets per day.

I have a theory to explain this phenomenon. To the question: “What dose of folic acid should be recommended at the preconception stage (in preparation for pregnancy) and during it?” - most obstetrician-gynecologists confidently answer: "400-800 mcg / day." There is probably some arithmetic gap in our education. I remind you: 1 mg \u003d 1000 mcg. The recommended dose of folate is 0.4–0.8 mg = 400–800 mcg. If you bought folic acid at a dosage of 1 mg, the correct regimen is ½ tab. in a day.

The fact that in our country people “bruise their foreheads” in their zeal has been known for a very long time. Therefore, today I meet masterpiece appointments: folacin 1 tab. x 3 times a day = 15,000 mcg of folic acid angiovit 1 tab. 2 times a day + folic acid 1 tab. x 3 times a day = 13,000 mcg per day

Why doesn't "more" mean "better"? What is the reason for the anxiety? Folic acid in a dose corresponding to the daily requirement for pregnant and lactating women belongs to the "A" safety category. The use of doses of folic acid in excess of the daily requirement, transfer this vitamin to the category "C" (risk to the fetus cannot be ruled out). Enough research has been accumulated on this topic. For example, high plasma folate levels in pregnant women are associated with a high risk of obesity and insulin resistance in children.

Concession No. 2: “Perhaps you will still need iodine”

In the Soviet Union, there were state programs for the comprehensive prevention of vitamin deficiencies. With the start of reforms in Russia, the iodine deficiency prevention program was completely discontinued, although it has been known since the 1920s that Russia is an iodine-deficient region. Therefore, since the 1990s, cases of congenital iodine cretinism have appeared in the Russian Federation, which were practically not observed in the USSR. What is easier - salt iodization and the use of potassium iodide at a dose of 150 mcg / day. at the pregravid stage, 200 mcg / day. during pregnancy and lactation.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to assess the intellectual damage that has already been done to the nation. In regions of iodine deficiency, according to studies, IQ is 10–15 points lower than in regions of iodine availability.

Concession No. 3: "We need to add iron"

Sadly, the Russian Federation is recognized as an endemic region for iron deficiency. An epidemic of "anemia in pregnancy" is victoriously marching across the country, covering almost 100% of all pregnant women observed in antenatal clinics. Anemia is not just low hemoglobin. This is a whole set of pathological processes: placental insufficiency, growth retardation and fetal development, chronic intrauterine hypoxia, weakness of labor, hypotonic bleeding. Having missed the latent iron deficiency at the very beginning of pregnancy, we quite naturally get anemia by 22 weeks, along with a full range of related problems.

Concession No. 4: “We forgot about calcium!”

By the way, the need to take calcium is rarely forgotten. And if the doctor forgets, the patient will definitely remind. The fear of losing teeth during pregnancy prevails over the fears of excessive "ossification" of the head, which, by the way, really makes it difficult to configure the head when passing through the birth canal.

It is desirable to attach vitamin D3 to calcium, a little copper, zinc and manganese. Calcium without manganese - as they say - money down the drain.

Concession No. 5: “But what about without magnesium?”

With the help of magnesium preparations, modern obstetrics is trying to maintain pregnancy, provide light sedation, reduce blood pressure, treat preeclampsia (a disease of the second half of pregnancy, symptoms: increased blood pressure (BP), sudden onset of edema, and the presence of protein in the urine), as well as improve perinatal outcomes .

Concession #6: "Vitamin E is a must"

Why did you prescribe vitamin E to a pregnant woman?
- It has a progesterone-like effect.
- Why do you need a progesterone-like action? Progesterone is not destiny?

I think it's just a tradition that takes roots in pre-morning and pre-Dufaston times. At a dose of 400 IU, vitamin E can have a teratogenic effect (impaired fetal development with the occurrence of malformations of the body structure).

