Relationship Between Vitamin-D and Pregnancy
Expecting mothers must have a daily intake of vitamin D for their own health as well as well-being and development of her child. Vitamin D is valuable as it helps in bone development, cell divisions and controls immune responses. It is also vital for absorbing and digestion of phosphorus and calcium.
What is Vitamin-D Deficiency and How Does it Affect Pregnancy?
As vitamin D is in very few food items, it is easy for a pregnant woman to suffer from its deficiency. During such times, a medical practitioner recommends daily supplements of ten micro grams to meet the requirements of a pregnant body so that a mother and her child remain healthy. It is important that an expectant mother is aware of importance of taking vitamin D in any form as lack of necessary vitamins can lead to adverse conditions and ill health of both mother and child.This fat-soluble vitamin is beneficial as it helps in maintaining overall health of a fetus.
Items that Can Avoid Deficiency of Vitamin D
Human body is capable of meeting its vitamin D demands by exposure to sun for at least twenty minutes daily, although what one eats and drinks has a direct impact on pregnancy. Certain food items that can help in meeting the demands of vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy are as follows:-
- Tuna fish
- Catfish
- Mackerel
- Salmon
- Sardines
- Milk
- Margarine
- Orange Juice
- Cereals
- Egg Yolk
- Red Meat
- Fortified Cereals
- Oysters
- Mushrooms
- Cheese
- Juice of Fresh Fruit
Results of Vitamin D Deficiency During Pregnancy
Following are some consequences of insufficient amount of vitamin D in a pregnancy:-
- Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy can have a direct effect on weight of a newborn baby.
- It can also cause skeletal deformities and can hinder the growth of fetus.
- Lack of sufficient vitamin D during pregnancy may lead to lower amount of vitamin present in a baby after birth.
- Absence of sufficient amounts of vitamin D has a direct effect on health of bones and teeth of an unborn child.
- Fighting various infections also becomes an impossible chore and leads to other complications.
- In most cases, insufficient contents of vitamin D results in an expecting mother needing C-section at the time of delivering a baby.
Low Vitamin D During Pregnancy maximizes risk of certain diseases like:-
- Cardiovascular disease
- Insulin resistance
- Neurological disease
- Autoimmune disease
- Cancer
- Pre-Eclampsia
- Gestational diabetes
- Congenital rickets
Recommended Link: What Foods And Fruits To Avoid During Pregnancy
Overdose of Vitamin D During Pregnancy
Too much Vitamin D during Pregnancy is not advisable by the doctors as they are not sure about the effects. However, in some cases, higher intake of vitamin D during pregnancy have resulted in babies with comparatively stronger muscles and with minimized chances of pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes.
Necessity of Excessive Vitamin D
In some cases, it is essential for higher doses of vitamin D and such cases are as follows:-
- If a lady is of African origin or is from Middle Eastern and South Asian countries
- If an expecting mother has a BMI of 30 or higher than it
- If a person is not getting enough sunlight
- Lack of well-balanced diet that includes sufficient amounts of vitamin D.
