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.
Pregnancy Symptoms?
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 Pregnancies reiterates the importance of an early and continued initiation of prenatal surveillance.
See below the GestaCare Gestação, available in your usual pharmacy or in the online store lifewell.pt.
GestaCare Gestação - What is it?
It is an international reference supplementation, developed specifically for the period of pregnancy.
Supplementation during pregnancy is decisively associated with the prevention of birth defects and the reduction of preterm delivery.
GestaCare Gestação aims to eliminate the risk of micronutrient deficiency essential to good fetal development and maternal health.
The risk of disability, when occurring during pregnancy, can have maternal-fetal repercussions that are sometimes irreversible and have sub-clinical manifestations.
The period of greatest environmental sensitivity for the fetus is between 17 and 56 days after fertilization. It is during this period that organogenesis begins, even before many women even recognize that they are pregnant or have the opportunity to start prenatal care.
It already has state-of-the-art folic acid in its composition, Quatrefolic (see information below).
With Ginger in its formulation, in agreement with the main international study bodies, which advocate the safety and relevance of its use, to the detriment of known drug options (see information below).
GestaCare Gestação contains a state-of-the-art formulation specially developed to offer pregnant women the best tolerability in such a special period of their life.
GestaCare Gestação – View in store
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 us that health is largely programmed during intrauterine life, so a pregnancy with healthy life habits that will meet all the needs of the pregnant woman will result in a great advantage for the mother herself and for the your child’s future health.
The pace of contemporary life, the current nutritional quality of food and the external agents to which the pregnant woman is exposed, make this ambitious goal difficult.
The more current scientific evidence supports the use of dietary supplements developed specifically for the needs of pregnant women that include micronutrients such as Folic Acid (Biologically Active Folate, Quatrefolic®), Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, Vitamin D, Omega 3 (DHA) and other minerals, trace elements and extracts, indispensable, such as Iron, Magnesium, Iodo 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 Gestação was developed in accordance with the latest international recommendations.
Supplementation in pregnancy:
Folic acid (Vitamin B9) plays a key role in reducing the risk of developing malformations of the neural tube of the fetus. Folic acid is a B-complex vitamin that helps prevent spinal cord and brain defects, so-called “neural tube defects”, such as spina bifida or anencephaly.
Three out of four congenital malformations of the neural tube could be avoided by intake of folic acid, before a pregnancy was produced (ideally, 3 to 6 months before) and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The evidence of the positive association between folic acid intake deficiency and neural tube malformations is strong, so compliance with supplementation recommendations is crucial in prevention.
The GestaCare supplementation range has a state-of-the-art folic acid, a form of biologically active folate, with no need for metabolization and with recognized added value in comparison with unmetabolized (traditional) folic acid, the only one that has existed in Portugal to date.
Learn more about Quatrefolic® the state-of-the-art folic acid present in the composition of GestaCare.
Recommended by the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics and other international organizations.
Maternal choline intake during pregnancy has beneficial neurocognitive effect.
It promotes the development of the fetal brain and thus decreases the risk of developing mental illnesses.
Its deficiency may result in preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction.
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.
Iodo deficiency during pregnancy compromises fetal cognitive development. Preconception women, pregnant or breastfeeding, should receive a daily Iod supplement of 150 to 200 μg/day, in accordance with national and international recommendations.
Iodo contributes to good neuronal development and cognitive ability, recent studies conducted in Portugal warn of inadequate iod intake in 80% of Portuguese pregnant women, so dgs strongly recommends supplementation.
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
Calcium is an important component for the good development of the fetus and in maintaining maternal health.
Vitamin D is fundamental for calcium fixation and is central to the balance between maternal reserves and the development of the fetus.
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.
Magnesium consumption during pregnancy is associated with decreased risk of pre-eclampsia, premature births, and intrauterine growth retardation.
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 most recent 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. Usually have a strong odor and taste to fish, cause heartburn, reflux, gastrointestinal discomfort and poor digestion.
Current international best practices and recommendations strongly suggest the use of PLANT 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.
Developed in line with the most current recommendations of the leading international bodies regarding the use of Ginger, pregnancy-induced nausea and vomiting.
Several pre-clinical and clinical studies have evaluated the use of ginger in nausea and vomiting in the context of pregnancy, as an alternative to known drug options.
GestaCare Gestação offers NauseaStop® , a source of ginger developed for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.
GestaCare Gestação was designed to offer you supplementation with the best tolerability.
Learn more about using ginger in pregnancy (see information below).
The Importance of Ginger NauseaStop® in the Composition of GestaCare Gestação
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 Gestação.
The importance of Folic Acid present in GestaCare - Quatrefolic®
Perfect bioavailability and security
Quatrefolic®, also known as fourth generation folate, has better solubility in water and an ideal bioavailability compared to other forms of folic acid, as it is immediately available for cellular use, without the need for any metabolic transformation. It is also a completely safe way, which does not result in any rise in unmetabolised folic acid levels.
Optimized properties
The importance of vitamin B9 is perfectly recognized and has been widely studied in young women and pregnant women to ensure a harmonious development of the fetus, limiting neural tube malformations. Deficiency is recognized in this element as one of the most frequent, and it is imperative to ensure an adequate and regular contribution in women of childbearing age.
Associated with vitamin B12, folates ensure the conversion of homocysteine into methionine. Taking a supplement with Quatrefolic® is therefore preferable to taking a folic acid supplement, as it is immediately available to react with homocysteine and thus prevent hyperhomocysteine.
Quatrefolic® is a registered trademark of Gnosis Spa. Copyright© 2018 Gnosis S.p.A. All rights reserved.
One capsule a day at bedtime.
Quatrefolic
Quatrefolic (Vitamin B9, Folic Acid) is a patented biologically active folic acid, which differs from synthetic folic acid normally found in other supplements because it is a final form of folate that the body can immediately use without any need for metabolization, thus ensuring the recommended daily dose and preventing a potential accumulation 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.
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.
Vitamin D3
Vitamin D ensures, during pregnancy, the calcium needs of the fetus and later the newborn. Vitamin D exists in the preconceptive supplements in order to ensure an adequate embryonic implantation.
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 source of ginger developed for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.
Other Components
Mines: Iron, Magnesium, Zinc, Manganese, Copper, Iodo and Selenium. Vitamins: B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B8, B12, Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Choline.
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. All food supplements marketed by LifeWell have been manufactured according to the best international production practices and properly examined, validated and authorized by their health authorities in Portugal.
Editorial Note: This page and all other contents presented in lifewell.pt are prepared and reviewed by medical experts in Portugal.
