GestaCare Gestação
Pregnancy and Fetal Development
GestaCare Gestação
It is an international reference supplementation, developed specifically for the period of pregnancy.
It aims to eliminate the risk of micronutrient deficiency that are essential to good fetal development, prevention of the development of birth defects, good obstetric outcome and maternal health.
Symptoms of pregnancy?
In general, the first symptoms of pregnancy arise from 2 to 3 weeks after sexual intercourse that gave rise to pregnancy.
The first signs arise only when the embryo implants in the uterus.
The most common pregnancy symptoms are menstrual delay, cramps or abdominal pain, chest pain and enlargement, feeling sick and vomiting, swollen belly, tiredness and excessive sleep, eating cravings, frequent urge to urinate, mood swings, taste and smell change, constipation and oily skin.
Although there is pregnancy without nausea, nausea and vomiting are a classic symptom of pregnancy. They can go from a simple morning malaise to repeated vomiting.
Up to 80% of pregnant women experience nausea and vomiting at a certain point in pregnancy.
It is essential to carry out a pregnancy test, purchased at a pharmacy, or by blood collection, to confirm or lose any suspicion.
After confirming your pregnancy, you should seek immediate contact with your obstetrician in order to start your prenatal follow-up as soon as possible. Prenatal care, any necessary medication and especially prenatal supplementation, are fundamental for your health and to ensure the best development of your foetus and prevent potential birth defects.
The DGS (Directorate-General for Health), through the National Program for the Surveillance of Low-Risk Pregnancy, reiterates the importance of an early and continuous start to prenatal surveillance.
Find out more about GestaCare Gestação, available from your usual pharmacy or from the lifewell.pt online store.
GestaCare Gestação - What is it?
It is a formulation developed according to the highest quality and safety parameters, with the latest technology and in accordance with the highest international production standards.
Its formulation has been enriched with state-of-the-art Folic Acid (Quatrefolic®), Choline, Iodine, Iron, Vegetable Omega-3 (DHA/EPA/Pro-Inflammation-Resolving Mediators), Ginger (Nauseastop®), among other active ingredients, for adequate supplementation during pregnancy and fetal development.
GestaCare plays a key role in maternal health and fetal development, contributing to the prevention of congenital anomalies in the developing fetus, the healthy development of the fetus, the maintenance of adequate maternal health and the prevention of poor obstetric outcomes.
Nutritional needs during pregnancy
Pregnancy is a time of great happiness and personal fulfillment, it is important that it is monitored by specialized health care providers, because for both the woman and the developing fetus, there are risks that have to be observed and mitigated.
Scientific evidence has shown that health is largely programmed during intrauterine life, so a pregnancy with healthy lifestyle habits that meet all the pregnant woman’s needs will be a great advantage for the mother herself and for the future health of her child.
The pace of contemporary life, the current nutritional quality of food and the external agents to which pregnant women are exposed make this ambitious goal difficult.
The latest scientific evidence supports the use of dietary supplements developed specifically for the needs of pregnant women and which include micronutrients such as Folic Acid (Biologically Active Folate, Quatrefolic®), Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, Vitamin D, Omega 3 (DHA) and other essential minerals, trace elements and extracts such as Iron, Magnesium, Iodine and Ginger.
The use of more complete supplementation is a more topical and preferable option to the isolated use of folic acid alone and, of course, concordant with the main study and international reference bodies.
GestaCare Pregnancy was developed in accordance with the latest international recommendations.
Supplementation in pregnancy:
Folic acid is widely recognized for its benefits in supplementation during pregnancy:
– Prevention of neural tube defects: Folic acid supplementation before and during early pregnancy helps prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly, which are serious malformations of the brain and spinal cord.
– Healthy development of the fetus: Folic acid is essential for DNA synthesis and cell division, which are fundamental processes for the healthy growth and development of the fetus.
– Reducing the risk of pregnancy complications: Taking folic acid can reduce the risk of pregnancy complications such as placental abruption and pre-eclampsia.
– Prevention of anemia: Folic acid supplementation helps prevent megaloblastic anemia, a condition that can occur due to a deficiency of this vitamin and which can cause fatigue and weakness.
– Benefits for maternal health: In addition to benefiting the fetus, folic acid also supports the mother’s health, contributing to the production of red blood cells and the proper functioning of the nervous system.
Choline is an essential nutrient that plays a crucial role during pregnancy:
– Fetal brain development: Choline is essential for the healthy development of the fetal brain. It contributes to the formation of cell membranes and is involved in the production of neurotransmitters, which are essential for communication between brain cells.
