What Vitamins to Take in the 1st Trimester of Pregnancy

Vitamins in the early stages of pregnancy are essential for every expectant mother. They help replenish the deficiency of beneficial substances, support the immune system at the proper level, and ensure that the entire pregnancy period is smooth. The best vitamins are vitamin-mineral complexes that contain the necessary daily dose. Before taking them, it’s advisable to consult with your doctor. 

At the beginning of pregnancy, it is very important for the expectant mother to monitor her health. After an initial consultation with the attending physician and completing all the necessary tests, certain vitamins may be needed in the early stages of pregnancy. This is necessary for both the expectant mother and her baby to feel healthy. 

Benefits of Taking Multivitamin Complexes in the 1st Trimester

From the first weeks of carrying a baby, the expectant mother’s body begins to work for two. This leads to an increased need for nutrients. The most important minerals for pregnant women in the first trimester are:

• Folic acid. Its benefit lies in fully forming a healthy nervous and cardiovascular system in the child. If there is a significant deficiency of B9, it may cause spontaneous abortion;
• Iodine. From the first days, it is necessary for the mother’s thyroid gland to function normally. This substance also contributes to the full development of the child’s mental and physical abilities;
• Group B. Influences the proper formation and development of the fetus;
• B12. Its benefits include aiding better absorption of folic acid. It also helps prevent anemia. In early pregnancy, it helps prevent nausea and vomiting;
• Zinc. Stimulates skin regeneration processes and hair growth, has an immunomodulatory effect. Zinc deficiency can lead to developmental defects of various organs and systems;
• Calcium. Participates in many metabolic processes and is necessary for the formation of the child’s skeleton. Calcium deficiency can lead to dental problems, severe toxicosis, and there is a risk of developing arterial hypertension.
• With vitamin A or retinol in early stages, caution is necessary. Excessive intake can lead to developmental defects of the breed. It also influences the proper development of the baby’s eyesight and skeletons.
• Lutein. Prevents vision loss, as well as positively affects the formation of the child’s brain and intellect.
• Rutin. From the first days of pregnancy, it strengthens the vascular system, makes capillary walls more elastic, and reduces blood stagnation in the veins.

Which trace elements are needed in the first trimester and in what dosage should only be decided by the attending physician. First, you will need to take all necessary tests, and based on existing deficiencies, vitamin and mineral complexes will be selected.

Necessary minerals in early stages

Which vitamins to take in early pregnancy? Gynecologists generally recommend the following trace elements:

• B9 or folic acid;
• Iodine;
• Group B;
• Zinc;
• Calcium;
• A;
• Rutin;
• Lutein.

Each of these trace elements provides specific benefits to the body. However, besides its beneficial effects, it is important to consider that the effect depends on how correctly the dosage is chosen. The vitamins mentioned above can be taken in early pregnancy in different forms: individually in capsules, as multivitamins, or in natural products. Each of these intake forms has its pros and cons.

It should be noted that during early pregnancy, vitamins may be absorbed differently. This depends on the overall condition of the expectant mother, and the deficiencies of minerals and nutrients. 

Indications for prescription in the 1st trimester

In the first months of pregnancy, the foundations of the baby’s main organs and systems are laid. Therefore, a deficiency of trace elements can cause irreparable harm to both the mother’s and the baby’s body. If vitamins are not taken in the early stages of pregnancy, it can disrupt heart function, lead to digestive issues, and affect the baby’s nervous system. 

During early pregnancy, it is essential to take vitamins to maintain normal well-being and avoid potential complications. This also helps prevent exhaustion and better prepares the body for childbirth. To determine all the necessary trace elements, it is first important to consult with a doctor. 

Which Specific Trace Elements to Focus On

During the first visit to the pharmacy, an expectant mother may feel overwhelmed by the wide range of various pregnancy vitamins. This leads to a logical question: which beneficial nutrients should be focused on? To properly select the necessary complex, certain advice should be followed, namely:

• Ask the pharmacist at the pharmacy for vitamin-mineral complexes designed specifically for the first trimester. In the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, the need for nutrients increases, meaning the daily intake requirements for micronutrients change. An overdose of vitamins in early pregnancy is just as dangerous as their deficiency;
• Preference should be given to a balanced composition containing the necessary minerals for the 1st trimester. At a minimum, the supplement should contain folic acid, other trace elements, iodine, and zinc. Ideally, the complex should be enriched with lutein and rutin. The benefit of the complex directly depends on the dosage of the minerals it contains;
• In addition to trace elements, vitamins for early pregnancy should not contain plant-based components. These are most often the cause of allergic reactions.

You can enhance the effect of taking vitamins in early pregnancy by adhering to proper nutrition. In turn, doctors recommend starting the intake of multivitamins even at the stage of planning for future conception. This will serve as a kind of preparation for the mother’s body.

Vitamin and Mineral Complexes for the First Trimester

What vitamins should be taken in the 1st trimester of pregnancy? This question concerns many mothers. The difficulty in choosing lies in the fact that vitamin and mineral complexes are available in a very large variety, and at first glance, there seems to be no difference between them. The table below presents the best complexes that are optimally suited for all future mothers.

Products containing necessary minerals for pregnant women in the 1st trimester

In addition to taking vitamins in the early stages of pregnancy, attention should also be paid to changing the diet. Moreover, during the period of carrying a child, special emphasis should be placed specifically on healthy foods. These include:

• Foods with folic acid. This substance reduces the risks of possible abnormalities and promotes the proper development of the neural tube, which later influences the formation of the brain. Folic acid is abundant in lettuce leaves, spinach, and parsley, as well as in asparagus, beans, lentils, citrus fruits, nuts, liver, avocado, and eggs;
• Foods with the trace element E. This substance is found in large quantities in nuts, sunflower and soybean oil, dried apricots, sea buckthorn, rose hips, salmon, and pike. It is necessary for the full functioning of female sex hormones and the formation of the placenta;
• Foods rich in vitamin A. These include liver, wild garlic, viburnum, garlic, eel, and butter. It is essential for good cell division.

These vitamins in the early stages of pregnancy will benefit not only the expectant mother but also the baby. Because trace elements are absorbed in their natural form, their value to the body increases several times. 

How long should you take multivitamins

Under ideal circumstances, the situation should look as follows. Before planning a pregnancy, partners should undergo tests to check mineral and trace element levels. Based on the results, deficiencies are addressed with appropriate supplements. However, such circumstances are rare. Therefore, it is better to start taking vitamin complexes in the first months as soon as the baby is conceived. 

Throughout the entire pregnancy, it’s periodically necessary to monitor nutrient levels in the blood. The intake of micronutrients should be based only on medical indications. Therefore, before starting to take vitamins in the early stages of pregnancy, it is worth consulting with your healthcare provider. Based on the tests conducted and their results, they will give further recommendations. 

From the very first week, expectant mothers should start taking care of their health. For this, it is recommended to take vitamins based on test results and general well-being in the early stages of pregnancy. Preference should be given to vitamin-mineral complexes that contain the necessary daily dose of all minerals and micronutrients.