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Why Are Supplements Given During Pregnancy?
Question: hi, i am in 23week of my pregnancy . I stared with 77kg of overweight n till now i have gained 8kgs. i eat only home made food n fruits n walk for at least 1hr a day. my doctor gave me ensure suppliment since the beginning of second trimester.. i have it every mrng with a glass of 3%fat skimmed milk...i somehow thinks its the reason of unwanted weight gain. Could you please explain why is this suppliment given n how do i ensure that its not causing weight gain in a safer way.
Brief Answer:
Some more information. Healthy lifestyle. Iron, Calcium supplements.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
First of all do not panic.
Your concern about weight gain is quite right.
Unnecessary weight gain will be sole factor that will increase medical problems in the later period of the pregnancy.
If possible please let me know your height in centimetre.
What was your pre-pregnancy weight?
Are you on any Iron and Calcium supplements now?
Till we communicate again, I will suggest you to opt for a healthy diet and regular exercise regimen.
Include more portions of fruits and vegetables and salads in daily diet and drink plenty of water.
Avoid refined sugars and deep fried foods and bakery products in the diet.
If possible start taking Ensure with water.
Please check the protein and carbohydrate content of the same.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Some more information. Healthy lifestyle. Iron, Calcium supplements.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
First of all do not panic.
Your concern about weight gain is quite right.
Unnecessary weight gain will be sole factor that will increase medical problems in the later period of the pregnancy.
If possible please let me know your height in centimetre.
What was your pre-pregnancy weight?
Are you on any Iron and Calcium supplements now?
Till we communicate again, I will suggest you to opt for a healthy diet and regular exercise regimen.
Include more portions of fruits and vegetables and salads in daily diet and drink plenty of water.
Avoid refined sugars and deep fried foods and bakery products in the diet.
If possible start taking Ensure with water.
Please check the protein and carbohydrate content of the same.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
hi , my height is 167.6cms and i started my pregnancy with around 77kgs. right now my gynac has prescribed fefol-z n caldikind for iron n calcium along with susten sr200mg( this one again i am nt sure why she prescribed ) my last scan was good n everything was normal. it was done on 18th XXXXXXX then my weight was 82 since then i am having ensure with milk every mrng n i have gained 3kgs in just 2 weeks. let me know if you need any further information. i do not eat sweet or any fried or bakery items at all. Probably on rare ocassions pakodas that s all. i eat home made food with 2 fruits daily n walk for 1hrs daily. but this weigt gain has freaked me out. pls help
Brief Answer:
TSH levels, serial weight check up, dietary changes.
Detailed Answer:
Hi there, thanks for appreciating the answer and reverting back to me.
I have gone through your reply.
Your concern about weight gain is absolutely right.
Usually, there is 2 to 3 kg weight gain in first 20 weeks and later on 1 kg every 2 weeks.
This way, there is 10 to 12 kg weight gain expected in total 40 weeks period of pregnancy.
I will suggest you to consume tour protein supplements with water if possible and preferably without use of any added sugar.
Secondly, please get thyroid function tests done, if not done earlier.
TSH levels are expected to be below 3 during pregnancy.
Please let me know about the same.
Also, increase the portions of fruits like watermelon and oranges and sweet lime and salads like tomato and cucumber and various types of lettuce in the diet. I usually suggest to my patients to take these fruits and salads at least ten minutes before starting the main meals.
Also, now onwards please keep watch on your weight gain every 15 days.
Please follow the instructions about life style as discussed earlier.
Meditate regularly.
Think positive.
Practice pranayama, mainly deep breathing, without holding the breath.
May God bless you with a bundle of XXXXXXX
I hope this answer helps you.
Please feel free to communicate with me again.
Enjoy your pregnancy.
Thanks.
Dr. Purushottam Neurgaonkar
TSH levels, serial weight check up, dietary changes.
Detailed Answer:
Hi there, thanks for appreciating the answer and reverting back to me.
I have gone through your reply.
Your concern about weight gain is absolutely right.
Usually, there is 2 to 3 kg weight gain in first 20 weeks and later on 1 kg every 2 weeks.
This way, there is 10 to 12 kg weight gain expected in total 40 weeks period of pregnancy.
I will suggest you to consume tour protein supplements with water if possible and preferably without use of any added sugar.
Secondly, please get thyroid function tests done, if not done earlier.
