Vitamin d deficiency

[Coleminer]

Before I got pregnant I was advised I had a vitamin d deficiency so my doctor prescribed me some high dosage supplements. Am now 6 wks pregnant and my vit d levels are now normal so I asked my doctor if I should continue taking theTablets and he said no as they couldn't say whether they caused harm or good! I'm confused, surely if I stop taking them my vit d levels will drop again? Also I keep reading that we should be taking supplements to help the baby. I'm confused!

You would have to be taking seriously high doses ie up around 35000iu daily to cause harm. Most pregnant women are deficicient, in fact most of the UK are deficient.

However it is summer time and you should be able to make your own vit D from the sun, don't know where you are.

Weather permitting try to get out in the midday sun for about 10 minutes with no sunscreen and let the sun at your white bits. You will make enough vit D that way. In 10 mins your body can manufacture about 7000iu. So daily sun exposure will allow you to replenish your stores.

However once this fab summer is over, from about mid Oct on I would take the supplements again. YOu only need to take about 1000iu daily. (Have they recently tested you, what was your latest level?). Your vit D levels shouldnt drop again if you can expose yourself to the sun.

What dosage are your supplements?

Thanks almondfinger. Dosage is 400iu. I'm in the uk and we don't seem to be having much of a summer this year! However I do have a light box so maybe I'll start to use that. Thanks for the advice.

I'm not sure of the details, but I'm sure the official guidance is to take a Vitamin D supplement during pregnancy. It might be worth speaking to your midwife to see if they have the most recent info.

you might be interested in this research
www.webmd.com/baby/news/20100504/high-doses-of-vitamin-d-may-cut-pregnancy-risk

women took 4,000iu with no ill effects, in fact it was positive

coleminer, you doc is deluded if he/she thinks 400iu is high dose. It's the RDA which most consider too low. There have been cases of rickets in Scotland of late.

Do you take a pregnancy multi? Check to see if that contains Vit D, most do nowadays.

If so then that and trying to get some sunshine should be sufficient for the summer months. For winter I personally would take a supplement.

They have recommended Vit D to help protect against MS I believe, esp in pregnancy - they think it helps baby to avoid possibly developing it if at risk genetically (i think!)

that's right clarella, well not sure if that is why the NHS now recommend Vit D but there is a lot of evidence that a lack of Vit D during pregnancy may be linked to developing MS

GPs are told not to prescribe the normal vitamin D capsules, but can prescribe the chewable ones.

I don't know why, my GP told me.

Not to prescribe normal capsules for pregnant women, that is.

Thanks everyone, have a 6 wk scan tomorrow so will ask then. I think my doctor is abit behind the times!