It's monstrous, but I still meet pregnant women taking Aevit. This formulation contains 35 mg of retinyl acetate (more than 100,000 IU of vitamin A), which is 30 times the upper limit of consumption in the Russian Federation and 10 times the threshold for teratogenesis. In the instructions for the drug, it is written in black and white that the drug is not recommended for pregnant women. But no, until now, someone “preserves” something using high doses of vitamins A and E.

Opinion: “Let the pregnant woman just eat well!”

There is also such a point of view. And we are not against, we are only for! But the real situation with nutrition is not encouraging. The website of the Federal State Statistics Service published a detailed report of the State System for Monitoring the Nutrition of the Population for 2013, which revealed a monstrous failure in the consumption of fish. Less than 30% of citizens eat fish daily or several times a week. At the same time, the abuse of bakery products, potatoes leads to an increase in alimentary-dependent non-communicable diseases.

There is also a problem with the amount of vitamins and minerals contained in food. Modern technologies of food production do not allow to accumulate vitamins in fruits and vegetables in sufficient volume. We eat fish that have never swum in the sea or in the river. We buy a bird that has grown up in a cage without ever pecking at a worm. We eat apples in which the core does not darken due to the vanishingly small amount of ascorbic acid. It's no secret that the vast majority of vitamins and micronutrients are simply destroyed during the cooking process.

Determining the nutritional norms for pregnant women is also not easy. In practice, questions immediately arise. What if this woman has three children and is pregnant with her fourth? And if before pregnancy there were very plentiful periods? And if vomiting 5-6 times a day up to 14 weeks?

What happens? Refusing to use balanced vitamin-mineral complexes containing verified physiological doses of vitamins and micronutrients, are we trying to assemble a kind of puzzle in the body of a pregnant woman from folic acid, iodine, calcium, iron, magnesium, selenium, manganese and zinc?

Why did we decide that we would do it better and more accurately than in a specialized production? Why did we feel that a handful of pills was better and safer than one? Isn't this the same "drug promiscuity" that we talk about so much at congresses from high tribunes?

“Unfortunately, some of the lecturers at such conferences are not only very loose with the facts (whether scientific or legal documents), but also present their personal fictions as the ultimate truth.

They especially like to attack vitamins, pointing out their "uselessness" or "harmfulness" or "lack of evidence base", and in the fight against vitamins they even forget that a woman, even without any pregnancy, needs daily replenishment of physiological doses of vitamins and trace elements. As if before pregnancy, a woman is a person who, according to the norms of Rospotrebnadzor, is recommended to consume vitamins and micronutrients, and with the onset of pregnancy, she is a Martian who needs only folic acid and iodine from micronutrients.

Olga GROMOVA, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Clinical Pharmacology of the Ivanovo Medical Academy, Scientific Consultant of the Russian Branch of the Center of the UNESCO Institute for Trace Elements

Oksana Bogdashevskaya

Photo thinkstockphotos.com

Pregnancy is not only a joyful expectation, but also a huge burden on the body of the expectant mother. Now she has to provide energy and all the necessary substances not only for herself, but also for the baby growing inside. Usually normal, habitual nutrition for this purpose is not enough and you have to additionally take vitamin and mineral complexes. The gynecologist who observes the expectant mother should prescribe such a drug. But you can choose the complex yourself, having studied the rating of vitamins for pregnant women. You should tell your doctor about your decision to take a certain drug.

How are prenatal vitamins different?

When starting to choose a multivitamin preparation, many women ask how vitamins for pregnant women differ from the rest. The main difference, of course, is the composition. Scientists have long determined how much and what substances an adult, child or expectant mother needs for the normal functioning of the body.

Prenatal vitamins include all the substances that any adult woman needs, plus the substances that ensure the proper development of pregnancy.

Everyone knows that pregnant women need more calcium, because their body does not just keep bones in good condition - a new little person grows inside it. That is why the amount of calcium in vitamins for expectant mothers is significantly increased. There is also a lot of folic acid or vitamin B9 (800 mg instead of the usual 400 mg) and vitamin E. The volumes of other useful substances are also increased.

