FAQ

Pregnancy is a special period in a woman’s life when her body needs an increased supply of certain nutrients. This is because her body is home to a developing child, which also needs nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, proteins, etc. for proper growth. For this reason, during pregnancy, a woman must take special care of her diet, which should provide all the necessary nutrients at the appropriate level to ensure the proper development of the child. However, as is commonly known, our diet is not always properly balanced and it may happen that our daily meals will not cover the increased demand of the body for nutrients. Therefore, taking this into account, experts have selected four ingredients, called BIG 4, which are recommended for supplementation during pregnancy, regardless of the diet. The “big four” include four ingredients: iodine, DHA, vitamin D and folic acid. Iodine is responsible for the development and function of the fetal thyroid gland. The thyroid is an organ that produces hormones needed, among other things, for the proper development of the nervous system. DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, is a fatty acid belonging to the Omega-3 group, which supports the development of the child’s brain and eyesight, and also has a positive effect on the mother’s health and the date of delivery. Vitamin D is essential for the functioning of the entire body of a woman and child, including the proper functioning of the immune system, and folic acid reduces the risk of neural tube defects in the fetus. Folic acid supplementation is also recommended when planning a pregnancy.

All the ingredients mentioned above are recommended for supplementation during pregnancy by experts¹.

The human body needs different nutrients at each stage of its life. This also applies to the period before, during and after pregnancy. The compositions of vitamins, minerals and active substances contained in dietary supplements are optimally selected, depending on the target group. Preparations for women planning a pregnancy contain different ingredients and their doses than preparations for pregnant or postpartum women. Therefore, it is important that the selected preparation meets the needs of the body at the current period of life.

Supplements for women planning a child are primarily preparations containing folic acid. This ingredient reduces the risk of neural tube defects in the fetus and is recommended to be taken already when planning a pregnancy.

Dietary supplements for mothers in the first trimester of pregnancy most often contain folic acid, vitamin D, and iodine, which are substances important for organogenesis – the period of formation of the fetus’s organs and organ systems.

Supplements for the second and third trimester of pregnancy should contain the “BIG 4” complex, i.e. iodine, vitamin D, folic acid and DHA.

Supplements for breastfeeding mothers in the formula, in addition to the big four, may also contain calcium, which supports milk production.

Pregnancy is a challenge for a woman’s body, which in some way disrupts its functioning. It must adapt to new conditions and change its functioning to ensure the well-being of both the mother and the developing child. For the good of the fetus, the functioning of the mother’s immune system changes. Therefore, during this period it is very important for a woman to pay special attention to her health and condition, especially the immune system. It is the body’s first line of defence, and in the case of pregnancy, its task is to protect two organisms at once.

An important element of prevention is a healthy lifestyle, i.e. a good diet and sleep – research confirms that vitamins and minerals strengthen the body by having a beneficial effect on the immune system. The diet should be appropriately balanced and varied to provide women with the nutrients they need at this special time. Pregnancy is a time when the need for certain nutrients increases, so you should take this into account when creating your menu. It is also known that people who lack sleep are more prone to feeling worse, which is why pregnant women should get enough sleep and even take naps during the day if they feel the need. It is also good to take care of physical activity, which hardens the body and is beneficial for pregnancy.

If necessary, you can reach for various ingredients that have a beneficial effect on the immune system. They can be found, among others, in dietary supplements. There are many such preparations on the market with appropriate compositions of ingredients that strengthen the immune system in the autumn and winter. In addition to natural ingredients (such as honey or garlic), dietary supplements also contain vitamins and minerals that stimulate immunity (e.g. zinc and vitamin C and vitamin D).

It is generally accepted that normal body temperature is 36.6 degrees Celsius.  However, pediatricians emphasize that in a small child, the norm is a result of 36 to 37 degrees. Only above this number do we talk about a subfebrile state, and a fever – when the thermometer shows 38.1 degrees. In the case of older children, several years old, a fever means a temperature above 38.5 degrees.

