Women must get certain vitamins and minerals daily to support a healthy pregnancy. But knowing which vitamins you need and how much of each is also critical.
Many moms-to-be wonder: Can I take b12 while pregnant?
Vitamin B12 is also known as cobalamin. It’s one of the eight complex B vitamins.
Today, we’re going to discuss the role it plays in the pregnancy diet.
We’ll cover if pregnant women need to take a B12 supplement and how safe this vitamin is during pregnancy. Read on to learn more.
Can I Take B12 While Pregnant?
During the three trimesters of pregnancy, a woman’s body will undergo many changes. She will have specific nutritional needs to remain healthy, feel good, and keep up with the changes.
Taking vitamin B12 is vital during pregnancy because it’s an essential nutrient. Not only does it support the mother’s health, but it also supports your baby’s healthy development.
Vitamin B12 is highly recommended during pregnancy. However, before you start taking a supplement, it’s essential to consult your healthcare provider.
Do Prenatal Vitamins Contain Vitamin B12?
Most brands of prenatal vitamins will contain vitamin B12. It is one of the essential nutrients needed for a healthy pregnancy.
But there’s one thing you should be aware of before you choose prenatal vitamins. The amount of vitamin B12 in the prenatal vitamins will vary between brands.
Before determining how much vitamin B12 you should be taking, consult your doctor about your pregnancy diet, your current health condition, and how much vitamin B12 is recommended.
You should always listen to a healthcare provider’s guidance on how much of each nutrient your diet requires.
Is B12 Safe During Pregnancy?
Yes, vitamin B12 is safe for pregnant women.
It’s an essential part of their diet. It plays a significant role in developing your baby’s red blood cells and nervous system.
Even after giving birth, it’s recommended that mothers still take a vitamin B12 supplement while breastfeeding.
Your baby still relies on this vitamin supply through your milk. However, you may need to speak to your doctor about adjusting the amount of vitamin B12 you take after giving birth.
How Much Vitamin B12 Do Pregnant Women Need?
The average recommendation for the pregnancy diet is 2.6 mcg of vitamin B12 daily. Keep in mind this amount doesn’t apply to every woman. Certain factors could affect how much you need to take, such as:
- Diet
- Health conditions
- Height
- Weight
- Medications
It’s very common for doctors to recommend taking a vitamin B12 supplement along with folic acid. However, these ingredients can be found in a good quality prenatal vitamin.
Follow Your Doctor’s Guidance On Vitamin B12
Women need many vitamins and minerals to support a healthy pregnancy. One of the concerns that can be overwhelming for first-time mothers is how each type of prenatal supplement differs from the next.
This is mainly because every mother’s body and nutritional needs differ slightly from the next. You should follow your healthcare provider’s guidance for a healthy pregnancy when taking vitamin B supplements (such as B12, folic acid, and others).
Not getting enough of this vitamin can leave the mother tired and sick while also adversely affecting the baby’s development. On the other hand, taking too much can lead to many health complications, which we will go into more detail about below.
Why Is Vitamin B12 Good During Pregnancy?
The main reason vitamin B12 is good for pregnant women is because it helps support the baby’s healthy development.
One of the primary roles of B12 is to help form your baby’s red blood cells. It also plays a crucial role in developing your infant’s nervous system.
Many people don’t realize that vitamin B12 helps decrease the risk of congenital disabilities and other problems, like neural tube defects, anemia, and low birth weight. One of the main reasons is that this vitamin helps support the development of the placenta.
Does Vitamin B12 Help With Nausea?
One common myth is that vitamin B12 helps with nausea. That’s why many pregnant women believe they need to get vitamin supplements when morning sickness strikes.
However, it’s important to remember that no evidence supports vitamin b12 relieving nausea.
However, we can help clear up some confusion about this theory. You see, nausea is one of the symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency.
If a pregnant woman has a B12 deficiency and starts to take a prenatal vitamin, her nausea will likely go away because she is now getting enough of the vitamin.
