Introduction
During pregnancy, dietary supplements are a major issue. The expectant mothers are concerned and want to provide their unborn child with all the important nutrients as much as possible. The range of dietary supplements is huge, but not all of them are suitable or recommended for pregnancy. In fact, there are only a handful of dietary supplements that are really useful and desirable to take during pregnancy. Everything else is normally taken through the diet.
Indications for dietary supplementation during pregnancy
Especially during the first pregnancy, many women do not want to do anything wrong and consciously eat healthier food to cover the increased need for nutrients, vitamins and minerals. The question often arises whether a food supplement makes sense during pregnancy. This question cannot be answered in a generalized way, as it depends very much on the diet, the general condition and the respective pregnant woman.
Nevertheless, there are some cases in which a nutrient deficiency during pregnancy is very likely, so that a dietary supplement makes sense: multiple pregnancies, in which sufficient nutrients must be sufficient for 3 or more people. The pregnant woman usually does not manage to cover the additional requirement purely through diet. Underweight women usually have a manifest nutrient deficiency even before pregnancy, so a dietary supplement is particularly sensible for them.
The same applies to chronically ill or alcohol-dependent women. Smokers also have an increased risk of suffering from a nutrient deficiency and should therefore be monitored. Women who live a certain lifestyle (e.g. vegetarians or vegans) or who have a food intolerance should at least monitor their nutrient balance more closely during pregnancy.
This means that a dietary supplement makes sense, especially if the pregnant woman belongs to a risk group. In such cases, the gynaecologist should determine which nutrients should be supplemented in which dosage.
- Multiple pregnancies, in which sufficient nutrients must be sufficient for 3 or more people. The pregnant woman usually does not manage to cover the additional requirement purely through diet.
- Underweight women, usually have a manifest lack of nutrients even before pregnancy, so a dietary supplement is particularly useful for you. The same applies to chronically ill or alcohol-dependent women.
- Women smokers also have an increased risk of suffering from nutrient deficiency and should therefore be monitored.
- Women who follow a certain lifestyle (e.g. vegetarians or vegans) or who have a food intolerance should at least monitor their nutrient balance more closely during pregnancy.