A subfebrile condition is not yet the point at which fever-lowering medications should be administered to an infant. Why? Fever is always a signal that something is happening in the body, but it is also a symptom of the body’s fight against disease-causing pathogens. High body temperature mobilizes the immune system to destroy viruses and bacteria, so it should not be lowered too early.

The temperature is lowered when the thermometer shows a temperature that qualifies as a fever, i.e. above 38°C. Doctors recommend that infants and children up to 3 years of age be given antipyretics when the thermometer shows 38.1 degrees, and for children over 3 years of age – when it shows 38.6. However, in any case, it is best to seek medical advice before giving your child any medicine.

If the fever lasts for several days and is accompanied by other symptoms, such as a cough, runny nose or rash, this is a signal that you should make an appointment with your child’s pediatrician immediately. Fever in newborns and infants should not be underestimated. Children under 6 months of age who exhibit symptoms of infection should be seen by a physician immediately.

Children who attend educational institutions where they meet their peers are unfortunately often forced to miss classes. The reason for this is that the immune system is not yet fully developed, which makes the baby more susceptible to feeling unwell. This applies especially to children who have just started their kindergarten or nursery adventure.

For this reason, parents should take special care of their child’s immune system before sending them to a facility. A child’s diet is very important. Meals should be properly balanced and varied. The daily diet is designed to provide all the necessary vitamins and minerals that affect the functioning of all of the child’s systems. To support the immune system in particular, fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C and meals rich in zinc and fatty acids are important. In addition, your toddler should spend a lot of time outdoors and on walks. Physical activity has a beneficial effect on the immune system. Every parent should also take care of the quality and duration of their toddler’s sleep, depending on their age. Sleep is a time when a child’s body rests and regenerates after play and daily challenges.

It may happen that our child will be a picky eater or will not tolerate certain foods. As a result, his diet is poorer and may not provide all the nutrients he needs. Especially if the child’s diet does not cover the demand for vitamins C and D, as well as zinc or iron, which support the functioning of the immune system, it is worth considering additional supplementation of these ingredients. It will supplement the necessary substances that will strengthen our little one’s immunity. It is worth consulting such actions with a doctor who will prescribe appropriate supplementation tailored to the age and needs of the child.

The eruption of baby teeth is a painful process that, unfortunately, cannot be avoided. But you can alleviate its symptoms, which include itching, pain and swelling of the gums.

There are many products on the market that help ease the discomfort of teething. These are usually gels that are designed to facilitate massage and support the formation of a protective layer on the gums. They have soothing properties and relieve discomfort caused by teething. Preparations that contain plant extracts may be worth considering.

However, teething gels alone are not everything. It is good if, while using them, we give the baby a gentle gum massage (preferably with a rubber brush for washing the first baby teeth), which will relieve persistent itching. A proven and healthy way to help teething is to give your child teethers chilled in the fridge (not the freezer), which brings relief.

Teething may be accompanied by inflammation of the gums, which may increase body temperature.  In such a situation, after consulting a doctor, you can give the child a syrup intended to lower fever, e.g. with paracetamol. A good choice may be one in a concentrated dose so that the child has less fluid to swallow.

A blocked nose is one of the most common childhood ailments and can be caused by many factors. The baby then feels discomfort because the secretions make breathing difficult. Your baby cannot blow his nose, and nasal obstruction may prevent him from breastfeeding or drinking milk from a bottle. Therefore, the baby is usually irritable, restless and often hungry.

The best way to clean the nose is with aspirators that use the parent’s breath or the power of a vacuum cleaner. Traditional pears are not recommended because their tips can damage the nasal mucosa. Before you begin pumping, it is a good idea to soften any remaining discharge. Physiological saline or seawater solutions work best for this. A few minutes after their application, the secretions can be expressed.

Home remedies for a blocked nose in a child include inhalation – just apply a few drops of peppermint, pine or eucalyptus oil to the child’s bedding, you can also pour them into the bathtub during bathing or buy special scented patches to stick on the clothes. It is a good idea to raise the mattress or bed at this time (e.g. by placing books under the legs). This sleeping position will make it easier for your baby to breathe.

