Vitamins for pregnant women Femibion 1 and 2: instructions for use during planning and pregnancy, composition, analogues and reviews

Difference between Femibion 1 and 2

Both products are multivitamin complexes for women.
Femibion 1 is indicated for use in the 1st trimester of pregnancy - up to the 12th week of gestation, and during preparation for conception. Femibion 2 - vitamins for pregnant women after the 12th week of gestation - for the 2nd and 3rd trimester. Different periods of use of drugs are associated with slight differences in their composition. Femibion 2 contains additional substances necessary for the fetus as it grows and develops.

Both products do not belong to the group of drugs, since they contain a relatively small amount of vitamins. They are not used to treat diseases accompanied by severe deficiency of these substances. Femibion is intended for the prevention of hypovitaminosis; it is classified as a dietary supplement.

Contraindications and precautions for use

There are no contraindications to taking Femibion, no side effects have been recorded. But when using any drug, there is a possibility of individual intolerance to any component, and in this sense, Femibion is no exception. If negative reactions occur, you should stop using the drug and consult a doctor.

The optimal solution would be to take Femibion on the recommendation of a doctor, taking into account test results indicating a lack of specific vitamins in a woman’s body.

It is forbidden to exceed the recommended dosage of the drug - this is fraught with the development of hypervitaminosis, which is dangerous to health. If there is a need for other beneficial substances that are not included in Femibion, then drugs containing them should be recommended by a doctor.

Composition Femibion 1

Femibion for pregnant women and expectant mothers planning to conceive contains 9 vitamins and 1 microelement. The composition of the product was selected based on multiple studies; it is completely safe for the baby’s body.

The biologically active product contains vitamin C. The chemical compound stimulates cell division and is a catalyst for many reactions in the human body. Ascorbic acid is also involved in the functioning of human immunity. It ensures the production of protective antibodies against pathogenic microorganisms.

Vitamin PP or nicotinic acid is involved in the metabolic process of lipids and carbohydrates, thanks to which ATP energy molecules are formed. This substance is also involved in the formation and functioning of the nervous system. Nicotinic acid is necessary for the synthesis of red blood cells, some hormones, and gastric juice.

Vitamin E is one of the main regulators of sexual function. Thanks to it, the formation of full-fledged eggs occurs. Vitamin E is necessary for implantation - the introduction of the fertilized egg into the uterine wall.

Vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid is necessary for many biochemical reactions and tissue division. It participates in the work of the adrenal glands, causing the production of steroid hormones. Vitamin B5 also stimulates the immune system through the synthesis of antibodies.

Attention! The dietary supplement Femibion can be used at any stage of pregnancy; if the dose is observed, it does not have a negative effect on the body of the unborn child.

Vitamin B9 or folic acid is used in hematopoiesis processes. It is also involved in the functioning of the nervous and digestive systems. Folic acid ensures the formation of all organs of the unborn child, reduces the risk of miscarriages and premature birth.

Vitamin B6 or pyridoxine is the main regulator of cell division. Thanks to it, epithelium regeneration and tissue reproduction occur. Pyridoxine ensures the synthesis of immune cells and prevents the formation of blood clots. Vitamin B6 is necessary for the functioning of red blood cells.

Vitamin B2 or riboflavin is a tissue growth regulator. The chemical compound is part of many enzymes that catalyze important reactions. The drug provides intracellular respiration.

Vitamin B1 or thiamine is necessary for the absorption of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. It is responsible for the functioning of the nervous system and ensures muscle contractions. Thiamine is involved in the synthesis of enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract and liver.

Iodine is part of thyroid hormones. With its deficiency, hypothyroidism is formed - a disease accompanied by a decrease in the function of the endocrine organ. Thyroid hormones are involved in all metabolic reactions, tissue growth and development, and the functioning of all organs and systems.

Biotin or vitamin B7 regulates glucose metabolism, ensuring its conversion into glycogen. This substance is also necessary for the absorption of nutrients. Biotin is involved in the growth of skin derivatives - hair, nails, eyelashes and eyebrows.