The best vitamins for pregnant women - TOP 10

The composition of vitamins for pregnant women from different manufacturers differs very slightly. After all, it is not due to the wishes of pharmacists, but to the needs of the body of the expectant mother. At the same time, some complexes are expensive, others are much cheaper, some are popular, others are deprived of the attention of customers. We have studied the most popular vitamins and made a rating. It is based on consumer reviews and popularity among expectant mothers. It may not be entirely true from the point of view of scientists, but it reflects the mood of women.

These are the most popular vitamins that are in constant demand among expectant mothers. Produced by Roche (France). The main advantage of this vitamin-mineral complex is a perfectly balanced composition. Elevit Pronatal contains all the vitamins and minerals needed during pregnancy, except for iodine. Therefore, if the doctor recommends that the expectant mother take this element, she will have to buy it separately, or choose another complex. You can take Elevit from the beginning of planning until the end of breastfeeding

According to expectant mothers, Elevit perfectly strengthens hair and nails, reduces emotional instability, and also gives vigor and strength.

The disadvantages of this drug include high cost, 30 tablets cost about 700 rubles, and 100 about 1700 rubles., and a rather large size of tablets, swallowing them is not very convenient. Elevit also often provokes constipation, and this is already one of the main problems of many expectant mothers. Occasionally, allergic reactions in the form of a rash occur. Usually also the stool is stained dark, but this is normal.

Vitrum Prenatal is manufactured by Unipharm, Inc. in USA. It is intended for pregnant and lactating women who do not experience a lack of iodine, since this element is absent in the composition. The advantages of this vitamin-mineral complex include an increased content of folic acid and iron. The manufacturer explains this by the inevitable losses during the absorption of these elements by the intestines.

If the doctor recommends you a vitamin-mineral complex with iodine, you can give preference to Vitrum Prenatal Forte. It contains this element, as well as betacarotene, vitamins B5 and B7, magnesium, manganese, copper, molybdenum, selenium and chromium.

Both drugs can be taken throughout pregnancy, as well as periods of planning and lactation.

The main disadvantage of the drug is the same as that of Elevit - the price. A jar of Vitrum Prenatal No. 30 costs about 550 rubles, and Elevita Forte - 650 rubles. 100 Prenatal tablets cost approx. 1500 rubles, and Forte is about 200-250 rubles more expensive. It is also worth noting that the tablets are quite large, it can be difficult to swallow them, especially for a future mother suffering from toxicosis. Occasionally, taking a multivitamin preparation causes side effects in the form of allergic reactions and nausea. There is also a darkening of the stool caused by an increased iron content. This is normal and does not require discontinuation of the drug.

3 - Vitamins for pregnant women Femibion

Femibion ​​multivitamin complex is manufactured in Austria by Merck KGaA & Co. Werk Spittal. It is available in two types:

• Femibion ​​I must be taken during planning and the first trimester;
• Femibion ​​II is taken from the 13th week of pregnancy.

This drug is well balanced and contains all the substances needed by a woman at different stages of pregnancy. In addition, it does not contain vitamin A, which, when taken in large quantities, has a teratogenic effect.

The drug Femibion ​​I is produced in the form of tablets, and Femibion ​​II - tablets and capsules. In the second and third trimesters, it is necessary to take a capsule and a tablet at the same time with meals once a day. The order doesn't matter.

The advantages of this drug include easy digestibility and a well-balanced composition, adapted for different stages of pregnancy. The main disadvantage is the high cost Femibion ​​I costs about 500 rubles, and Femibion ​​II - about 1000 rubles.). Also, some future mothers noted the appearance of apathy, headache and increased fatigue when taking the drug.

4 - Vitamins Alphabet for pregnant women

Alphabet "Mom's health" is one of the many series of vitamin preparations from a Russian manufacturer. It is intended for women during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The peculiarity of this drug is that all the useful substances in it are divided into three tablets, white, blue and pink. This is done so that vitamins and minerals are better absorbed and enhance each other's action. You can take the tablets in any order throughout the day. There is no particular order, but it is better to do this with a meal.

