Important nutrients

During pregnancy, women need some nutrients and minerals in increased amounts. These include folic acid, iodine and iron. In spite of a balanced diet, some nutrients cannot be covered and must be supplied separately during this period.

Folic acid is a vitamin which is activated in the body by vitamin B12. Folic acid plays a very important role in cell formation and thus cell division as well as cell protection and is indispensable.Women who are of childbearing age and wish to have a child can support a pregnancy in advance if they take in sufficient folic acid. At the same time Folsäure is to lower the risk of malformations clearly.

During the pregnancy the need at Folsäure increases then again by 50 per cent. Finally, millions of new cells are formed during pregnancy. Known malformations such as the neural tube defect occur particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Here therefore a sufficient supply of Folsäure is particularly important and essential. The requirement can be covered by various folic acid preparations in the form of tablets. Especially suitable are preparations that also contain vitamins B6 and B12.

The vitamin B12 is very important for the activation of folic acid in the body. Thus additionally approx. 400mg are supplied daily to the Folsäure contained in the food.

Depot preparations also prove to be particularly good. They gradually release the substances into the digestive tract, making it easier to control the dosage. Excess folic acid is then simply eliminated directly.

The dosage and choice of a suitable preparation should be discussed with the treating doctor. During pregnancy, the mother supplies the unborn child with blood and the oxygen it contains via the umbilical cord. Iron is particularly important for haemoglobin, the blood pigment found in red blood cells that binds oxygen.

Furthermore, iron is contained in many proteins and enzymes and is important for their functionality. Due to the fact that the child is also supplied with iron, pregnant women have an increased risk of developing an iron deficiency. Iron deficiency manifests itself with pale skin, concentration disorders, loss of performance, tiredness and headaches.

Due to the lack of hemoglobin, the blood can also bind less oxygen. As a result, the supply of oxygen to the tissues and organs is impaired and at the same time the removal of carbon dioxide is impaired. The doctor, a gynaecologist who looks after the pregnant woman, measures the hemoglobin value (Hb value) during the regular routine examinations.

This provides information about the iron stores in the body. In order to prevent iron deficiency during pregnancy, iron tablets can be taken in addition to the diet. Pregnant women are recommended an iron intake of 30mg per day.

Not every woman tolerates the iron supplements very well, as they can occasionally lead to stomach aches, constipation and nausea. In this case, the pregnant woman can get sufficient advice from the treating gynaecologist. If the symptoms occur, another preparation can be used under these circumstances.

Some foods such as pulses, wholemeal products, red meat, spinach, beetroot, kale, zucchini, lettuce, chives and watercress are particularly suitable for ensuring the supply of iron. When preparing red meat, however, care should always be taken to ensure that the meat is very well cooked. The meat can contain various bacteria and viruses, so that there is an increased risk of infection, especially for the foetus.

In order to prevent iron deficiency during pregnancy, iron tablets can be taken in addition to the diet. Pregnant women are recommended an iron intake of 30mg per day. Not every woman tolerates iron supplements very well, as they can occasionally lead to stomach aches, constipation and nausea.

In this case, the pregnant woman can get sufficient advice from the treating gynaecologist. If the symptoms occur, another preparation can be used under these circumstances. Some foods such as pulses, wholemeal products, red meat, spinach, beetroot, kale, zucchini, lettuce, chives and watercress are particularly suitable for ensuring the supply of iron.

When preparing red meat, however, care should always be taken to ensure that the meat is very well cooked. The meat can contain various bacteria and viruses, so that there is an increased risk of infection, especially for the foetus. The need for additional iodine is also difficult to meet via the diet.

Pregnant women need more iodine from the beginning. Iodine is needed for the production of thyroid hormones by mother and child. Only from the twelfth week of pregnancy is the unborn child able to produce its own thyroid hormones, but it still needs the supply of iodine via the mother.

This is also necessary during the nursing period.In addition to the use of iodized salt and the daily consumption of dairy products, it is recommended to take an additional 100-150 micrograms of iodine. There are some iodine preparations in the form of tablets for this purpose. Calcium is a mineral that occurs in very large quantities in the human body.

About 99 percent is integrated into our bones. But it is not only needed in the bones, it also plays an important role in movement. Calcium is urgently needed for the metabolic processes in the musculature for movement.

During pregnancy, the foetus needs calcium for its bone growth and receives most of the mineral from the mother. If the mother suffers from calcium deficiency, not only is there an increased risk of osteoporosis, but the unborn child is also at risk. The supply of calcium to the child is then ensured by additionally dissolving the mineral from bones and teeth.

In order to prevent this, the pregnant woman should make sure that she takes in enough calcium. The calcium is also checked during blood tests and the doctor can therefore quickly detect a lack of calcium. Here too, there are enough preparations that are suitable for calcium intake during pregnancy.

Vitamin A, whose derivative is called retinol, is a fat-soluble vitamin. It performs important functions, such as maintaining the functions of the eye, skin and mucous membranes. Vitamin A is supplied by the consumption of animal products.

These include, for example, fish and liver. However, since a pregnant woman should avoid certain types of fish and liver because of other risks, it is better to resort to cheese and carrots in order to cover the need for vitamin A. Certain fruits and vegetables such as spinach, tomatoes, broccoli and apricots also contain the vitamin. It should be noted that vitamin A can be better absorbed by the body if a small amount of oil, such as olive oil, is eaten at the same time.