Nutrition and Vitamin use during pregnancy

• What do I need?
• Does the mom's weight gain affect the size of the baby?
• What vitamins and minerals do I need during pregnancy?
• Should you take iron supplementation even if your iron levels are normal?

Here are the answers:

• During pregnancy, your need for vitamins and energy increases.
• The baby's weight is closely related to the mother's nutrition.
• Especially in the last trimester, the foods that the mother eats and the weight she gains determine her baby's birth weight.
• Besides nutrition and vitamin use during pregnancy, maternal characteristics such as the age and previous births of the mother affect the baby's growth. Socioeconomic level, living conditions, substance abuse, and the general health status of the mother also affect the baby's weight gain.
• Not all women are expected to gain the same weight during pregnancy. The determining factor is the weight of the mother before pregnancy. The total weight gained during pregnancy can be considered an average of 12 kg.
• Vitamin and mineral supplementation during pregnancy is very important, especially in underdeveloped countries where malnutrition is experienced.
• There is no need for multivitamins and mineral support in singleton pregnancies where the mother does not have a healthy diet. It has been reported that it will even cause harm.
• Excessive weight gain should be avoided.
• Folic acid must be used.
• If iron deficiency is not detected, the use of iron is not necessary!
• Iron use benefits adolescent pregnancies (under 18 years of age).
• Vegetarian pregnancies should also be supplemented with vitamin B12.
• Vitamin D use will be beneficial for pregnant women who receive insufficient sunlight.
• Despite the statements that the use of multi-vitamins is beneficial for the mother and the baby, including omega 3 tablets, which are claimed to contribute to a baby's brain development, there is no scientific study showing that even the use of iron (except for pregnant women with iron deficiency) is beneficial.
• If there is no chronic disease, or absorption disorder in the digestive system of the mother, except for folic acid, which is scientifically known and proven to be beneficial, there is no preparation that should be used during pregnancy.

Filip & Emine Taşhan - Obstetrics and Gynecology

https://www.filiptashan.com/