The unique form of release allows you to add even more useful substances to the composition of the drug. In total, the complex contains 11 minerals and as many as 13 vitamins.

The advantages of the drug include its rich and well-balanced composition. At the same time, Alphabet for pregnant women costs less than other similar drugs. A package of the drug for 60 tablets, designed for 20 days of admission, costs about 300 rubles. Of the minuses, some women note a not very convenient form of release. For the best assimilation, the tablets should be drunk after 2-3 hours, and many simply forget and take everything together.

5 - Complivit for pregnant women

Complivit for pregnant women is an inexpensive Russian-made multivitamin preparation. This vitamin and mineral complex is available in three formulations:

1. Trimester 1 - for the first trimester
2. Trimester 2 - for the second trimester
3. Trimester 3 - for the third trimester

Vitamins for the first trimester should be taken at the planning stage. They have an increased amount of folic acid, which is very important during this period. In tablets for the second and third trimesters, it is less, but the amount of other vitamins is increased, in accordance with the growing needs of the expectant mother.

Pharmstandard-Ufavita JSC also produces another vitamins for pregnant women - Complivit Mama. Their composition is also well balanced, but without taking into account the gestational age.

Almost all expectant mothers who used this drug note its high quality at a low cost. Vitamins Compilivit Mom cost about 200 rubles for a pack of 30 tablets. 30 tablets of Complivit Trimester 1 cost about 330 rubles, Trimester 2 - about 340 rubles, Trimester 3 - 350 rubles. Another plus of this drug is the small size of the tablets. Usually swallowing does not cause problems even for those who do not like pills, and during early toxicosis.

This vitamin-mineral complex also has disadvantages. Many expectant mothers note its low effectiveness. It also sometimes causes increased nausea in the first trimester, indigestion and diarrhea. Allergic reactions are occasionally noted.

6 - Vitamins for pregnant women Pregnavit

This is a German vitamin and mineral complex from the Merkle ratiopharm company. It contains only the most essential vitamins (A, B1, B2, B5, B6, B9, C and D) as well as iron and calcium. The scheme of taking the drug depends on the duration of pregnancy. In the first trimester, you need to take one capsule daily, in the second two, and in the third three. They are consumed during meals or immediately after it, washed down with water.

The doctor can adjust the dosage of the drug. If a woman eats well and does not experience severe hypovitaminosis, she may be advised to take one tablet throughout her pregnancy.

The advantages of the drug Pregnavit include easy digestibility. All substances in it are in forms convenient for splitting and absorption. And the optimal combination of folic acid and iron helps prevent the development of anemia. Such a vitamin complex costs about 300 rubles for 30 tablets.

The drug has few disadvantages - this is the absence of iodine in the composition and the presence of a dye in the shell. Occasionally, it causes allergic reactions in the form of a rash. Pregnavit can also cause constipation and flatulence.

7 - Multi-tabs for pregnant women

Multi-tabs Perinatal is a vitamin and mineral complex developed by Danish specialists. It is produced today in Denmark, as well as in Russia using Danish technologies at licensed pharmaceutical enterprises. The composition of this drug includes all the vitamins and minerals necessary for a pregnant woman, including such rare ones as selenium. It also contains iodine. Separately, the drug Multi-tabs Perintal Omega-3 with polyunsaturated fatty acids is produced.

Multi-Tabs Perinatal is one of the universal or basic drugs that are suitable for almost any woman with a normal pregnancy.

You can start taking this complex even before pregnancy, at the planning stage. The amount of active ingredients is chosen so that at any stage of pregnancy it is enough for a woman to drink one tablet a day. It is better to do this during or after a meal.