When planning a pregnancy, it is important to take care of your health. An essential element of self-care is a healthy lifestyle, which includes proper nutrition, physical activity and refraining from using stimulants. These are three conditions that must be met so that the body of the future mother is ready to accept new life and support its development.

A proper diet is a balanced and varied diet. This means that a woman trying to conceive should eat all the products that will provide her body with the most important nutrients: vitamins, minerals (such as iron, manganese and calcium), protein and healthy carbohydrates. These are what the fetus will use during its growth, so they cannot be missing.

Regular and balanced meals prepared from organic and natural products should be a sufficient source of vitamins and minerals. However, during pregnancy, experts recommend additional folic acid supplementation, regardless of diet. This is a vitamin that reduces the risk of neural tube defects in the developing fetus. For this reason, experts recommend additional supplementation of this vitamin starting from the period of pregnancy planning, because the first days are particularly important when the fetus’s nervous system is still developing¹.

Before we start trying for a baby, it is worth going to the doctor and asking for basic blood tests. Based on their results, the specialist will assess whether and which ingredients need to be supplemented and select the appropriate doses of dietary supplements.

Folic acid, or vitamin B9, is an important ingredient, especially for pregnant women and the developing fetus. This vitamin has a positive effect on the process of closing the urethra (the structure from which the baby’s nervous system develops), which takes place during the first 28 days of pregnancy. In this way, it reduces the risk of neural tube defects in the developing fetus.

Observations show that folic acid taken by women already in the period before conception, as well as in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, significantly reduces the risk of neural tube defects. Therefore, in some countries, e.g. the USA, food is fortified with this vitamin. In Poland, such practices are not used, but it is recommended that every woman of childbearing age, planning a pregnancy, or who is already expecting a child, take folic acid at a dose of 0.4 mg per day¹.

Not only the amount of folates in the tablet is important, but also their quality. Not all of them can be well absorbed by the body, which is why it is important that preparations for pregnant women contain active, easily absorbed folates, e.g. fourth generation.

Vitamin D is a very valuable substance in our climate. In natural conditions, it is synthesized in the skin thanks to UV rays, however, in Poland, due to different seasons, access to sunlight throughout the year is difficult, which may result in the body not being provided with the appropriate amount of vitamin D. In addition to sunlight, other sources of vitamin D include: sea fish (salmon, herring, sardines), eggs and dairy products. However, these foods contain a low dose of this vitamin. It is estimated that only 20% of the vitamin D in the body comes from diet. The recommended daily intake for an adult is 5 µg (200 IU).

Taking into account the weather conditions in Poland and the low content of vitamin D in food, experts recommend additional supplementation of this vitamin. Supplementation is especially important from October to April. For pregnant women, expert recommendations are as follows: during pregnancy and lactation, it is recommended to supplement 1,500 – 2,000 IU of vitamin D per day¹.

When planning a pregnancy, a doctor’s visit and a referral for vitamin D blood tests will be particularly useful. On this basis, the specialist will tell you whether the standard doses intended for women in the procreative period and planning a pregnancy are sufficient or whether the supplementation dose should be increased.

Omega acids, or unsaturated fatty acids (NKKT), have a truly beneficial effect on our health. These are substances also known as omega-3 and omega-6 acids, which are found in fish and some plants (e.g. evening primrose or algae). Unfortunately, these products are rarely found on our tables, which may prevent us from providing our bodies with sufficient amounts of fatty acids.

Meanwhile, fatty acids are essential for the proper functioning of our cells, they increase energy levels, boost immunity, and improve mental performance. They also play a huge role in the development of the fetus, which is why they are ingredients whose supplementation is recommended before, during and after pregnancy. Omega-3 fatty acids, such as DHA, influence the normal course of pregnancy.

What an unborn child needs most is DHA, which supports proper brain function and development. DHA affects the development of the nervous system and the retina in the eye, but is also responsible for the baby’s immunity. DHA acid also has a beneficial effect on the timing of delivery.

