Why supplement even before pregnancy?

The more your nutritional intake is optimised before pregnancy, the greater your chances of meeting your needs during pregnancy.

A diet, however well-balanced, may not be sufficient to meet all nutritional needs — particularly when trying for a baby, during pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding. In particular, processed foods, soil depletion and a stressful lifestyle all tend to deplete our nutrient reserves. Studies have shown that an optimised diet with increased calorie intake does not cover 100% of requirements for certain essential nutrients [1].

From a biological standpoint, there is a critical period spanning the weeks surrounding fertilisation, when gametes reach maturity, fertilisation takes place and the embryo develops. These are the events most sensitive to environmental factors such as the availability of macro- and micronutrients [2]. Some studies indicate a a period of 5 to 6 months as the periconceptional window [3].

Given that approximately one third of fertile couples having regular unprotected intercourse will conceive in the following month, optimising diet, including supplementation, should at least coincide with the decision to try for a baby [4].

Furthermore, gametes (in both men and women) take 3 months to mature in the ovaries/testes, so the quality of gametes reflects our nutritional status from 3 months prior [5]. It is therefore advisable to start taking your prenatal supplement well before a positive pregnancy test, at the latest 3 months before starting to try. That said, it is never too late, and taking a prenatal supplement when you decide to try for a baby will not be in vain — it will indeed have an impact on fertilisation and embryo development, and on the rest of the pregnancy.

Your nutritional needs increase immediately after conception. It is therefore important to enrich your body with nutrients before pregnancy to ensure you gain maximum benefit from all the advantages associated with prenatal products.

You cannot predict how long it will take you to become pregnant — it may take weeks or months — and you will only find out a few weeks after you have succeeded. For example, it is important to supplement with folates (vitamin B9, known as folic acid) well in advance, as it takes time to raise blood levels and also to prevent serious birth defects, since the well-known spina bifida develops by day 28 of pregnancy — in other words, before you even know you are pregnant!

A recent comprehensive review of nutrition in adolescent girls and women of childbearing age concluded that nutritional deficiencies — particularly in iron, vitamin A, iodine, and zinc — remain common [6]. 

The typical diet in developed countries, characterised by high consumption of red meat, refined grains, refined sugars, and high-fat dairy products, also shows deficiencies in several important nutrients, particularly magnesium, iodine, and vitamin D [7].

Your nutritional status doesn't become important the day you fall pregnant — it matters even before that, as it will influence the quality of ovulation, embryonic development, and even the entire course of your pregnancy.  

For example, one study showed that regular multivitamin supplementation during the periconceptional period is associated with a 20% reduction in the risk of pre-eclampsia [8].

A study on periconceptional multivitamin supplementation showed a significant reduction in neural tube defects and urinary tract and cardiovascular abnormalities [9].

Likewise, periconceptional intake of thiamine (vitamin B1), niacin (vitamin B3) and vitamin B6 contributes to the prevention of orofacial clefts [10].

Here is a closer look at how certain nutrients can have a major impact during this period.

Folates (vitamin B9)

The periconceptional period (two to three months before and after) is a critical window for optimising gamete function and early placental development. During this period, supplementation with vitamin B9 contributes to reducing the risk of foetal neural tube defects (brain, spinal column and/or spinal cord) by up to 70% [11].

Other potential benefits of folate supplementation during the periconceptional period may include a reduced risk of pre-eclampsia, miscarriage, low birth weight, underweight, stillbirth, neonatal death and autism in children [12] [13] [14].

Systematic folic acid supplementation is recommended for at least 4 weeks before conception and up to 8 weeks after. The methylated form is preferred, andfolic acid during pregnancy and conception. 

Choline

The choline supplement, just like folates, should be taken when trying for a baby, as it may play a role in the risk of neural tube defects (which develop very early in pregnancy). 

For example, in an observational study of mothers who had children with neural tube defects, compared with those whose children were unaffected, researchers noted a 51% reduction in the risk of a pregnancy affected by a neural tube defect for higher periconceptional choline intakes (corresponding to adequate intake levels) [15]. Taking a supplement of choline pregnancy may be worth considering. 

Iron

Anaemia due to iron deficiency before pregnancy is associated with reduced infant growth and an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes [16]. Low ferritin concentrations in early pregnancy have been associated with changes in placental size [17]. Our iron supplement pregnant woman will help you meet your needs.  

Zinc

Poor zinc intake before fertilisation could compromise foetal and placental growth as well as neural tube closure [18] [19]. 

Iodine 

An adequate iodine intake around the time of pregnancy is important for the child's cognitive development. 

In a study in the United Kingdom, where iodine deficiency is considered to be low, researchers showed that intakes below 150 μg increased the risk of the child having a low verbal IQ and poor reading accuracy and comprehension [20]. 

Vitamin B6

In one study, researchers found that compared with women who consumed the least vitamin B6, those who consumed the most had a twofold lower risk of early pregnancy loss [21]. The effects of poor maternal vitamin B6 status before pregnancy on early pregnancy events may be explained by the fact that vitamin B6 affects implantation and early placental development [22].

An increased risk of preterm birth has also been observed in cases of vitamin B6 deficiency during the preconceptional period [23]. 

Vitamin B12

One study showed that the risk of preterm birth was 60% lower in mothers with a good vitamin B12 intake before fertilisation compared with those with a vitamin B12 deficiency [24]. 

