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What is this medication for?
This leaflet describes some of the common supplements prescribed by your healthcare professional during your pregnancy.
Folic Acid (usually taken from preconception (before getting pregnant) until the 12th week of pregnancy) | |
| What is this for | To reduce the risk of birth defects, e.g. abnormal development of the spinal cord in the baby during the early stages of pregnancy. |
| How to take | Take one tablet once a day, usually in the morning, with or without food. |
| Side effects | Generally, well tolerated without any significant side effects. |
Prenatal multivitamins (e.g. Obimin® / Prenaforte / Ganilia®) (usually taken from the 12th week of pregnancy onwards until delivery) | |
| What is this for | Most prenatal vitamins contain a higher content of micronutrients to meet the increased demand during pregnancy. For example, most prenatal vitamins will contain iron, calcium and folic acid to meet the needs of the baby and mother. Iron helps with the formation of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the baby. Calcium will help strengthen the baby’s bone development. Not all multivitamins are safe in pregnancy as they may contain higher than necessary contents e.g. some multivitamins may contain higher doses of Vitamin A that may not be safe in pregnancy. Check with your healthcare professional before buying any multivitamins on your own. |
| How to take | Dose is usually one tablet/capsule after breakfast or lunch. Follow the instructions stated on the medication label / packaging. |
| Side effects | Generally well tolerated in most patients. Some patients may experience:
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| Other considerations | For supplements containing iron, space at least 2 hours apart from coffee, tea, milk, dairy products, and calcium supplements for better absorption. Some preparations may contain fish oil (e.g. Ganilia®), hence, additional fish oil supplementation is not required. |
Fish Oil Supplements (e.g. DHA / Natal Care Plus / NeuroGain® / QualiBrain® (usually taken from the 12th week of pregnancy onwards until delivery) | |
| What is this for | Omega-3 fatty acids help with the baby's brain and eye development. |
| How to take | Take one capsule once a day, with or after food. Follow the instructions stated on the medication label / packaging. |
| Side effects | Nausea, bloatedness, belching (burping) and fishy aftertaste. |
Calcium (e.g. Calcit Ultra® / Calcit®D-Plus / Calcium Carbonate) (usually taken from the 12th week of pregnancy onwards until delivery) | |
| What is this for | For maintenance of mother’s bones and development of the baby’s bones. |
| How to take | Take one to two tablets once daily, with or after food. Follow the instructions stated on the medication label / packaging. |
| Side effects | Constipation. You can drink more water and take plenty of fruits and vegetables to prevent it. |
| Other considerations | Space at least 2 hours apart from milk, dairy products, and supplements that contain iron to improve absorption. Some preparations may contain Vitamin D to enhance calcium absorption. |
Iron (e.g. Haemo / Hemoplex / Maltofer® / Sangobion®) (usually taken when your haemoglobin levels are low) | |
| What is this for | For the production of red blood cells to treat or prevent iron deficiency anemia, a condition that occurs when the body has insufficient healthy red blood cells to provide oxygen to the body. During pregnancy, iron supplementation helps meet the increased iron needs of both mother and the developing baby. |
| How to take | Take one to two tablets/capsules a day, with or after food. Follow the instructions as stated on the medication label / packaging. Sometimes, your doctor may prescribe a liquid preparation for you if you are unable to swallow tablets/capsules. |
| Side effects | Generally well tolerated in most patients. Some patients may experience:
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| Other considerations | Most iron supplements may need to be spaced at least 2 hours apart from coffee, tea, milk, dairy products, and calcium or other iron-containing supplements to improve absorption (Exception: iron polymaltose e.g. Haemo / Maltofer®). |
Vitamin D (only required when determined by your doctor) | |
| What is this for | Helps to increase the absorption of calcium and reduce complications in pregnancy e.g. pre-eclampsia (a serious condition that usually presents as high blood pressure with or without protein in the urine). |
| How to take | Follow the instructions as stated on the medication label / packaging. |
| Side effects | Generally, well tolerated without any significant side effects. |
What should I do if I forget to take or use this medication?
You should take your supplements regularly. If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember if it is not close to the next dose. Otherwise, you should skip the dose and take the next dose at the usual time. Do not take two doses together to make up for the missed dose.
What precautions should I take when taking or using this medication?
Inform your healthcare professional if:
- You are allergic to these supplements or any of the other ingredients of this medication
- You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies.
What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately?
Symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:
- Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
- Difficulty in breathing
- Skin rashes
If you experience any of these symptoms, stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention.
You can also find out about drug allergies by watching these videos:
They are available in English, 中文, Melayu and தமிழ்: Drug Allergies
How should I store this medication?
Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.
How do I throw away this medication safely?
Pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing it into the rubbish chute or bin.
Disclaimer
Please take note that the above is not a complete list of all possible side-effects. If you have any concerns about your medication or if you have other side-effects that you think are caused by this medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist. If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.
This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (NHG Health, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.
Contributed By
- Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore