Vitamin D Deficiency During Pregnancy

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.