How Much Vitamin A Does A Woman Need While Pregnant?

Vitamin A is one of the four essential fat-soluble vitamins that must be consumed by the body in moderate quantities through food intake and other dietary supplements. As a fat-soluble vitamin, it is absorbed by the body into circulation, and stays longer in the system as it is stored in the liver, Drugs.com explains. Pregnant women need slightly increased daily doses of vitamin A to compensate for the vitamin A needs of their developing babies.

Function

As a retinal vitamin, vitamin A helps improve eyesight especially in dim or low-light conditions. Vitamin A prevents night blindness and improves color vision. Vitamin A also ensures good reproductive health in women as well as promotes proper growth and improves the immune system, the New York Times Health Guide explains. Vitamin A also is beneficial because it promotes healthy bone development, clear eyesight, healthy skin and cell formation and the production of red blood cells.

Dosage for Pregnant Women

At the onset of pregnancy, expectant mothers between 14 to 18 years of age should consume about 750 micrograms of vitamin A daily. While expectant mothers of 19 to 50 years of age should consume about 770 micrograms of vitamin A daily, the American Pregnancy Association notes. Taking more than 3,000 micrograms of vitamin A per day is harmful to the baby and might lead to fetal malformation, birth defects or even death. Consult your doctor and dietitian before using supplements or other products containing vitamin A.

Dosage for Lactating Women

Women who breastfeed should increase their vitamin A intake as they need to relay this vitamin to their developing baby through breast milk. Breastfeeding mothers between the ages of 14 to 18 should consume about 1,200 micrograms per day. Breastfeeding mothers between 19 to 50 should consume about 1,300 micrograms daily, the American Pregnancy Association explains.

Deficiency

Vitamin A deficiency in pregnant women causes night blindness and maternal mortality. The risk of developing vitamin A deficiency is highest during the final trimester, when mother and child need this vitamin the most, the World Health Organization explains.

Food Sources

Pregnant women should maintain a healthy diet and have daily access to Vitamin A retinol-rich food sources such as beef, liver, poultry, eggs, egg substitute, fat-free milk, whole milk, cheese, breakfast cereals and other forms of dietary supplements, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases says. You also can get vitamin A as beta-carotene from dark oranges, and yellow and dark-green vegetables. Vegetables such as carrots, squash, sweet potatoes and spinach, as well as fruits such as cantaloupes, mangoes and apricots also are sources of vitamin A, Drugs.com explains.