One of the main advantages of this drug is its low price with good quality. A pack of 60 tablets costs about 400 rubles. Multi-tabs Perintal Omega-3 №60 costs about 500 rubles. Also, expectant mothers note the form of tablets that is convenient for swallowing.

The drug has few drawbacks. Sometimes they cause increased nausea with toxicosis and allergic reactions in the form of a rash. Exacerbation of chronic gastrointestinal diseases was also recorded.

8 - Solgar Prenatal Vitamins

Solgar Prenatal Nutrients are manufactured by Solgar in the USA. This is a well-balanced vitamin and mineral complex, which contains more than 20 useful substances. All components of the drug are natural and are in forms that are optimal for absorption by the human body. They cost more than domestic drugs, for 60 tablets you will have to pay about 1200-1300 rubles.

According to numerous reviews of expectant mothers, Solgar Prenatal vitamins help get rid of nausea in the first trimester, and also improve metabolism and appetite for a long time.

The disadvantages of the drug include the relatively large size of the tablets. Sometimes they are difficult to swallow. The recommended daily dose of the drug at the planning stage and in the first trimester is 2 pills, in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters - 4 pills. Often, expectant mothers forget to take the right amount of pills or confuse how much they have already drunk. Also, according to reviews, Solgar often causes constipation.

9 - Lonopan for pregnant women

Lonopan for pregnant women is a vitamin and mineral supplement produced in Russia by the Argo company. These are perfectly balanced vitamins that guarantee good absorption of all useful substances due to separate intake. Two types of tablets are sold in the kit:

• Lonopan with iron and iodine - green dragee;
• Lonopan with calcium - white dragee.

It is better to coordinate the dosage with your doctor, perhaps he will decide that it is your body that needs a little less additional nutrients.

The advantages of the drug also include its pleasant taste. Tablets contain fructose, natural flavors and flavors: green - "apple", and white - "cream". Dragees are delicious, they can be chewed, and do not need to be swallowed.

The disadvantages include inconvenient packaging and the high cost of the complex. The drug is sold in a cardboard box, inside which there are two bags with a zip-lock. They are loaded with dragees, not by quantity, but by weight. Therefore, when the pack ends, there are always “extra” tablets left. Wherein the cost of a box weighing 115 g - 600 rubles. It takes about 2 weeks.

Pregnacare is a multivitamin complex that is produced in the UK. It contains 11 vitamins and 5 minerals and is recommended for women at any stage of pregnancy, as well as during planning and lactation. A distinctive feature of this drug is that it does not contain calcium, since it is believed that this mineral interferes with the full absorption of iron when taken at the same time. Therefore, the manufacturer does not recommend taking Pregnacare at the same time as dairy and meat products. Several hours should elapse between the use of dishes from these products and the intake of vitamins.

If there is not enough calcium in the diet of the expectant mother, it will have to be taken as a separate drug. At the same time, it is advisable to drink vitamins in the morning, and calcium in the afternoon, or vice versa.

The disadvantages of this drug include a relatively high cost - about 500 rubles for 30 tablets. Also, some mothers noted an increase in nausea after taking the complex. Occasionally, it provokes the appearance of allergic reactions. A change in the color of urine to bright yellow and darkening of the stool are not reasons for discontinuing the drug.

Is it possible to do without taking vitamins?

Definitely, you can. The body of a woman is designed in such a way that it primarily protects the baby. If some elements are missing in your diet, they will be removed from the body of the expectant mother. That is why children with malnutrition and developmental disorders associated with beriberi are born relatively rarely. Most often, these are the children of women with serious chronic diseases, or those who abuse nicotine, alcohol, etc. Even strict vegans give birth to healthy babies.

But you need to think - at what cost? The mother's body will give everything to the last, to its own detriment, and after childbirth and lactation, you can turn into a wrinkled old woman with thin hair, bad teeth, exfoliating nails and constant ailments. Just to prevent such a development of events, it is necessary to take additional vitamin-mineral complexes for pregnant women.

