Vitamin D is essential for a person's good health, and it's particularly important for a developing fetus. What do you need Vitamin D for while you are expecting a baby, how much do you need, and where can you get it?
What is vitamin D good for?
Research about the role of vitamin D is ongoing, and there are many studies on the topic. Vitamin D is well-known for its supporting role helping the body absorb and maintain calcium and phosphorous levels. Adequate vitamin D levels encourage healthy and strong bones for a fetus, but a lack of the vitamin has been linked to many diseases that you wouldn't immediately connect with vitamin D, including type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis. A lack of vitamin D during pregnancy can put your baby at risk for premature birth, and women with a vitamin D deficiency also have a higher incidence of cesarean sections!
How much? Where from?
Sunlight is the most significant source of vitamin D, but a high percentage of women in most countries in the northern hemisphere are deficient, or at least have low levels of vitamin D. That is why experts on the topic advise women who are expecting a baby to take 4,000 IU of vitamin D a day.
Fatty fish, fish liver oil, and fortified dairy products are good sources of vitamin D as well as a supplement. Cod liver oil capsules are wonderful for women who want a good source of vitamin D, and they also contain omega 3 fatty acids and B vitamins. Prenatal vitamins alone are not an adequate source of vitamin D at all.
How do you know if you need to watch your vit D intake? Vitamin D deficiency does come with symptoms sometimes, but you probably won't notice them. Getting tested as part of your prenatal care is the best idea, but taking supplements is safe even if you are not deficient.
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