Why Is Vitamin A So Important During Pregnancy?
Getting the right amount of vitamin A during pregnancy is a bit of a balancing act. Too much can harm your developing baby and lead to birth defects1, while too little carries certain risks to you and your baby’s development5. A healthy intake will ensure your baby gets the nutritional support they need for normal development.
And because it’s a fat-soluble vitamin, your body can build up stores of it in your liver, ready for when you need it. Your Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI) of vitamin A in pregnancy – the amount considered to be enough to meet most people’s needs – is slightly higher than normal, at 100mcg per day6. Half a cup of raw carrots contains 459mcg of vitamin A, and half a cup of broccoli contains 60mcg of vitamin A7.
You can always talk to your midwife or healthcare professional if you’d like any more advice. While a healthy intake is important throughout your pregnancy, your risk of deficiency is higher during your third trimester when requirements increase due to your baby’s accelerated development and increased blood volume. The good news is, you should be able to get all the vitamin A you need by enjoying a healthy, balanced pregnancy diet.
How Much Vitamin A Do You Need When You’Re Pregnant?
Too much can harm your developing baby and lead to birth defects1, while too little carries certain risks to you and your baby’s development5. A healthy intake will ensure your baby gets the nutritional support they need for normal development. You can always talk to your midwife or healthcare professional if you’d like any more advice.
While a healthy intake is important throughout your pregnancy, your risk of deficiency is higher during your third trimester when requirements increase due to your baby’s accelerated development and increased blood volume.
1. High Mercury Fish
It has no known safe level of exposure and is most commonly found in polluted water. Since it’s found in polluted seas, large marine fish can accumulate high amounts of mercury.
Consuming low mercury fish during pregnancy is very healthy, and these fish can be eaten up to three times per week , according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Why You Need Vitamin A During Pregnancy
Vitamin A is important for your baby’s embryonic growth, including the development of the heart, lungs, kidneys, eyes, and bones as well as the circulatory, respiratory, and central nervous systems. Vitamin A is particularly essential for women who are about to give birth because it helps with postpartum tissue repair.
There are two forms of vitamin A: preformed vitamin A and provitamin A carotenoids. Provitamin A carotenoids (like beta-carotene) are found in fruits and vegetables, and your body must convert this type into retinol.