We all know the worries that come with having a pregnancy. We all want both mother and baby to be in top condition, healthy and strong. For that we have to prepare and take care of ourselves during pregnancy. We must know how vitamin D and pregnancy are related, for example.
Many women have low levels of vitamin D during pregnancy, and this leads to problems and, sometimes, to their daughters or sons also having complications. Is the probability of acquiring these difficulties during pregnancy reduced if vitamin D is taken? Is it good for the mother? can it affect the fetus? We will answer all this in this article.
How to know if I have low levels of vitamin D.
The most important thing to start with is knowing if you really have low vitamin D levels. If your levels are optimal, you don’t need to take vitamin D supplements. But how do you know if you have low vitamin D levels? To know your vitamin D levels and know what steps to follow, you can get your test right here. With this test you will determine if you have any alteration or if you are within the normal ranges. In just 3 days you will have the results. And it only takes a small blood sample.
What is vitamin D and how does it affect me?
As the Mayo Clinic notes, vitamin D is a nutrient that helps maintain and strengthen bones. The body is only able to absorb calcium, which is the most important component of bones, when it has enough vitamin D.
In addition to strengthening the bones, it has other functions related to also strengthening the immune system, helping with muscle functions, and the activities of brain cells due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties.
When you have low levels of vitamin D, you are much more likely to suffer from osteoporosis and bone fractures. These are the most common, but it also contributes to suffering:
- Rickets (especially in infants)
- Osteocalcin
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Cancer
- Multiple sclerosis
Pregnancy
During pregnancy it is very important to have optimal levels of vitamin D. Once you have done your test and you know for sure that you have low levels of vitamin D, it is necessary to raise these levels. But due to the state in which the patient is, great care must be taken in the doses and in how to do it.
Low levels of vitamin D during pregnancy have been associated with an increased risk of pre-eclampsia and premature delivery. But, as Nature indicates, a study was carried out between 2012 and 2016 in which more than 7,000 women collaborated and which concluded that:
- Effectively reduces the probability of preeclampsia.
- Reduces risk of gestational diabetes.
- Reduces the chance that the baby will be born with low birth weight.
- Reduces severe postpartum hemorrhage.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should not exceed 4,000 IU per day of vitamin D. Do not you take too much, you may experience nausea and vomiting, lack of appetite, weakness, constipation, and even kidney problems.
You want to raise vitamin D levels naturally, you can eat foods rich in this vitamin, such as:
- Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel
- Cow liver
- Cheese
- Mushrooms
- Egg yolk
In summary, if you are pregnant, you should measure your vitamin D levels since having them in optimal conditions is essential for a healthy pregnancy and delivery. But if you do get low and want to level them off, do so cautiously to avoid vitamin D toxicity.
David Peña Neira
SEM specialist at Civitatis. Digital marketing and data analysis expert with experience in planning and implementing digital campaigns and as product manager. Graduated from a Master in Big Data and another in Digital Marketing