Which nutritional supplements are recommended for pregnant women?

From the moment you become pregnant, the Danish Health Authority recommends that you take various types of nutritional supplements, which should strengthen both you and your unborn child. In this article, we give you an overview of the recommendations

Folic acid: Here is the recommendation to consume 400 micrograms (µg) of folic acid daily already from when you plan pregnancy (preferably 3 months before pregnancy) You are recommended to take it every day until you are 12 weeks into your pregnancy

D vitamin

Many Danes have too low a level of vitamin D in their blood, and since vitamin D promotes the absorption of calcium and strengthens the bone structure, it is an important dietary supplement for both the pregnant woman and the unborn child. The Danish Health Authority recommends a daily supplement of 10 micrograms of vitamin D throughout pregnancy.

Iron

Research has shown that approximately one in five pregnant women develops iron deficiency late in pregnancy, if not, you take a daily iron supplement. The recommendation is 40-50 mg of iron from the 10th week of pregnancy and then for the rest of the pregnancy.

Calcium

Calcium is important both for the pregnant woman but also for the bones of the unborn child. The Danish Health Authority recommends that pregnant women either eat or drink 0.5 liters of milk product per day or take a daily iron supplement of 500 mg throughout pregnancy

Vitamin A

On the other hand, you must be careful not to get too much vitamin A, as it can harm the fetus. Pregnant women are therefore advised against eating liver and cod liver oil, as it contains a lot of vitamin A. Liver pâté is not recommended in smaller portions. Basically, vitamin A is important for your body.

Your body cannot do without vitamin A, which is important for vision, the immune system and skin and mucous membranes. You can easily get the amount of vitamin A your body needs through a healthy and varied diet. But while you are pregnant, you should not take it as a dietary supplement, as high doses can cause birth defects. Note that you should also avoid cod liver oil as a dietary supplement, as this also has a very high vitamin A content.

Find our nutritional supplements right here

In the article here you can read more about the Danish Health Authority's recommendations for diet, exercise and lifestyle during pregnancy. And in this article you can get the full guide to when you usually go to the doctor, midwife and scan during pregnancy