– Prevention of neural tube defects: Like folic acid, choline plays an important role in preventing neural tube defects. These are serious birth defects that affect the baby’s brain and spine.
– Liver function and metabolism: Choline helps transport fats from the liver to other parts of the body, preventing the accumulation of fat in the liver (hepatic steatosis). This is particularly important during pregnancy, when the mother’s metabolism is significantly altered.
– Reducing the risk of pregnancy complications: Choline can help reduce the risk of some pregnancy complications, such as pre-eclampsia, a condition characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to other organs.
– Development of the placenta: Choline is essential for the healthy development and functioning of the placenta, which supplies nutrients and oxygen to the growing fetus.
– Memory and cognitive function: Studies suggest that adequate choline intake during pregnancy can improve the baby’s long-term memory and cognitive function.
– Regulation of gene expression: Choline is necessary for DNA methylation, a process that regulates gene expression and is crucial for proper fetal development.
Iron in combination with some micronutrients helps to increase blood volume and prevent anemia. It is important for energy metabolism and for the development of the fetal nervous system.
The deficit of this mineral may lead to increased risk of low birth weight, prematurity, perinatal mortality and disturbances in neuronal development. The daily intake of 30 mg is ideal during pregnancy, and it is necessary to take a supplement of this mineral according to the latest scientific evidence.
Iodine supplementation offers several important benefits for both mother and fetus:
– Development of the fetus’s nervous system: Iodine is essential for the production of thyroid hormones, which are essential for the development of the fetus’s brain and nervous system. Iodine deficiency can lead to delays in neurological and cognitive development.
– Prevention of goiter and other thyroid diseases: Iodine helps prevent goiter (enlargement of the thyroid gland) and other thyroid-related diseases, such as hypothyroidism, which can affect both mother and baby.
– Healthy growth and development: Thyroid hormones, regulated by iodine, are essential for the healthy growth and development of the fetus. Iodine deficiency can result in inadequate growth and other developmental complications.
– Prevention of pregnancy complications: Iodine deficiency during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth. Adequate supplementation can help reduce these risks.
– Improved cognitive function: Studies show that children born to mothers with adequate iodine levels perform better on IQ tests and other cognitive assessments.
– Mother’s general health: Iodine is also important for the mother’s general health, helping to maintain metabolism and proper thyroid function during pregnancy, when the body’s needs increase.
Learn more at:
Review article: Iode supplementation in pregnancy: what is the importance?
Directorate General for Health (DGS) – Standard of Clinical Guidance No. 011/2013
– Fetal bone development: Crucial for the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, essential nutrients for the healthy development of fetal bones and teeth.
– Strengthening the immune system: Helps strengthen the immune system of mother and baby, providing a better defense against infections during and after pregnancy.
– Prevention of pregnancy complications: Adequate vitamin D levels are associated with a reduced risk of pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and premature birth.
– Maternal health: Important for the mother’s general health, helping to maintain bone health, prevent osteoporosis and support muscle function.
– Neurological development of the fetus: Studies suggest that vitamin D may play a role in the neurological development of the fetus, with a potential positive impact on the child’s cognitive and behavioral function.
– Reducing the risk of low birth weight: Vitamin D supplementation can help reduce the risk of low birth weight, an important factor for the baby’s health and early development.
– Balancing calcium and phosphorus levels: Helps maintain the balance of calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood, which are essential for the healthy development of the fetus’s skeleton and for the mother’s bone health.
– Prevention of deficiencies: Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy can lead to rickets in the baby, a condition that causes bone weakening and deformities. Adequate supplementation prevents this and other related deficiencies.
Zinc plays crucial functions in various biological processes of the body, such as protein synthesis, energy metabolism, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, DNA metabolism and is still necessary for differentiation and cell division and proper functioning of the immune system.
It is necessary for the proper neurological development of the fetus and its deficiency may result in congenital malformations, low birth weight and premature death.
It contributes to the mother’s muscular and nervous health, helping to prevent cramps and hypertension. It is crucial for the bone and cell development of the fetus, as well as supporting the proper functioning of the placenta.
DHA is critical for the growth and development of the fetal and infantile central nervous system (CNS), as well as in visual and neuronal function and neurotransmitter metabolism.
The importance of DHA supplementation in the context of pregnancy is described in the latest scientific evidence and international recommendations.
Supplements that include HDA of animal origin present a significant inconvenience for pregnant women as they aggravate nausea and vomiting induced by pregnancy itself. They usually have a strong fishy smell and taste, causing heartburn, reflux, gastrointestinal discomfort and poor digestion.