Vitamin B12 or cyanocobalamin is a participant in the process of cell division. It is necessary for the synthesis of red blood cells and the membrane of nervous tissue. Vitamin B12 stimulates the functioning of the immune system and is an enzyme in the reactions of division of genetic material - DNA.

Compound

The Femibion 1 complex contains all the necessary vitamins and microelements, including folic acid. The important point is that the composition is completely balanced and cannot cause hypervitaminosis.

A condition in which there is too much of any vitamin can also be dangerous for the child. Therefore, it is important to choose high-quality and safe complexes.

One tablet of the drug contains:

ascorbic acid – 110 mg;
tocopherol – 13 mg;
pyridoxine – 1.9 mg;
nicotinamide – 15 mg;
calcium pantothenate – 6 mg;

riboflavin – 1.6 mg;
thiamine – 1.2 mg;
biotin – 60 mcg;
iodine – 150 mcg;
folic acid – 200 mcg;
methylfolate – 208 mcg.

A popular analogue of Femibion 1, Elevit for pregnant women, has a significantly higher amount of folic acid, which may be justified in certain conditions of a pregnant woman. It is best to discuss the use of any medication with your doctor. Even something as “harmless” as a vitamin complex.

Composition of Femibion 2

This biologically active substance contains the vitamins listed above and iodine. Femibion also contains additional components - docosahexaenoic acid and alpha-tocopherol.

Docosahexaenoic acid is a representative of polyunsaturated fats. It is necessary for the prevention of atherosclerosis, the synthesis of cell membranes, the functioning of the brain and other organs of the nervous system.

Alpha tocopherol is a form of vitamin E. From the second trimester of pregnancy, an increase in the need for this chemical compound is observed.

Description and composition

Femibion 2 contains the following components:

calcium ascorbate;
tocopherol;
riboflavin;
calcium pantothenate;
nicotinamide;
vitamin B12;
pyridoxine hydrochloride;
vitamin B2;
microcrystalline cellulose;
titanium dioxide;
corn starch;
magnesium salts of fatty acids;
iron oxide;
glycerol;
hydroxypropylcellulose;
Hydroxypropyl cellulose.

The elements are in the form of tablets and soft capsules. The soft capsules contain tocopherol, sorbitol, glycerin, maltitol, modified starch, and monoglycerides.

Indications for use

When planning pregnancy, Femibion is indicated to prepare the mother's body for conception. According to the instructions for use, the dietary supplement is used to prevent spontaneous miscarriages in the early stages. Also, a multivitamin complex stimulates the onset of ovulation and increases the chance of successful conception.

Femibion during pregnancy is recommended to maintain pregnancy. The dietary supplement prevents the development of congenital pathologies of the fetus, defects of the cardiovascular and nervous systems.

Dietary supplement replenishes the increased need for vitamins and iodine. It prevents the following diseases and conditions:

congenital malformations of the fetus;
hypovitaminosis and vitamin deficiency;
folate deficiency anemia;
B12 deficiency anemia;
hypothyroidism;
intrauterine growth restriction and fetal development;
frequent infectious diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract;
spontaneous termination of pregnancy;
heavy bleeding during childbirth;
hypoxia (oxygen starvation) of the fetus;
gestational arterial hypertension;
gestational diabetes mellitus;
insufficiency of the adrenal glands and other endocrine glands.

How to choose vitamins during pregnancy?

Composition and active ingredients: why are they needed when planning pregnancy

The drug Femobion 1 contains the following active ingredients:

folates (folic acid and metafolin);
vitamin C;
vitamin E;
B vitamins;
vitamin PP;
vitamin H;
iodine.