It is widely believed that it is imperative to take vitamins for pregnant women in the 1st trimester, because a growing child needs a lot of useful substances for full formation and development. This information has long been perceived as an unconditional truth. However, are vitamins so harmless?

A pregnant woman needs an increased intake of nutrients into the body, since the baby takes most of the trace elements and minerals. To make up for the deficiency, you need to take vitamins. It is desirable to ensure their intake from food. But it is not always possible to establish good nutrition. In this article, we will tell you which vitamins are necessary and how to choose the “right” vitamin complexes.

If we take into account the recommendations of the World Health Organization, the question of whether vitamins are needed for the first trimester of pregnancy can have two radically different answers. The question of the need to take multivitamin complexes is decided individually in each case, based on data on the state of health, the results of laboratory tests, as well as on the usefulness of the diet of a pregnant woman.

With insufficient intake of nutrients from the food of the expectant mother, you should enrich your daily diet with fresh vegetables and fruits, meat and dairy products, or start using vitamin preparations.

There are such minerals and vitamins for pregnant women that absolutely everyone needs in the 1st trimester:

The rest of the vitamins should be taken only as directed by a doctor.

What is the body's need for additional vitamins during this period?

During the bearing of a child, serious changes occur in the body of a woman. The formation and growth of the fetus requires significant costs from the mother's body. To replenish resources, it is necessary to ensure the intake of nutrients from food. In the absence of adequate nutrition, it is recommended to take vitamins and mineral complexes for pregnant women in the first trimester, which will maintain the condition of the woman and take part in laying the baby's organs.

In order to understand what is the need for vitamins during the period of bearing a child, you need to remember some facts:

1. Regardless of whether there is an intake of nutrients into the female body from the outside, the fetus will still take the amount of vitamins that it needs, using maternal reserves.
2. The child receives trace elements not from food, but from the organs and tissues of the mother.
3. With a lack of vitamins, it is the woman who begins to have health problems - teeth are destroyed due to a lack of calcium, fragility of blood vessels occurs with hypovitaminosis C, skin elasticity decreases if there is not enough vitamin E.

Therefore, the use of vitamins is necessary first of all for a pregnant woman, and it is desirable that they come from food.

What can't be done without

Any expectant mother who cares not only about her health, but also about the normal development of the baby, is interested in what vitamins they drink in the first trimester of pregnancy and whether they should be taken at such an early stage. Consider the best vitamins for pregnant women, which doctors advise to use after the onset of conception.

Iodine

Since iodine is heavily excreted from the body during pregnancy, it should be supplied from outside. Its deficiency causes pathologies of intrauterine development of the baby. Iodine is required for the formation of the thyroid gland, and also serves as a means of preventing cretinism that occurs when there is a deficiency of thyroid hormones.

Vitamin E

Thanks to the action of vitamin E, the metabolism in the body of a pregnant woman is normalized. This substance allows you to save pregnancy and reduces the likelihood, in addition, it takes part in the formation.

Doctors recommend drinking vitamin E, along with folic acid, as it is involved in the normal development of the child. At the planning stage, tocopherol allows you to regulate menstruation, and also improves the functioning of the entire reproductive system.

Vitamin A

Taking vitamin A in the first trimester of pregnancy should be strictly prescribed by a doctor, since exceeding the permissible dosage can do more harm than good. In a normal and controlled amount, vitamin A takes part in the formation of the visual analyzer, and also provides skin elasticity.

It is best to get this substance from food than from drugs, however, when using it, it is important to remember that the presence of fats is required for its absorption, since the vitamin belongs to the fat-soluble group.

Folic acid

Perhaps this is the most important vitamin that you should definitely take in the first trimester of pregnancy. B9 plays an important role in the formation of the neural tube of the fetus, participates in hematopoiesis and allows the full laying of the internal organs of the unborn baby to occur.

Obstetrician-gynecologists advise drinking folic acid not only from the first days after conception, but also at the family stage. Moreover, vitamin B9 will be useful not only for the female body, but also for.