The most important thing in building immunity is diet. The body needs vitamins, minerals and other nutrients to function properly. This also applies to the immune system, which is responsible for protecting our body. To keep your immunity strong, you need vitamins C and D, zinc and iron. All these ingredients effectively support the immune system to function properly. Of course, they also have other benefits for our body, which is why it is very important to include them in our daily diet. We will obtain the necessary vitamins and minerals through vegetables and fruits. Peppers, parsley, and broccoli are rich in vitamin C.  Sources of zinc include beans, mushrooms, pumpkin seeds, legumes and cabbage. Iron can be found in products such as meat, cold cuts and fish. Vitamin D only comes from diet in 20% from fatty fish and eggs. It is synthesized by our body under the influence of sunlight.

It is worth ensuring that products containing these ingredients regularly appear on our plates. Garlic, honey or onion will also work well and have been used in folk medicine for generations. They have a number of health-promoting properties.

In a situation where our diet does not cover our body’s daily requirement for these nutrients, it is worth considering supplementing it. It is worth choosing dietary supplements that, in addition to vitamins and minerals, also contain plant ingredients, such as garlic extracts.

Sleep is important in building immunity, as it strengthens the body by giving it time to regenerate and relax, allowing us to unwind our body and mind. It has long been known that stress can negatively affect our immune system. A healthy lifestyle is also necessary, i.e. giving up stimulants and physical activity, which hardens and oxygenates the body.

Vitamin D is chemically similar to a hormone and has a similar role in the body. Like hormones, it affects almost every aspect of its functioning. Vitamin D strengthens bones and teeth because it helps absorb calcium from food, stimulates the immune system, specifically the production of lymphocytes. Moreover, it has a beneficial effect on the muscles and on the regulation of the phosphate and calcium metabolism.

Vitamin D is found in food, but diet is the source of only 20% of the vitamin in the body.  Its main source – the human body can produce it thanks to synthesis in the skin under the influence of sunlight. In our climate, however, this is difficult because there are few sunny days and the strength of the rays may not be sufficient.

In cases of insufficient vitamin D intake, it is worth considering supplementation to supplement our diet with this important ingredient.

Experts recommend that in the autumn-winter period, i.e. from October to April, the supply of vitamin D should be at the level of 800-2000 IU of vitamin D per day². For pregnant women, the recommended supplementation is 1,500 to 2,000 IU per day¹.

When feeling unwell, many people turn to natural methods that can be used in the comfort of their home. And rightly so – in many cases it may prove to be an effective and appropriate method. Natural methods are particularly effective for people who cannot take certain products from the pharmacy, such as pregnant or lactating women, due to the safety of the fetus or breastfed infant.

An effective home remedy for feeling worse is the use of so-called “natural antibiotics”. These include, among others, honey, garlic and ginger, which contain substances with health-promoting properties, which have a beneficial effect on, for example, the immune system, stimulating it to function.

Proven products used in folk medicine are plants such as chamomile, marshmallow, Iceland moss and vegetables such as onions. The latter is effective for upper respiratory tract ailments – onion and honey syrup is an effective way to deal with respiratory problems.

When reaching for home remedies, we cannot forget about fruits rich in vitamin C (e.g. raspberries and elderberries) or products that are a source of vitamin D and omega acids (oily sea fish, oils).

Iron is an important element for health. It is the main element of blood – it is involved in the transport of oxygen to every cell of the human body. It provides energy, oxygenates the brain and supports its cognitive functions. But the role of iron does not end there – it is an element that significantly affects the functioning of the immune system. It is responsible for the multiplication and stimulation of lymphocytes (white blood cells), important immune cells that defend the body.

This is why people who do not supply their body with the right amount of it may feel weak, tired, and their skin is pale.

The best way to avoid such problems is to eat a diet rich in iron. Its sources are red meat, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, soy, beets, beans, and peppers. However, it may happen that our diet is not balanced or varied enough. It is then worth considering additional iron supplementation, reaching for dietary supplements that contain iron that is easily absorbed by the body – i.e. after micronization and emulsification.

Keep in mind that women have a greater need for iron than men because they lose blood during menstruation. Larger amounts of this element are also needed by pregnant women, who in turn give it to the baby developing in their uterus. Supplementation may be especially useful for people on a vegetarian or vegan diet.