Dr. Suz Heals
  • Dr. Suz Heals
  • Press
  • Contact
  • Dr. Suz Heals Store

Vitamin D in Pregnancy? Do you need to supplement?  by Asthildur Huber

7/23/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Photo by Joey Thompson on Unsplash
​The fact is that many women today often begin their pregnancy with a vitamin-D deficiency. Depending on the time of the year and where you live in the world, your level might even go down during your pregnancy even though you supplement with prenatal vitamins.

Vitamin-D deficiency, a level lower than 25 ng/ML is associated with several chronic and acute diseases, such as Asthma, IBS, Autoimmune diseases, depression, and upper respiratory infections, among others. Studies have also shown that babies of mothers with vitamin-D deficiency have a higher risk of being diagnosed with Asthma later in life.

A study published in Acta Pedriatica in April 2015 (Issue 4) found that getting sufficient vitamin-D during pregnancy and early infancy reduced the number of primary care visits for the baby. Now, who doesn’t want that? Having an infant with respiratory infections or flu-like symptoms can be extremely difficult for parents to watch, not to mention the poor baby, who has to suffer with an infection.

Another long-term study, conducted by Bruce W. Hollis, PhD., Donna Johnson MD, and Carol L. Wagner MD, found that when pregnant women took 4000 ug of vitamin-D (yes 4000 ug that is not a typo), 10 X the amount in a prenatal vitamin, the amount was not only considered safe but also highly effective in preventing childhood asthma. Furthermore, the same study also showed that when breastfeeding mothers supplemented with 6000 ug during the time they breast fed their infants the amount of vitamin-D in their breastmilk was sufficient enough that their babies did not need to be supplemented with vitamin-D during the time they were being nursed.

So, what to do?
Well, the answer for sure is not to run to the nearest Walgreens or drugstore, buy vitamin-D, and start blindly supplementing. First of all, you should start by having your vitamin-D level tested. In fact, I would also recommend that to any women out there who want to get pregnant.

If your level is indeed below 25ng/ML, then yes you need to think about supplementing. The amount in most prenatal vitamins is 400 ug, which has shown to be insufficient if you are deficient and is only enough to keep you at satisfactory levels.

Now this is where you also have to take into account where you live in the world, how far away or close you are to the equator, and how much time you spend outside. Your vitamin D levels will also depend on what time of year you are pregnant, there is a big difference if you are pregnant during summer versus winter. The color of your skin also needs to be taken into account. As you can see, it is not an easy “one size fits all” solution and pregnant women need individual consultation and monitoring.

The best way to get vitamin-D is the sun.
About 20 minutes outside in the sun without sun screen can really help increase your levels. This is an “average” recommendation, women with lighter skin need less time in the sun to produce sufficient vitamin-D and women with dark skin need more time. IMPORTANT – be careful not to get a sun burn!

Foods like mushrooms, fatty fish, eggs, and cod liver oil are also good options to increase or maintain your level. Please keep in mind, however, that vitamin D is difficult to get from food.

If you are deficient, talk to your doctor, midwife, or make an appointment with me. I will help you get your levels up so that you can not only enjoy a healthy pregnancy but also have a healthier baby who does not have to suffer any consequences from a low level of vitamin D during pregnancy.

Asthildur Huber is a midwife and nutritional counselor currently living with her family in Spain. She has a degree in nutritional counseling and along with her education, work experience as well as her own personal journey, she is happy to be able to help women to feel strong and confident in their own body, experience a healthy pregnancy, and prepare them for a beautiful birth the first months thereafter.  You can find her website and blog here: Asthildur Huber and Follow her on Instagram: @midwifenutritionist.  

​Cheers to Your Health!

Picture
Asthildur Huber Midwife and Nutritional counselor
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Click to set custom HTML
    Picture
    An Additional 10% Off and Free Shipping With Code: LVL-FUCHS
    Picture
    An Additional 10% Off and Free Shipping With Code: LVL-FUCHS
    Click to set custom HTML

    Click Each Category for Information  

    All
    Acupuncture
    Adaptogens
    Alzheimer's
    Anti Aging
    Anti-aging
    Arthritis
    Beauty
    Botanical
    Cancer
    Carpal Tunnel
    CBD
    Children
    Chinese Medicine
    Comfort Shoes
    Cordyceps
    Core-stability
    Cryotherapy
    Cupping
    Dance
    Dancer
    Dental
    Detox
    Diabetes
    Energy
    Environment
    Evidence-based-medicine
    Exercise
    Fertility
    Fitness
    Foam Roller
    Food
    Foothealth
    Foot Health
    Foot Pain
    Footwear
    Green Drinks
    Hand
    Healing
    Health
    Health Food
    Heart Disease
    Herbs
    Holiday
    Holistic
    Injuries
    Injury Prevention
    Iron Deficiency
    Libido
    Longevity
    Medication
    Medicinal Mushrooms
    Meditate
    Meditation
    Mental Health
    Mindset
    Mood
    Muscle Recovery
    Nutrition
    Obesity
    Organic
    Pain
    Pain Management
    Paraben
    Performance Enhancing
    Pilates
    Plantar Fasciitis
    Plant Based
    Podcast
    Pregnancy
    Promotion
    Regenerative Medicine
    Relax
    Self Care
    Shoes
    Shoulder
    Skin
    Skincare
    Sleep
    Sports
    Sports Medicine
    Stem Cell
    Success
    Supplement
    Surgeon
    Surgery
    Tone
    Toxin
    Vitamin
    Weigh Loss
    Weightloss
    Wellness
    Wellness Products
    Whole Body Cryotherapy
    Workout
    Wrist

      Sign Up to Be Added to Our E-mail List For Exclusive Updates and Information

    Submit
    Author
    Dr. Suzanne Fuchs has a passion for nutrition, health and fitness.  She aims to connect the dots between our overall health and the substances that go into our bodies on a daily basis by using only evidence based medicine, science and expert advice.    
    Dr. Suzanne Fuchs currently practices concierge foot and ankle medicine and surgery in Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida at LuxePodiatry™ 
    Disclaimer: 
    If you have health concerns you should contact your physician for professional advice.

    Dr. Suz Heals.com has provided sources for information that is not directly provided by our own sources.

    Dr. Suz Heals.com  is intended to be used for educational and information purposes only. Dr. Suz Heals.com and its Editors do not advocate nutritional supplementation over proper medical advice or treatment and this sentiment will never be expressed through pages hosted under Dr. Suz Heals .com.  If using any pharmaceuticals or drugs given to you by a doctor or received with a prescription, you must consult with the doctor in question or an equally qualified Health Care Professional prior to using any nutritional supplementation. If undergoing medical therapies, then consult with your respective Therapist or Health Care Professional about possible interactions between your Treatment, any Pharmaceuticals or Drugs being given, and possible nutritional supplements or practices hosted on Dr. Suz Heals.com.  Dr. Suz Heals.com does not assume liability for any actions undertaken after visiting these pages, and does not assume liability if one misuses supplements. Dr. Suz Heals.com  and its Editors do not ensure that unforeseen side effects will not occur even at the proper dosages, and thereby does not assume liability for any side effects from supplements or practices hosted under the domain of Dr. Suz Heals.com.



    ​


















    View my profile on LinkedIn

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    November 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014

    spices_buy_spices_organic_spices