Best practice and current international recommendations strongly suggest the use of plant-based DHA in the particular context of pregnancy.
The source of DHA present in the composition of GestaCare is already of plant origin.
Learn more here.
Several pre-clinical and clinical studies have evaluated the use of ginger for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, as an alternative to known medication options.
GestaCare Pregnancy offers NauseaStop®, a source of ginger developed for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, thus guaranteeing supplementation with the best tolerability.
The importance of NauseaStop® Ginger in the composition of GestaCare Pregnancy
It is established that 80% of women experience nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, with special severity in the first trimester of pregnancy. Thus, there are many women who suffer from indisposition, nausea and vomiting, with a reflection on the feeding and intake of micronutrients indispensable to the formation of the fetus.
Even in moderate situations, studies highlight the importance of encouraging pregnant women to seek help from their attending physician!
The impact of the use of ginger as an antiemetic on pregnancy has been widely investigated in clinical studies for at least 30 years.
The most important national and international entities mention the need to use Ginger to the detriment of other drug options, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Learn more here about the Ginger NauseaStop source® present in the composition of GestaCare Pregnancy.
The importance of folic acid in GestaCare - Quatrefolic®
Quatrefolic® (Vitamin B9, Folic Acid) or Bioactive Folic Ac id is a patented biologically active folate that differs from the synthetic folic acid normally found in other supplements in that it is a final form of folate that the body can immediately use without any need for metabolization, thus guaranteeing the recommended daily dose and preventing a potential build-up of unmetabolized folic acid in the blood.
This new folate plays an essential role in DNA synthesis, cell division and proper fetal growth.
It is also essential for preventing congenital anomalies in the developing fetus and helps the development of the newborn in the first few months of life. This is the most up-to-date and advanced form of folate, which is why taking it is considered essential for all pregnant women throughout the pre-conception, pregnancy and post-natal stages.
Bioavailability and efficacy
Unlike synthetic folic acid, Quatrefolic® is in its active form, which means that it is readily absorbed and used by the body without the need for metabolic conversion.
Quatrefolic® vs isolated folic acid
Choosing to supplement with Quatrefolic® instead of folic acid alone offers a number of significant advantages, including better bioavailability, guaranteed efficacy in people with mutations in the MTHFR gene, immediate absorption and utilization, and reduced risk of accumulation of unmetabolized folic acid. These advantages make Quatrefolic® a superior choice for ensuring adequate folate intake, especially in critical periods such as pre-conception and pregnancy.
Quatrefolic® is a registered trademark of Gnosis Spa. Copyright© 2018 Gnosis S.p.A. All rights reserved.
The importance of choline in GestaCare Pregnancy
Choline is a vital nutrient during pregnancy. Adequate supplementation can contribute significantly to the health of the fetus and the mother, helping to ensure the healthy development of the baby’s nervous system and preventing complications related to pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Although choline can be obtained through the diet, the average intake may not be sufficient during pregnancy. Foods rich in choline include eggs, meat, fish, nuts and legumes. However, supplementation may be necessary to ensure that the increased needs during pregnancy and lactation are met.
Development of the fetal nervous system
Choline is essential for the development of the fetus’ brain and spinal cord. This nutrient contributes to the formation of memory and the hippocampus, the region of the brain responsible for memory and learning. Studies have shown that choline supplementation during pregnancy can improve the baby’s cognitive functions in the long term.
Prevention of neural tube defects
Choline, together with folic acid, helps prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida. These defects occur in the first few weeks of pregnancy, so it is crucial that women in the pre-conception and early pregnancy stages have adequate levels of choline.
Liver function
Essential for liver health, preventing the accumulation of fat in this organ. During pregnancy, the mother’s liver works intensively to metabolize nutrients and provide energy for both mother and foetus, making choline even more important.
Regulation of metabolism and cell growth
Necessary for the synthesis of phospholipids, such as phosphatidylcholine. These are crucial for the structure and function of cells. Choline is also involved in cell signaling and methylation, an important biological process for regulating gene expression.
Mother’s mental health and well-being
Adequate levels of choline can help prevent mood disorders and improve the mother’s cognitive function in the postpartum period. Choline is the precursor to acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in memory and mood regulation.
The importance of SPM's in the composition of GestaCare Pregnancy
Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators (SPMs) are a class of lipid molecules that trigger the effective resolution of inflammation in the context of pregnancy.
