Vitamins and preparations

Folic acid

Take extra folic acid to minimize the risk of abnormalities early in pregnancy. In fact, folic acid reduces the risk of neural tube defects in the child. In an unborn baby, the neural tube is the beginning of the spinal cord and brain. When something goes wrong with the construction and development of the neural tube, abnormalities of the spinal cord or brain can occur during pregnancy. There is then spina bifida, an open skull, harelip or cleft palate. Folic acid is vitamin B11. It is also found, for example, in bananas, oranges, legumes, yeast, milk and green leafy vegetables. For pregnancy you need extra of this vitamin. If you want to have children, start taking folic acid already. Take folic acid 400 micrograms every day until you are 10 weeks pregnant.

Vitamin D

It is also recommended that you take 10 micrograms of vitamin D every day throughout your pregnancy. Available at pharmacies, drugstores or supermarkets. In winter, we have fewer hours of sunshine and therefore difficulty making enough vitamin D. A darker complexion needs more sun to make enough vitamin D. The advice is that pregnant women with darker skin tones or veiled women do take extra vitamin D. This is a vitamin that is very important for the baby’s bone structure and to reduce the risk of osteoporosis in yourself in old age. It is a good idea to supplement your diet with a special multivitamin for the pregnant woman.

Iodine, calcium and fish fatty acids

During your pregnancy, it is especially important to get enough iodine, calcium and fish fatty acids. These substances are mainly found in bread, dairy products and fish. If you eat less bread, dairy or fish than recommended, you may need to take additional supplements. If you get too little iodine, or eat fish less than twice a week, first try eating more bread and/or fish. If that fails you over a long period of time, the advice is to supplement with iodine and fish fatty acids, especially DHA. For pregnant women, the daily intake of 1 gram of calcium is advised. It is recommended to take 2 to 3 servings of milk/yogurt/cheese and 40 grams of cheese per day for adequate calcium intake.

Multivitamins

Whether it is necessary to take multivitamins depends on your lifestyle habits in general and also, for example, the time of year, your skin color. In the winter, we have fewer hours of sunlight and therefore find it difficult to produce sufficient vitamin D. Pregnant women with darker skin or veiled women are therefore advised to take extra supplements such as vitamin D. This is a vitamin that is very important for the baby’s bone structure and to reduce the risk of osteoporosis in yourself in old age. It is a good idea to supplement your diet with a special multivitamin for pregnant women. These preparations do not contain vitamin A, as this is a vitamin that actually causes problems if you ingest it in excess. Eye abnormalities can result from an overdose of vitamin A. If, due to poor appetite, you have trouble eating vegetables, fruits, meat and/or grains, a multivitamin can also provide the necessary supplement. Any brand is good, as long as it is specifically for during pregnancy. This should be clearly stated on the label. When in doubt, consult with your obstetrician.