Vitamin D

One study reported higher rates of pregnancy and live birth in mothers with sufficient serum vitamin D concentrations. Crucially, these observations depended on vitamin D concentrations before conception, but not at 8 weeks of pregnancy, highlighting the major importance of vitamin D during this period [25]. Optimal vitamin D levels are needed to increase the efficiency of calcium absorption, which is essential for the skeletal development of the future baby. Our vitamin D pregnancy helps to meet your needs. 

DHA

Studies have shown that measures of embryo quality were improved in women who consumed more fish [26] and more DHA [27], supporting the hypothesis that DHA may play a beneficial role in early pregnancy. If you consume few seafood products or eggs, taking a supplement omega-3 pregnancy rich in DHA is worth considering. 

Overall diet

Of course, vitamins alone don't do everything! Diet above all has a major impact on pregnancy. 

Studies have suggested that dietary patterns up to three years before pregnancy, characterised by high consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and fish and low consumption of red and processed meat, are associated with a reduced risk of gestational diabetes [28], hypertensive disorders of pregnancy [29] and preterm birth [30].

Taking a pregnancy food supplement is simply a means of ensuring needs are met, but does not replace a balanced diet. 

Of course, prenatal vitamins are not a magic remedy for fertility problems — they will not prevent a negative pregnancy test, particularly linked to other factors. Becoming pregnant is not as simple as taking a pill… But many of the nutrients found in prenatal vitamins regulate the bodily systems that make pregnancy possible.

Folates, vitamins B6, B12 and D, as well as iron, all play a role in the mechanisms that may affect fertility [31].

For example [32]: 

Taking iron supplements may reduce the risk of ovulatory infertility. 
Folate appears to be important for the quality and maturation of oocytes. 
Zinc plays a role in ovulation and the menstrual cycle. 
Oocyte maturation and ovulation are affected by an imbalance in antioxidants. 
Folate and zinc will have an impact on follicles, the degeneration of the corpus luteum, and endometrial excretion. 
Those with an adequate intake of vitamin B6 are more likely to conceive [33].
Those who take omega-3 supplements are 1.5 times more likely to conceive than those who do not. Among those taking a prenatal multivitamin, if they also take an omega-3 capsule, they are 1.3 times more likely to become pregnant than those taking a multivitamin alone without omega-3 [34]. 

To find out more, take a look at our article on nutrition and fertility.

The quality of a food supplement for getting pregnant varies greatly from one product to another… Here are the 5 key points to check: 

1) Nutrients must be in their active form! For example, vitamin B9 should be in the form of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (not folic acid); B12 as methylcobalamin; B6 as pyridoxine-5-phosphate; vitamin D as D3; vitamin K as K2 MK7; and minerals such as zinc, iron, etc. in bisglycinate form. 

2) Check the nutrient dosages. For vitamin B9, for example, you need at least 400 µg. For the others, you can look at the percentage of intake in the nutritional table, or compare with the nutritional reference values for pregnant women. 

3) The "ideal" prenatal should contain choline. It is an essential nutrient both before and throughout pregnancy. 

4) It should also contain DHA. This can come from schizochytrium microalgae oil, or from fish oil (in which case, look for information on the quality of the oil and its oxidation index). 

5) It should be clean. That means you can check whether it has been tested by a laboratory, which certifies that it is free from residues, nanoparticles, and so on. Also check the ingredient list to ensure it does not contain harmful compounds such as titanium dioxide, etc. 

To find out more, have a look at our article on how to choose your pregnancy vitamins. 

We wanted to formulate a prenatal supplement that contains the majority of essential vitamins and minerals during pregnancy, at effective doses. With just 2 capsules per day, Baby Bump covers more than 100% of requirements for all B-group vitamins, 500% of vitamin D3, nearly 100% of vitamin K and 200% of vitamin B9. It provides 200mg of DHA. It also covers more than 100% of iodine and selenium requirements and 50% of zinc requirements. It contains the most effective and bioavailable forms of active ingredients. 

It does not replace a good diet, which should remain our main source of nutrients, but it acts as "insurance" during this particularly sensitive and unique period.

Whilst most capsules found on the market do not allow good absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, E, D and K), Baby Bump allows optimal absorption of all vitamins and minerals, thanks to the fish oil. 

Can't digest fish oil? Are you vegan? Bump essentials is the ideal alternative for you, being the equivalent of Baby Bump but without fish oil. For a DHA supplementation from a vegan, highly digestible source, the supplement Omega Mama helps to meet your needs.  

Can't tolerate capsules? Bump powder is the equivalent of Bump essentials but in sachet powder format! 

And to meet your magnesium needs, our supplement pregnancy magnesium is made for you. With 100% magnesium bisglycinate, it combines high absorption with optimal digestion. 

Adequate nutritional status is a major determinant of how a pregnancy progresses. Eating well when trying to conceive is important, and sometimes a nutrient boost through a prenatal food supplement may be needed. 

It is important not to forget that his nutritional status when trying for a baby should not be overlooked — it will have just as significant an impact as your own nutritional status during pregnancy. 

The better your nutritional intake before pregnancy, the greater your chances of meeting your needs during pregnancy. Breastfeeding mothers are recommended to continue afterwards with a food supplement compatible with breastfeeding.

Please be careful not to self-supplement — food supplements are not without consequence, and can interfere with other supplements, foods, and medications, or may not be suited to your personal situation. Not to mention the importance of choosing them carefully and adjusting dosages accordingly. It is therefore advisable to seek guidance from a healthcare practitioner specialised in nutrition (such as a naturopath or nutritional therapist), particularly if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.