More recent studies indicate that there is an important physiological role for SPMs during pregnancy and in high-risk pregnancies. SPMs play a key role in modulating inflammation and promoting a healthy immune response. The ability to promote the effective resolution of inflammation is crucial for maternal and fetal well-being.
Benefits of SPMs
- Resolution of inflammation
- Immunomodulation
- Protection against serious obstetric complications (pre-eclampsia and premature birth)
- Healthy fetal development
- Resolving tissue damage
One capsule a day at bedtime.
VEGETABLE DHA
DHA is critical for the growth and development of the fetal and infantile central nervous system, as well as in visual and neuronal function and neurotransmitter metabolism. Supplements that include HDA of animal origin present a significant inconvenience for pregnant women, as they aggravate nausea and vomiting.
GestaCare DHA is extracted from microalgae, which ensures a DHA oil of superior quality plant origin and with unique characteristics, namely a more pleasant aroma and flavor, in addition to its high absorption capacity.
Iron Ferronyl™
It helps prevent anemia, which can cause fatigue and increase the risk of complications for mother and baby. In addition, it is crucial for the healthy development of the fetus, especially in the formation of red blood cells and the transportation of oxygen.
Quatrefolic®
Quatrefolic® (Vitamin B9, Folic Acid) is a patented, biologically active folic acid that differs from the synthetic folic acid normally found in other supplements in that it is a final form of folate that the body can immediately use without any need for metabolization, thus guaranteeing the recommended daily dose and preventing a potential build-up of unmetabolized folic acid in the blood.
This new folate contributes to the normal metabolism of homocysteine, process of cell division and growth of fetal and maternal tissues during pregnancy.
Hill
It plays a vital role in the brain and neurological development of the fetus, preventing neural tube defects and promoting healthy growth. This essential nutrient contributes to the formation and functioning of cells, supports liver health and helps regulate gene expression. Adequate choline intake is associated with better long-term cognitive outcomes for the child and a reduced risk of pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia.
Plant SPMs (17-HDHA, 14-HDHA and 18-HEPE)
Recent evidence has shown that specialized pro-resolution mediators are able to mediate inflammatory physiology in pregnancy, thus playing an important role in maternal-fetal health.
Vitamin D3
Vitamin D ensures the calcium needs of the fetus and, later, the newborn during pregnancy. Vitamin D is available in preconception supplements to ensure proper embryo implantation.
Iodine
It plays a crucial role in the production of thyroid hormones, which are vital for the brain and neurological development of the fetus. Adequate iodine supplementation helps prevent birth defects, delays in cognitive development and pregnancy complications such as miscarriage and premature birth. It is also essential for the mother’s general health, helping to maintain a balanced metabolism and thyroid function during this critical period.
NauseaStop® Ginger
Several clinical studies prove the use of ginger for nausea and vomiting in the context of pregnancy, as an alternative to known drug options. GestaCare offers NauseaStop®, a ginger source developed for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.
Zinc
Essential for the proper growth and development of the fetus, especially in the formation of tissues and the development of the immune system. This mineral supports skin health, wound healing and hormone regulation, contributing to a healthy pregnancy and maternal well-being. Adequate zinc supplementation can reduce the risk of complications such as premature birth and gestational hypertension, promoting optimal fetal development and aiding in the absorption of other essential nutrients.
Magnesium
It contributes to the healthy development of the baby’s bones and tissues. It also helps prevent muscle cramps, reduce the risk of premature birth and maintain proper nerve and muscle function in the mother.
Vitamin B12
An essential vitamin for the healthy development of the fetus’s nervous system and for the proper production of red blood cells in both mother and baby. It is crucial for cell metabolism and DNA synthesis, supporting fetal growth and helping to prevent complications such as neural tube defects and anemia. Vitamin B12 deficiency during pregnancy can result in increased risks of premature birth, low birth weight and other serious complications, making adequate supplementation fundamental to maternal and fetal health during this critical period.
Other Components
Minerals: Manganese and Selenium; Vitamins: B1, B2, B3 (Niacin), B5 (Pantothenic Acid), B6, B8 (Biotin) and Vitamin E; Others: Gingerols.
Dietary supplements should not be used as substitutes for a varied diet. It is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Read the leaflet included in the packaging carefully. If in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist. Keep out of the sight and reach of children. Store in a cool, dry place. Todos os suplementos alimentares comercializados pela LifeWell foram fabricados de acordo com as melhores práticas internacionais de produção e devidamente examinados, validados e autorizados pelas respetivas autoridades de saúde em Portugal.
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are prepared and reviewed by medical experts in Portugal.
