Vitamin A in Pregnancy
Vitamin A in pregnancy can feel confusing- let’s talk about it! This vitamin is one of my favorites in pregnancy and is so important for healthy baby development.
3 Facts about Vitamin A in pregnancy:
Vitamin A is important for fetal development; especially internal organs, limbs and eyes
Vitamin A helps prevent maternal anemia
You need fat to absorb vitamin A - be sure this is not something restricted in your eating pattern!
What most people don’t know is that there are actually two types of Vitamin A: beta-carotene and pre-formed Vitamin A.
Beta-carotene for pregnancy
One type of vitamin A is actually not fully active. It’s called beta-carotene, and is known as pro-vitamin A. Beta-carotene is an antioxidant, and your body can convert some of this to use as active vitamin A. Red and orange fruits and veggies contain beta-carotene! Sources include pumpkin, sweet potatoes, carrots, cantaloupe and peppers.
Retinol in pregnancy - the risks and benefits
In pregnancy, some preformed vitamin A (retinol) is necessary, but it is possible to take too much, so extra supplementation is not recommended. The risks of retinol overdose in pregnancy include serious birth defects.
The number 1 source of retinol is liver; however, because the retinol content is so high, only 1 serving of liver per week is safe in pregnancy. Liver is also a fantastic source of iron, folate, and choline! If you’ve got a family recipe, it might be a good time to break that out to use once per week.
Other animal sources of retinol include full fat dairy, eggs and fish. These foods do not need to be limited as their retinol content is not particularly high.
Since preformed retinol is found only in animal sources, those consuming plant-based diets may be at risk for vitamin A deficiency in pregnancy. If you are vegan, be sure your prenatal vitamin contains about 50% of the supplied vitamin A as retinol or retinyl palmitate.
We talked all about Vitamin A in our March group call for Fully Nourished Pregnancy! On these calls clients can ask questions, raise concerns, share what they’ve been learning and so much more!
It’s a great time to connect with a community & meet some people who are navigating the same season you are, all with the guidance of a Registered Dietitian!
I know that pregnancy, infertility, just your overall health & nutrition can overwhelming at times.
I created FNP for this very reason. So that at a time when your body feels foreign to you, you can learn to dial in to exactly what it needs.
You deserve to invest in yourself now- don’t put it off any longer.
Click here to read more about Fully Nourished Pregnancy and enroll today.