TSH levels are expected to be below 3 during pregnancy.
Please let me know about the same.
Also, increase the portions of fruits like watermelon and oranges and sweet lime and salads like tomato and cucumber and various types of lettuce in the diet. I usually suggest to my patients to take these fruits and salads at least ten minutes before starting the main meals.
Also, now onwards please keep watch on your weight gain every 15 days.
Please follow the instructions about life style as discussed earlier.
Meditate regularly.
Think positive.
Practice pranayama, mainly deep breathing, without holding the breath.
May God bless you with a bundle of XXXXXXX
I hope this answer helps you.
Please feel free to communicate with me again.
Enjoy your pregnancy.
Thanks.
Dr. Purushottam Neurgaonkar
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
can you suggest a protein suppliment please
Brief Answer:
Good quality and absorbable protein supplement with low carbohydrate.
Detailed Answer:
Hi there,
Thanks for appreciating the answer and reverting back to me.
Usually, protein supplements available in the market contain not more than 20 to 40 percent of protein in 100 gm of powder. Rest of the weight is of carbohydrates or sugars. So one needs to look for the protein supplements with less amount of carbohydrates.
I usually suggest protein supplements from Nutrilite. It's time tested and has almost fully absorbable protein isolate with 80 % protein.
Please feel free to communicate with me again.
I hope this answer helps you.
Thanks.
Dr. Purushottam Neurgaonkar
Good quality and absorbable protein supplement with low carbohydrate.
Detailed Answer:
Hi there,
Thanks for appreciating the answer and reverting back to me.
Usually, protein supplements available in the market contain not more than 20 to 40 percent of protein in 100 gm of powder. Rest of the weight is of carbohydrates or sugars. So one needs to look for the protein supplements with less amount of carbohydrates.
I usually suggest protein supplements from Nutrilite. It's time tested and has almost fully absorbable protein isolate with 80 % protein.
Please feel free to communicate with me again.
I hope this answer helps you.
Thanks.
Dr. Purushottam Neurgaonkar
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
instead of taking supplement can i compensate the protien requiremnet using boild eggs or dry fruits?
Brief Answer:
Protein rich foods and protein supplements.
Detailed Answer:
Hi there, I will be happy to answer your question.
Yes you can also fulfill the needs of nutrients from diet.
But studies have proved that nutritional contents of foods are becoming lesser and lesser day by day.
With urbanization, ratio of nutrition content of a particular food to the total calories content of the food is decreasing.
So more amount of unnecessary calories get in the body in attempt to increase nutrient intake.
As you might be aware that daily protein requirements for pregnant women is 1.5 gram per kg of body weight.
So pregnant women with 50 kg weight will need 75 gram protein per day.
One whole boiled egg contains 6 gram protein.
200 ml of milk contains 6 to 8 gram protein.
I usually suggest to add protein rich foods like eggs, fish, legumes,pulses, milk and milk products in daily diet,along with good quality, natural protein supplements.
Protein supplements help immensely in the formation of cerebral cortex,which is related to intelligence of the person.Also, muscles and bones and many other tissues of the baby need protein during fetal growth.
Hope I have answered your query.
Take care
Dr. Purushottam Neurgaonkar, OBGYN
Protein rich foods and protein supplements.
Detailed Answer:
Hi there, I will be happy to answer your question.
Yes you can also fulfill the needs of nutrients from diet.
But studies have proved that nutritional contents of foods are becoming lesser and lesser day by day.
With urbanization, ratio of nutrition content of a particular food to the total calories content of the food is decreasing.
So more amount of unnecessary calories get in the body in attempt to increase nutrient intake.
As you might be aware that daily protein requirements for pregnant women is 1.5 gram per kg of body weight.
So pregnant women with 50 kg weight will need 75 gram protein per day.
One whole boiled egg contains 6 gram protein.
200 ml of milk contains 6 to 8 gram protein.
I usually suggest to add protein rich foods like eggs, fish, legumes,pulses, milk and milk products in daily diet,along with good quality, natural protein supplements.
Protein supplements help immensely in the formation of cerebral cortex,which is related to intelligence of the person.Also, muscles and bones and many other tissues of the baby need protein during fetal growth.
Hope I have answered your query.
Take care
Dr. Purushottam Neurgaonkar, OBGYN
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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