Vitamin D During Pregnancy

How Important Is Vitamin D During and After Pregnancy?

A recent study which was carried out in the United Kingdom suggested that pregnant women who took a vitamin D supplement were more likely to have children with higher bone mineral content as they aged.

The Role of Vitamin D

People usually assume – incorrectly – that calcium is the most important vitamin for teeth and bone development. Vitamin D is just as important – it works in combination with other vitamins and minerals to ensure healthy bone growth. Vitamin D helps the body absorb valuable nutrients – such as calcium and phosphorus which help.

How Much Vitamin D Do You Need?

You only need about 5 mcg of Vitamin D daily while you are pregnant or breastfeeding, which isn’t really much, its about what you would get from 5 glasses of milk.

Will You Need A Supplement?

In most cases you wont need a Vitamin D supplement especially because you can get your dose of Vitamin D from a few glasses of milk and around 15 minutes on sunlight. If you are a strict vegetarian and your diet does not contain any milk, eggs or fish then your health care provider may recommend that you take a supplement. If you are getting too much vitamin D in your diet it may be toxic, so be sure to check with your health care provider before taking any vitamin D enriched supplements.

Popular Food Sources For Vitamin D

Caution: There are precautions which you need to take when eating fish while you are pregnant.