Expectant parents urgently need vitamin B9 (folic acid), which ensures active cell division during the growth and development of the fetus, plays a leading role in the formation of the placenta and a healthy nervous system in the fetus, and prevents malformations and complications of pregnancy. Folic acid has been proven effective in preventing pathologies of the fetal neural tube, such as spina bifida and anencephaly (severe brain defects). Taking folic acid for three months before conception can significantly reduce the likelihood of these pathologies. For men, taking folic acid helps reduce the number of male germ cells with the wrong number of chromosomes, thereby preventing genetic diseases of the fetus.

According to the results of clinical studies, it has been established that regular consumption of folic acid for 3–4 months before conception prevents about 80% of cases of child development pathologies.

Many vitamins can be obtained from food, but with folic acid the situation is more complicated. Vitamin B9 is easily destroyed by exposure to ultraviolet radiation, heat (including during cooking) and during long-term storage. In addition, current food products contain less and less nutrients. According to statistics, every second woman is deficient in folic acid, and taking hormonal drugs, alcohol, smoking and intestinal diseases aggravate the problem. Therefore, the first prescription of doctors for future parents is folic acid, in its pure form or as part of complex products.

The maximum amount of folic acid is found in green leaves and fruits of plants, as well as in liver, cottage cheese and eggs.

Femibion 1 contains two forms of folic acid: regular and metafolin (levomefolic acid). Metafolin is a biologically active form of folic acid, the most accessible for absorption in the human body. Thanks to this, the expectant mother taking Femibion is guaranteed to receive the required daily dose of vitamin B9.

Folic acid is often called the “good mood vitamin”, because it has a beneficial effect on a woman’s emotional state and activity, and also helps the functioning of the heart, blood vessels, digestive organs and improves immunity.

Vitamin E or tocopherol plays an equally significant role in the reproduction process. The very name of this substance is translated from Greek as “bearing offspring.” Tocopherol is responsible for the balanced hormonal background of the female body and ensures the normal occurrence of such important processes as ovulation, consolidation of the fertilized egg in the uterus and the formation of the placenta. In representatives of the stronger sex, vitamin E improves sperm quality. Therefore, both future parents are recommended to take tocopherol along with folic acid even before conception.

In addition to folic acid, Femibion contains many other essential vitamins

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) improves immunity, thereby protecting a pregnant woman from pathogens, infections, colds and even allergies. In addition, the powerful antioxidant effect of ascorbic acid protects the woman’s reproductive system from free radicals, accelerates metabolic processes in the body and tissue regeneration. This useful element also helps in the absorption of iron, thereby preventing anemia, which often develops during pregnancy. However, an overdose of ascorbic acid can lead to miscarriage, and it is quite difficult to calculate how much of it is obtained from food. With a high-quality and varied diet, the need for this vitamin can be fully satisfied, so caution should be exercised when consuming it.

B vitamins regulate metabolism, the formation of proteins, the production of the muscular, skeletal and nervous systems of the embryo, as well as its liver and heart, and protect the expectant mother from severe toxicosis. In men, these substances increase sperm viability.

B vitamins have a positive effect on many functions of the female body and increase the chances of safely bearing and giving birth to a healthy baby.

Biotin (vitamin H) is required for the successful division of the child’s cells, as well as for the woman’s well-being and reduction of symptoms of toxicosis, and nicotinic acid (vitamin PP) improves the functions of the digestive tract and the condition of the skin and hair, fights migraines and insomnia, improves blood flow in blood vessels placenta.

The absence of vitamin A (retinol) in Femibion is explained by the availability of data on the potential danger of this substance to the fetus.

Femibion contains the daily requirement of iodine, the deficiency of which in the body increases the risk of miscarriage. In addition, iodine ensures the normal formation of many systems and organs of the unborn child. It is especially important to take iodine supplements for women living in iodine-deficient regions. However, there are a number of contraindications to taking iodine during pregnancy, for example, increased thyroid function, liver and kidney diseases, and others. Therefore, you should not take Femibion without a doctor’s prescription.

