Both you and your baby need vitamin C during pregnancy. This vitamin helps to fight infection, prevents cells from damage, repairs tissue, heals wounds and aids in bone grown and repair. While getting extra vitamin C through a prenatal supplement may be wise, additional vitamin C supplementation is usually not necessary. Always talk to your doctor before taking any vitamin supplement during pregnancy.
Recommended Amount
Pregnant women who are 18 years old or younger should get at least 80 mg of vitamin C a day. Pregnant women who are 19 years old or older should get 85 mg of vitamin C a day. These amounts include both the amount of vitamin C you consume through food and the amount you consume through your prenatal vitamin or additional vitamin C supplements.
Maximum Amount
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, which means that your body generally flushes away excess amounts of the vitamin through urination. Even so, getting too much vitamin C can cause unpleasant side effects, such as nausea, stomach cramps or diarrhea. Women who are 18 years old or younger should not consume more than 1,800 mg of vitamin C a day, while those 19 years old or older should not consume more than 2,000 mg a day. Remember, the maximum amount not only includes the amount you consume through supplements, but the amount you include through foods and beverages as well.
Foods vs. Supplements
Although it is difficult to get the recommended amount of some vitamins through diet alone, this is usually not the case for vitamin C intake. Your recommended vitamin C can be easily met through foods and beverages. In fact, just 1 cup of orange juice meets your vitamin C requirements for the day. Doctors generally prefer that you get your vitamin C through food and your daily prenatal vitamin, but some special circumstances may warrant extra supplements. Talk to your doctor to determine if you would benefit from additional supplementation.
Warning
Although more research is needed, it is possible that taking vitamin C supplements during pregnancy may increase the risk of preterm birth, according to the medical advisory board at BabyCenter.com. The website goes on to mention there have been rare reports of babies being born with a severe vitamin C deficiency after their mothers consumed vitamin C supplements during pregnancy. Always talk to your doctor about the risks of taking vitamin C supplements during pregnancy so you can make an educated decision on whether vitamin C supplements are appropriate for you.
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