Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Comparing Vitamins in Pregnancy

Best vitamins to take pre and post pregnancy


Iberet Folic Obimin Pramilet
Elemental Iron 105mg 30mg 5mg
Vitamin C 500mg 100mg 60mg
Niacinamide 30mg 20mg 10mg
Calcium Pantothenate 10mg 7.5mg 1mg
Vitamin B1 6mg 10mg 3mg
Vitamin B2 6mg 2.5mg 2mg
Vitamin B6 5mg 15mg 3mg
Vitamin B12 25mcg 4mg 3mg
Folic Acid 800mcg 250mcg 500mcg
Vitamin A
6000USP 4000IU
Vitamin D
400USP 400IU
Calcium Lactate
250mg
Copper
0.1mg 0.15mg
Iodine
0.1mg 0.1mg
Dimethyl
polysiloxane
20mg
Ca

250mg
Mg

10mg
Zinc

0.85mg

Ask the pharmacist

1)Vitamins to be taken during pregnancy are:
a)B12 >5mcg
Especially for vegetarian women, because they may give birth to infants who suffer early and serious signs of megaloblastic anemia and failure to thrive due to low B12.
b)Folic acid > 400mcg will reduce the incidence of neural tube defects by 50%
c) Elemental iron 30-65mg/day
d) Calcium: Milk, cheese and yogurt should be taken.
2)Energy requirement: 300 more kcal/day (less in first trimester, more during 3rd trimester)
Protein: 10g/day increase to support fetal and placental growth.
Weight: Average women gain 25-30pounds during pregnancy.

4)Which vitamin better to take?
After comparing these 3, Obimin seems the winner for normal pregnancy without complications. I like the high doses of B6 in Obimin, which can reduce complications of nausea and vomiting happens during the first 4-8 weeks. Furthermore it is the cheapest vitamin in the market. Due to lower folic acid, we would usually recommend Obimin+folic acid supplementation from milk.

Iberet Folic seems to be the taikor as it has high doses of iron, folic acid and B12, vitamin C (to enhance absorption of iron). So it is the most useful in anemic pregnant lady.

Just remember do not take several prenatal vitamins as it may expose mother and baby to the toxicity and teratogenic dose of vitamin A.

5)Remember, each individual is different. Always ask your Dr or pharmacist if u r not clear.

6) Want to know expected date of confinement?
Rough calculation:
Last menstrual period+ 7days -3months+ 1 year.
(assumes ovulation on day 14 of 28 day cycle)

Hope u will get a healthy baby!

6 comments:

Pang Wee Siang said...

someone is coming?
congratulation !!!!!!!!!!!

Ted said...

Good write up as always. So when can we expect a little Lee?

Anonymous said...

The Folic acid 400mcg is equal to ?mg. Is there any harm if i take 10mg of folic acid daily during pregnancy?

pharmalogik said...

folic acid 400mcg=0.4mg, usually pregnant lady take 5mg one table once a day.

Unknown said...

hi.. I'm happend tersinggah to ur blog..

for my 2nd & 3rd pregnancy I took obimin as prescribe by my gnea.. it's works well on me... I took it since my 1st mths of pregnancy...

Unknown said...

just noticed obimin has new formulation and its called New Obimin. the folic acid increase to 1000mcg.