While all nutrients are essential during pregnancy, there are certain vitamins that fulfill important roles during pregnancy and that not be neglecting to prevent problems or, even fetal malformations. In principle, you should not forget that during pregnancy no longer be treated only nourish your body but also, and especially, that of your baby. The vitamins are keys to ensure normal fetal development.
Vitamin A is essential and its absence is usually rare. However, we must also take extreme care with the opposite, i.e., with hypervitaminosis A, as it is also harmful to the developing baby. This vitamin, so necessary for cells, tissues and organs in general, can be found naturally in leafy green vegetables, fruits and yellow vegetables and dairy products, in addition to the egg yolks, among other foods.
The B-complex vitamins also play an essential role: in this sense, the B6 is one of the most affected during pregnancy, as its level tends to go down, in which case it will be necessary to supplement – though that will decide, of course, the doctor. In addition, this vitamin help control nausea during this period and hypertension, one of the problems is sometimes hardest to control. You can find it in legumes, whole grains, nuts and yeast, among others.
But surely you have heard of the B9 or folic acid: it is one of the important during pregnancy because it helps in the prevention of certain birth defects such as spina bifida. Moreover, a deficiency of this nutrient can lead to premature delivery, spontaneous abortion and low birth weight. Where we find it? In green leafy vegetables, brassicas such as broccoli and cauliflower, yeast, peas, etc.
The vitamin C also plays its key role during this important in any woman’s life stage: its lack can be linked with preeclampsia or toxemia, and premature rupture of the amniotic membranes. However, we will also have to be very careful with excess of this vitamin, because it can cause scurvy in infants, so it is recommended not to take above the recommended dose. To incorporate natural source of this nutrient do not forget to consume citrus fruits, kiwi, strawberries, leafy greens, peppers and tomatoes.
Finally, vitamin D: although its deficiency is not common, it has to ensure a daily dose of sun to help their synthesis. Its deficiency can lead to neonatal hypocalcemia and osteomalacia in the mother, but will have to be careful with hypervitaminosis D, since it can also harm the fetus.