Why Vitamin D3 is Crucial During and After Pregnancy
Pregnant women at risk of vitamin D deficiency or those with limited sun exposure will be advised to take a vitamin D supplement and their vitamin D level will be measured with a blood test early in pregnancy. If the blood test shows that the level of vitamin D is too low, you will be prescribed a vitamin D supplement by your doctor or midwife. The amount of vitamin D3 supplement needed may change depending on what your blood level is. Sometimes higher doses are needed at first to build your level up. There is no danger of overdose with these amounts. Oste-Vit D and Ostelin are the common vitamin D supplements. Both contain the same amount of vitamin D and are suitable for people following a Halal diet.
Is Vitamin D3 Safe During Pregnancy?
Yes, vitamin D3 is safe during pregnancy when taken in the recommended amounts. It is important for the health of both you and your baby, helping to ensure proper development of the baby’s bones, teeth, and overall well-being.
Babies: How to Ensure Adequate Vitamin D3 After Birth
If a mother is vitamin D deficient, breast milk is not a good source of vitamin D3, so babies need to be given extra vitamin D3 until they are weaned. Pentavite, which is a liquid multivitamin mixture available from pharmacies, is suitable for this. The dosage is 0.45ml per day. A midwife can show you how to give Pentavite to your baby before you leave the hospital.
Other Important Supplements During Pregnancy:
In addition to vitamin D3, calcium is also needed for bone health in mother and baby. Dairy foods are the richest sources, with two to three serves recommended per day (cheese, milk, yoghurt or calcium-supplemented soy, almond or rice milk). If you are unable to eat sufficient amounts of these food a calcium supplement may be recommended.
How to Get Enough Vitamin D3 During Pregnancy
From the sun
Most of our vitamin D3 is made in our skin by the sun’s ultraviolet rays. You are at risk of a vitamin D deficiency if you have too little sunlight exposure. This may happen if you spend a lot of time indoors or cover most of your skin with clothing. It is important to get enough sunlight to produce vitamin D3 without increasing your risk of skin cancer. In summer, many fair skinned people make enough vitamin D3 from having their hands, arms and face (or equivalent area of skin) in the sun for a few minutes each day during normal, day to day outdoor activities. If you are fair skinned it is best to avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm in summer unless you are wearing sun protection.
From food
Vitamin D3 is present in a small number of foods and for the average person food will supply about 10 percent of the amount they need. It is present in oily fish such as mackerel and sardines and eggs and in Australia it is also added in small amounts to margarine and some brands of milk. Although liver and cod liver oil contain vitamin D3, they are not recommended in pregnancy as they also contain too much vitamin A for pregnant women.
SunVit-D3 Products for Pregnancy:
If you’re looking for vitamin D3 supplements safe during pregnancy, SunVit-D3 offers several options to help maintain optimal levels:
These products can help ensure you and your baby get the right amount of vitamin D3 during pregnancy.
