Q: I am 26 years old and seven months pregnant. My doctor has advised me to take the tablet Feronia-XT and Acucal. She also asked me to take Pro-PL when I went for my check-up. Are these medicines required? Do I need to take anything else? Are there any exercises that can be done during pregnancy?

A:In normal pregnancy, minimal most essential medicines should be used. The only supplement that must be taken is folic acid because it prevents birth defects in a baby. At the most, one can take iron if there is anaemia. Feronia-XT contains both iron and folic acid. Acucal contains calcium, magnesium, vitamin D-3, etc. Our normal diet, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian, contains adequate amounts of calcium. Excessive intake leads to calcium oxalate crystals in urine and stones in kidney. It is much better to consume milk rather than depend on extraneous chemical compounds. Pro-PL is just a protein. Normally, protein supplement is not required since normal diet contains adequate amounts of protein (meats, milk, lentils, etc.), but no harm will be done if you take protein supplements. Walks and more walks are the best form of exercise.