Effect of the drug on the fetus

The dietary supplement contains vitamins necessary for the normal functioning of the female body during the period of planning conception and pregnancy. Clinical studies did not reveal a teratogenic effect of the drug on the fetus. Femibion does not increase the incidence of congenital pathologies in the unborn child.

Femibion also does not have a toxic effect on the fetus. The dietary supplement does not contribute to intrauterine growth retardation and development of the baby.

The product does not contain vitamin A or retinol. In large quantities, it has a teratogenic effect on the fetus - it contributes to the formation of congenital deformities of the fetus. For safety reasons, vitamin A is excluded from Femibion.

Also, the dietary supplement does not contain vitamins D and K. During pregnancy, a decrease in their amount is very rarely observed. Therefore, to prevent hypervitaminosis, they were excluded from Femibion.

What is Femibion?

Femibion Natalker is a biologically active food supplement (dietary supplement) produced by the German pharmaceutical company Merck Group. Its purpose is to provide a woman with the vitamins necessary for successfully bearing a child. Therefore, the composition of the drug includes:

vitamin C (calcium ascorbate);
vitamin PP (nicotinamide);
vitamin E (α-tocopherol acetate);
vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid);
vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride);
vitamin B2 (riboflavin);
vitamin B1 (thiamine nitrate);
vitamin B9 (folic acid);
L-methylfolate;
iodine (potassium iodide);
vitamin B7 (biotin);
vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin).

All of them are very important for a woman who wants to become a mother. They increase immunity, improve health, the functioning of the nervous, circulatory, reproductive and other systems, and the functioning of the digestive tract. And also, importantly, necessary for the normal development of the fetus.

Some women are embarrassed when they find out that Femibion Natalker is a dietary supplement. But in essence, this drug is a multivitamin complex, and its classification in the pharmaceutical classification as biologically active additives is explained by the fact that in Germany, where it is produced, all such drugs are classified as dietary supplements, and not medicines. With the introduction of Femibion to the Russian market, this classification did not change.

A pregnant woman's need for vitamins increases, so doctors recommend that expectant mothers take additional vitamin complexes

Instructions for use

Femibion 1 should be taken immediately after eating. It is advisable to choose a dish that contains oil or other fat. The product should be washed down with a glass of clean water without gas. Experts advise taking the dietary supplement at the same time in the morning.

You only need to take 1 tablet at a time. Even if the expectant mother misses one dose, there is no need to increase the amount taken the next day.

A single dose of Femibion 2 consists of 1 tablet and 1 capsule. They are best taken immediately after meals, washed down with water in any order. It is recommended to take tablets and capsules in the first half of the day.

Under no circumstances should the dosage of the drug be increased. The simultaneous use of 2 or more tablets can cause hypervitaminosis. This condition is characterized by negative symptoms that have a negative impact on the growth and development of the baby.

Features of application

Femibion vitamins are taken orally. The tablet should be swallowed whole with water, during meals or immediately after meals. The vitamin complex Femibion 2 is supplemented with a transparent capsule, which is taken along with the tablet.

The Femibion tablet is small in size and colored light pink.

The instructions for the drug recommend taking 1 tablet (1 tablet + 1 capsule for Femibion 2) once a day. As a rule, doctors recommend the same dosage to women, since it is designed specifically for the needs of the body of expectant mothers and allows them to receive all the necessary daily vitamins.

The duration of the course of treatment, as recommended by the manufacturer, is the period of pregnancy planning, 9 months of bearing the baby and the entire time of breastfeeding.

Contraindications for use

Femibion 1 and 2 are strictly prohibited for use by persons who have allergic reactions to the components. If a rash or other reaction is detected, the expectant mother should immediately stop taking the dietary supplement.

The product can be used after pregnancy during lactation. The dietary supplement does not have a negative effect on the newborn’s body.

