Q. MY wife’s just found out that we’re expecting our first baby. It’s very early days and I want to make sure she looks after herself. Are there any vitamins she should be taking to improve her health and prepare for our baby’s arrival?
A. Firstly congratulations on your great news, this will be a very exciting time for you both.
You are right to think that women need some specific vitamins during the time of their pregnancy.
Eating a health and varied diet with a good range of fresh fruit and vegetables will help women get all the vitamins and minerals they need during pregnancy. However there are a few specific requirements that will need to be taken as a supplement to the diet. While planning to be come pregnant and for at least the first 12 weeks of pregnancy every woman should take Folic Acid 400mcg as a supplement.
This helps to prevent neural tube defects (NTD) which can cause conditions such as spina bifida.
Eating foods which contain folic acid like green leafy vegetables, brown rice and some breakfast cereals can also help. Some women may need to take a higher dose of folic acid if they are at an increased risk of having a baby with a NTD. This applies if either partner has a NTD, if a previous pregnancy has been affected by the condition, if there is a family history of NTDs or if the lady is diabetic. Your GP should be consulted if any of these apply and you are planning to conceive.
Pregnant ladies are also recommended to take 10mcgs of Vitamin D daily in order to support healthy bones and to provide the baby with enough vitamin D for the first few months of life. Vitamin D works in conjunction with calcium to ensure bones and teeth grow strong and healthy.
This is especially important for babies and children due to the fast rate of growth. There are multivitamin preparations which are design to be taken specifically during and prior to pregnancy, such as Pregnacare® tablets and Sanatogen Mother To Be® tablets. These will ensure you are meeting the above guidelines.
It is very important not to take a standard multivitamin as women must avoid taking Vitamin A supplements during pregnancy as it can be harmful to the unborn baby. Vitamin A is contained in many different multivitamins so always check with your pharmacist before starting a new supplement.
A new preparation which has recently been launched is Paradox OmegaMums®. It contains omega 3, omega 7 and Vitamin D3. The omega oils help optimise foetal brain, eye, immune and nervous system development. Oily fish is a natural source of omega oils but since it is well known that the majority of the population do not get the recommended two portions of fish a week (one to be oily e.g. Salmon or mackerel) it may be worth supplementation during the very important pregnancy stage, and indeed for everyone.
If you are planning to or have become pregnant it would be important to speak to your GP or pharmacist about your specific needs. Be sure to consult them before taking any medication or supplements while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Gordons Chemists has 52 stores across Northern Ireland. Established in 1980, Gordons now has 49 pharmacies here and also nine in Scotland.
Products described are available at most pharmacies and Gordons Chemists does not endorse any individual product. Always consult your pharmacist in relation to your individual symptoms.