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Vitamin D deficiency has significant consequences for women's health, particularly during pregnancy. Adequate vitamin D levels are critically important for maternal and infant health during pregnancy. Since the fetus obtains its calcium requirements from the mother, optimal vitamin D levels are necessary for the mother to maintain adequate calcium balance throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Infants of mothers experiencing vitamin D deficiency may exhibit problems such as bone softening and weakening (rickets), muscle weakness, abnormalities in fontanelle closure, and delayed tooth eruption. Insufficient vitamin D intake during pregnancy can lead to permanent damage in newborns and may not be fully correctable with postnatal supplementation.
For expectant mothers, vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of preeclampsia/eclampsia. Furthermore, fatigue, lethargy, insufficient weight gain, muscle and bone pains, gestational diabetes, and the risk of osteoporosis during pregnancy are also linked to vitamin D levels. Higher rates of cesarean delivery have been observed in mothers with low vitamin D levels.
For these reasons, it is recommended that expectant mothers begin vitamin D supplementation from the 12th week of pregnancy and continue until the sixth month of the breastfeeding period.
What are the harms of vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy?
Infants of mothers experiencing vitamin D deficiency may exhibit problems such as bone softening and weakening (rickets), muscle weakness, abnormalities in fontanelle closure, and delayed tooth eruption. Insufficient vitamin D intake during pregnancy can lead to permanent damage in newborns and may not be fully correctable with postnatal supplementation.
For expectant mothers, vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of preeclampsia/eclampsia. Furthermore, fatigue, lethargy, insufficient weight gain, muscle and bone pains, gestational diabetes, and the risk of osteoporosis during pregnancy are also linked to vitamin D levels. Higher rates of cesarean delivery have been observed in mothers with low vitamin D levels.
For these reasons, it is recommended that expectant mothers begin vitamin D supplementation from the 12th week of pregnancy and continue until the sixth month of the breastfeeding period.