That is why many people are under the impression that B12 is good for nausea relief.
What Foods Naturally Contain Vitamin B12?
Your diet is the #1 most important contributing factor to a healthy pregnancy. Expectant mothers should aim to get all of the essential nutrients through food.
However, taking vitamin B12 and prenatal vitamins is recommended to fill in any gaps your diet may have missed.
There are several food sources from which you can get vitamin B12 naturally. The leading food group to look at is animal products. This includes meat, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs, and dairy products.
Surprisingly, organ meat is one of the best foods for natural B12. This includes parts of the animal like kidney or liver. Other significant sources of vitamin B12 include sardines, clams, tuna, and beef.
If you follow a plant-based diet, taking a vitamin B12 supplement is recommended even if you aren’t pregnant.
However, some plant-based foods do contain B12 naturally. This includes fortified cereals, fortified plant-based milk, and fortified nutritional yeast. Most fortified foods will contain B12.
What Are Signs That I’m Not Getting Enough Vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 is crucial for how your brain and central nervous system function. A vitamin B12 deficiency can be very dangerous for pregnant women.
A wide range of symptoms can occur if a pregnant woman is not getting enough B12. This can lead to a more serious health problem if the symptoms are ignored.
The symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency will range depending on the severity and how long the woman has been deficient.
If it’s a recent problem, some of the signs that she may notice are:
- Lightheadedness
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Shortness of breath
- Pale skin
However, if the B12 deficiency has been untreated for a while, the symptoms may be more severe. This can include symptoms like:
- Numbness in hands and feet
- Tingling in hands and feet
- Sore tongue
- Balance issues
- Difficulty walking
- Memory loss
- Depression
- Confusion
You must consult a healthcare provider if you notice any of these symptoms. A vitamin B12 deficiency can be treated.
However, if left ignored, more serious health problems could occur.
What Happens If I Don’t Get Enough Vitamin B12 During Pregnancy?
Vitamin B12 is a micronutrient. According to the World Health Organization, several adverse health outcomes could occur if a person is B12 deficient. Vitamin B12 is essential for women’s health and pregnancy outcomes.
When a mother is B12 deficient, she has an increased risk of developing anemia. This can leave her with several symptoms, such as:
- Dizziness
- Feeling tired
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness
- Tingling in hands and feet
- Nerve damage
Not getting enough B12 also increases the baby’s risk of neural tube defects and other congenital disabilities. They can suffer from developmental delays.
In extreme cases, it can lead to brain damage.
Pregnant women who aren’t consuming enough B12 are also more likely to get constipated.
A deficiency can also cause a loss in appetite, leading to weight loss. Unless recommended by the doctor, it’s not safe for women to lose weight while pregnant.
What Happens If I Get Too Much Vitamin B12 During Pregnancy?
People can have too much of a good thing. While there are many benefits of the B12 vitamin, there can also be unpleasant symptoms that occur if a person takes an excessive amount.
This is why following your healthcare provider’s guidance on vitamin B intake is essential.
One of the most common signs that a person is getting too much vitamin B12 is skin problems. If you regularly consume too much, you can get acne and clogged pores. It’s also common for too much B12 to lead to rosacea and other skin issues.
However, if a pregnant woman continues to take excessive B12, she will be at an increased risk of gestational diabetes.
Some other symptoms that can occur from too much B12 include:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
Too much B12 is also known to lead to a decrease in potassium levels. This causes cramping, muscle weakness, and an irregular heartbeat.
In extreme cases, it may lead to nerve damage or vision loss.
Final Words
Vitamin B is an integral part of your pregnancy diet. The B12 vitamin plays an essential role in your baby’s healthy development. It also keeps you healthy as her body goes through changes.
Expectant mothers should try to include B12 in their diet. However, taking dietary supplements recommended by the doctor is also recommended.
Do you have any more questions about vitamin B12 during pregnancy? Let us know in the comments below.