A lack of folic acid can lead to the following consequences:

• difficulties with maintaining pregnancy;
• congenital disorders;
• mental retardation;
• developmental pathology of the brain and spinal cord.

Vitamin C

The lack of this vitamin in the early period of bearing a child leads to a decrease in the immunity of the mother, which poses a threat to the development of the fetus. It also increases the elasticity of the vascular wall and protects it from fragility.

Vitamin D

Other vitamins

In some situations, in the first trimester of pregnancy, it is recommended to drink a course of B vitamins, as well as minerals such as iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium and chromium. However, such a decision should be made only by a doctor if it is necessary to strengthen the mother's body and create favorable conditions for the formation of the organ systems of the unborn baby.

Overview of the most popular vitamins

There is a list of the best vitamins for pregnant women. The choice is based on the correctness of the composition specifically for expectant mothers, as well as on the positive feedback from patients.

Popular multivitamins for pregnant women:

1. Elevit Pronatal. The complex contains 12 vitamins and 7 minerals. It contains folic acid and iron in the required concentration, so you do not need to take them additionally. However, iodine is absent in the composition. Multivitamins are recommended for pregnant and lactating mothers. More about the drug
2. Alphabet for pregnant women. The drug is presented in the form of colored tablets, the color of which depends on the content of a particular element. The complex contains vitamins, as well as iodine, iron and calcium compounds.
3. Materna. Contains 10 vitamins. In addition to them, the drug contains folic acid and iodine in a concentration that covers the daily requirement of the body of a pregnant woman in these trace elements.
4. Pregnacare. The complex includes 11 vitamins and 5 trace elements, including folic acid and iron. However, the iron content is not enough, so it should be taken separately, like iodine, which is not included in the composition.

It is difficult to decide on the best vitamins for pregnant women in the 1st trimester, because the choice depends not only on the composition, the price also plays an important role. Listen to your doctor's advice and choose the remedies that he recommends to you.

What foods contain vitamins necessary for the first trimester of pregnancy

With good nutrition, you can replenish the daily intake of vitamins without the use of additional drugs.

What vitamins do foods contain:

• vitamin A - butter, liver, egg yolk, carrots, spinach, green onions;
• vitamin C - rose hips, cranberries, currants, citrus fruits, sea buckthorn;
• vitamin D - chicken eggs, cottage cheese, cheese, seafood, butter;
• vitamin E - nuts, cereals, legumes, sunflower seeds, broccoli, spinach;
• vitamin B 1 - liver, wheat bran, oatmeal;
• vitamin B 2 - white cabbage, peas, almonds, tomatoes, beans, veal, liver, egg yolk;
• vitamin B 6 - bananas, pork, carrots, wheat bran, beans, cabbage;
• vitamin B 12 - dairy products, liver, chicken eggs, greens.

Dosage and instructions

A woman should receive the following amount of vitamins in the first trimester of pregnancy:

• vitamin A - 800 mcg;
• vitamin C - 70 mg;
• vitamin E - 10 mg;
• vitamin D - 10 mg;
• vitamin K - 65 mcg;
• vitamin B 1 - 1.5 mg;
• riboflavin (B 2) - 1.6 mg;
• pyridoxine (B 6) - 2.2 mg;
• cyanocobalamin (B 12) - 2.2 mcg;
• folic acid - 400 mcg.

Vitamins needed in the first trimester of pregnancy should be taken according to the instructions in compliance with the recommended dose once or twice a day throughout the course.

Is there a danger in taking vitamins in the first trimester of pregnancy?

Very good , if useful substances enter the body of the expectant mother from food, since the use of multivitamin complexes at an early stage of pregnancy is not always justified, and in some cases may pose some danger. If there is a need to drink vitamins, then carefully read the composition before buying and give preference to products of well-known pharmaceutical companies, so you will reduce the likelihood of impurities of various substances in preparations.