When To Start And Stop Taking Pregnacare Products

Pregnacare is a range of health or dietary supplements designed and developed by United Kingdom (UK) Vitabiotics. They come in 30 days supply for both men and women of child bearing age who want to have a child. They supplement the dietary need of both the man, woman and expected child before conception, during and after birth.

They have different categories of pregnacare products for different reasons. The time to start or stop each one can be a little bit complicated. This is because the manufacturer usually gives confusing advice concerning each of these products. They do this because they just want you to buy. So many people out there don't know when to start and end each product. They buy according to their pocket. But the truth is that the right time to start each one matters.

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Pregnacare Product

1. Pregnacare conception for female

2. Pregnacare conception male

3. Pregnacare conception (combi pack for male and female

4. Pregnacare original

5. Pregnacare plus omega 3

6. Pregnacare max

7. Pregnacare breastfeeding

8. Pregnacare new mum

9. Pregnacare stretch mark cream

Vitabiotics and pregnacare

Before Conception

Pregnacare Conception

This is the first in the series of pregnacare products. They have for both men and women. It is a blend of vitamins and minerals such as zinc with a touch of natural additives to support fertility.

The product is to be started three months before trying for a baby. And it can be taken by the woman up to a month after conception.

Pregnacare conception

After Conception

Pregnacare Original

This is specially formulated for pregnant women. It contains 19 important vitamins, minerals and other additives needed by both the mother and child. It contains the world health organisation (WHO) recommended routine drugs and others with the right amount. They include folic acid 400mcg and ferrous sulphate. Pregnacare originally does not contain calcium which is one of the routine drugs. This means that it does not support bone health of both the mother and growing child.

Vitabiotics claim that this product can be used throughout pregnancy. But looking at the lack of calcium and other vitamins, there may be a time to switch to another product.

Pregnacare original

Pregnacare Plus Omega 3

This is a product that comes with 60 capsules. 30 caplets are pregnancare original and the other 30 capsules are omega 3. That means that each day, a pregnant woman is to take one caplet of pregnacare original and one capsule of omega 3.

Vitabiotics said that this product can be started anytime during pregnancy. This includes after conception and even after birth. However, a closer look at the content reveals something different.

The only addition is the omega 3. What is omega 3 and when is it good for pregnant women?

Omega−3 fatty acids, also called Omega-3 oils, ω−3 fatty acids or n−3 fatty acids, are polyunsaturated fatty acids characterized by the presence of a double bond three atoms away from the terminal methyl group in their chemical structure. They can be extracted from cod liver oil to avoid the impurities in cod liver oil such as vitamin A which is contraindicated in pregnant women.

Well formulated omega 3 contain Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), Arachidonic acid ( AA) and Eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA. These have been shown to be beneficial to the baby before and after birth. A daily 300mg of DHA and 220mg of EPA help prevent eczema after birth, development of strong bones, central nervous system, heart health, immune system, normal foetal brain and eye development. But when do pregnant women need this omega 3 in their diet?

Most of the benefits of omega 3 to the child occur when the child starts developing tissues and organs. And that occurs in the second half of pregnancy such as the third trimester and after birth. At an early stage of pregnancy, the nutritional need of the baby is very small and can easily be met by the mother's daily diet. As the need of the child for omega 3 increases, it depletes the omega 3 store of the mother, especially when not gotten from food. Low omega 3 in pregnant women can lead to preeclampsia, depression, low birth weight, increase chance of preterm labour or caesarean birth.

Pregnacare plus omega 3

Pregnacare Max

This product comes with 90 capsule. 60 capsules come from pregnacare Plus omega 3. The other 30 caplets contain calcium, magnesium and other supporting vitamins designed to support a child's healthy bones such as vitamin d3. Besides the bone formation, calcium also helps prevent preeclampsia that occurs from 20 week of pregnancy. Other benefits include helping muscle cells, and helping nerves send messages to the brain and the body.

According to Vitabiotics, pregnacare max can be started anytime in pregnancy including immediately after conception and even after childbirth. However, pregnacare max may not be needed until after the beginning of the second half of pregnancy which is the third trimester and may be after birth.

The reason is that the calcium need of a child in early pregnancy is very small. The calcium store of the mother should be able to handle it very well without need for supplementation. The need for calcium may arise in the third trimester of pregnancy.

However, not all pregnant women may need pregnacare max. This is because unlike omega 3 that is not a common nutritional supplement in our daily food, calcium and it's brothers are very common in our diet and some drugs. For example, calcium is very common in antacids and it is used as salt for most drugs. And excess calcium in the body has side effects such as causing gas.

The daily calcium need of a pregnant woman under the age of 18 years old is 1300mg but 1000mg for women above 18 years old. Calcium carbonate is less expensive and works best with food unlike calcium citrate that can be taken anytime.

Pregnacare max

Pregnacare Stretch Mark Cream

Pregnacare Stretch Cream’s unique formula contains vitamins C and E and botanical extracts including natural extract of Calendula, Aloe Vera and Evening Primrose Oil, which together gently protect, nourish and moisturise stretching skin. The rich cream has a gentle, natural lavender and citrus fragrance and contains no artificial colours.Pregnacare Stretch Cream is safe and effective during the months of pregnancy and may be continued to be applied after giving birth, to help the contracting skin to stay supple.

Pregnacare cream

After Birth

Vitabiotics always claim that each of their after conception products can be taken during and even after given birth. However, there are two more supplements from their company. They are pregnacare breastfeeding and pregnacare New Mum.

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Pregnacare Breastfeeding

To be sincere, this product is closely similar to pregnacare max. It contains vitamin and minerals including omega 3. They only remove some vitamin and mineral from the 19 in pregnacare origin. So it is true you can continue using the pregnacare max if you have the resources because it is more expensive. But, this product is not focused on the mother but the child.

Pregnacare breastfeeding

Pregnacare New Mum

This product is targeting mum not breastfeeding. Although, according to Vitabiotics this product can be used by both breastfeeding mum and none breastfeeding mum throughout postnatal period. But looking at the content, it is focused more on the mother recovering from the stress of pregnancy than for the child's health. You get it see biotin, calcium, collagen, Co-Q10, silica, grapefruit and other skin care vitamins and minerals.

Pregnacare new mum

Conclusion

Let us forget about what the company says. Focus on the content and how to use it. Pregnacare conception can be used three months before trying for a baby and switch to pregnacare care original after conception. Pregnacare original can be used up to the end of the second trimester. The next best choice will depend largely on the mother diet. A mum with regular omega 3 and calcium diet may not need any other supplement except for the pregnacare original. However, diet rich omega 3 are not easily available hence it is necessary to use pregnacare plus. Pregnacare max is only needed in dire dietary support when the mother is not eating well. Pregnacare stretch mark cream can be used anytime during and after pregnancy.

A breastfeeding mum will go for pregnacare breastfeeding but a mum with the intention not to breastfeed her baby should go for pregnacare new mum to help the body recover in time.