Femibion is strictly prohibited for use in the presence of hypervitaminosis, as well as in severe renal failure.

pharmachologic effect

The effect of Femibion 1 on the body as a whole is primarily associated with the effect of each individual component on the body. The main element that helps to avoid pathologies of fetal development is folic acid . Its deficiency in a woman’s body often leads to disturbances at the stage of formation of the fetal nervous system, which can lead to a missed abortion. It also takes part in the process of blood formation, which is an excellent prevention of anemia in women.

What role does each component play in the complex:

Vitamin C is an excellent antioxidant that not only removes free radicals from the body, but also maintains the immune system at the proper level.
E - plays a vital role in the process of conception and affects sexual function, helps keep the skin moisturized and prevents the appearance of stretch marks.
B1 – participates in the metabolism of carbohydrates, as well as the synthesis of enzymes, improves metabolism.
B2 – saturates the body cells with oxygen, has a positive effect on the nervous system.

B6 – promotes the breakdown of proteins into amino acids and their subsequent absorption.
B12 – affects the production of red blood cells and the formation of the nervous system.
Biotin – participates in the breakdown of carbohydrates and promotes the absorption of glucose.
Nicotinamide – participates in the process of formation and renewal of the skin.
Pantothenic acid is an essential regulator involved in a large number of metabolic reactions.
Iodine – has a beneficial effect on the function of the thyroid gland and takes an active part in the formation of the child’s brain.

The complex does not contain vitamin A due to the fact that its overdose has an extremely toxic effect on the formation of the fetus and on the health of the woman herself.

Femibion 1 and 2 complexes, the difference between which is the dosage of the necessary vitamins and microelements, are best used sequentially. If it is advisable to use the first supplement at the planning stage and during the first trimester, then Fembion 2 is used from the thirteenth week of gestation until the end of lactation.

Side effects

Typically, both types of dietary supplements do not cause side effects in the expectant mother. In rare cases, Femibion contributes to the development of allergic reactions. They can manifest themselves as skin itching, rash, and hives. In exceptional cases, during the use of the drug, the development of angioedema or anaphylactic reaction is observed.

Sometimes taking a dietary supplement causes nausea a few minutes after consumption. This feature is associated with gastric hypermotility and the release of large amounts of hydrochloric acid. To get rid of side effects, the expectant mother should take the drug immediately after eating a large amount of food.

Using Femibion 1 and 2 on an empty stomach can cause vomiting of gastric contents. To prevent this effect, you should not take a dietary supplement after fasting. The drug can also contribute to the development of pain in the abdominal area.

How it works

Femibion 2 is considered an easily digestible food supplement. When they enter the body, beneficial substances are absorbed through the small intestine. The bioavailability of the constituent components of the drug is quite high. When taken together with food, vitamins are absorbed better. They enter the bloodstream in about 10-16 hours.

It is strictly forbidden to take Femibion 2 together with other multivitamins

Overdose

Dietary supplements contain a daily amount of vitamins and iodine, so for an overdose to occur, a prolonged excess of the normal intake of Femibion is necessary. The result is a state of hypervitaminosis, characterized by various symptoms.

Intoxication with B vitamins can cause disorders such as headache, agitation, and nausea. This condition is also characterized by the appearance of tachycardia, insomnia, dehydration, and impaired coordination.

Hypervitaminosis C is characterized by redness of the skin, headache, and bleeding. With an excess of tocopherol (vitamin E), there is a feeling of weakness, fatigue, and brittle bones.

Femibion's analogs

Elevit Pronatal is one of the most famous analogues of Femibion. It is a drug that contains a large number of vitamins and minerals (A, groups B, C, D, E, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, manganese, copper, zinc). The drug is indicated for the prevention and treatment of hypovitaminosis at the stage of planning conception, as well as during pregnancy. The drug is prohibited for use by persons with metabolic disorders of iron, copper, liver and kidney diseases. Also, Eleveit should not be used in the presence of hypervitaminosis.

Analogs

Unfortunately, Femibion prenatal vitamins do not have worthy analogues on the Russian market that contain a similar set of nutrients, so it is impossible to replace them. However, there are a number of drugs that have the same effect as the supplement in question.