Vitamin D deficiency

[newbiemum2b]

Hi all, would appreciate it if anyone with similar issue can advise what they did.

I have a seriously low vitamin D deficiency but im about 11 weeks pregnant. My Dr contacted a specialist and ive been prescribed 20000 IU tabs, 1 per week. Ive checked online and there are side effects with taking it. I know I should trust the specialist but Ive had no discussions with anyone - just been told to pick up a prescription. Before I start taking it has anyone else taken such a high dose before or know if this is safe for the baby?

Thanks so much in advance

It's actually dangerous for the baby for you to have such a low vitamin D level. The baby will take what little vitamin D you have to form their bones and other tissues leaving you very deficient, and prone to fractures from doing every day things.

I had a severe vitamin D deficiency level a few years ago before long before I even thought of pregnancy and broke a small toe by doing nothing.

The main side effect I had from taking high dose vitamin D tablets - I was in 3 X 20,000IU per week for 12 weeks - was bone pain.

Where did you check online to find side effects?
20000iu/week is not an unusually large dose at all. Pale skinned people can produce 10,000iu in ten minutes of legs/arms exposed to midday summer sunshine. So it’s only equivalent to doing that twice a week. The NHS recommends not having more than 4000iu/day - but that’s based on people taking a dose every day - 20,000iu/week is less than 3000/day, and there’s been plenty of research which shows it’s safe to take as a weekly dose rather than daily doses. 4000iu is a general recommendation anyway and I imagine consultants may prescribe more than this for a particular medical need.

www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/how-to-get-vitamin-d-from-sunlight/

The only caveat to that is that if you take high dose vitamin d and too much calcium, you can get problems, so if you’re taking any calcium supplements your doctor is unaware of i’d double check with them (calcium from food/ milk will be fine).

I am probably being a bit thick but wouldn't sitting in the sun for a bit help as well?

Hmm I take the high dose capsules and I’ve never had side effects!

Vitamin D deficiency is a potential danger in pregnancy for babies - there have studies linking it to low birth weight or even premature birth I think? It’s definitely worth taking if you need it :)

@MrsMotgerHen if you are severely deficient, like I was, or have insufficient levels them sitting in the sun especially in the UK will not be enough.

If you are insufficient then a few weeks in the sun near the equator not burning yourself but not coating yourself in sun screen all the time and being half dressed could bring your levels up, but a few people with vitamin D deficiency have metabolism problems so it may not work.

There is an article published yesterday from the University of Birmingham about the dangers of vitamin D deficiency in babies. www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2018/06/vitamin-D-baby-death-research.aspx

OP just ensure you do not take calcium supplements with your vitamin D. Just have as much calcium as you are normally having as there is research indicating additional calcium supplementation could cause side effects like kidney stones. You should ensure you are eating magnesium rich foods as apparently that's one of the minerals you need to help with absorption.

I should add in my area of London they give a maximum dose for otherwise healthy adults who are severly deficient is 10,000IU per day, while other areas have levels that can be much lower. Levels for pregnant women, children and those with medical conditions e.g. kidney problems are lower.

Btw I had bone pain from having low levels, but my bone pain when supplementing was in different bones. Other people I know who had noticeable side effects also had bone pain. However most had joint, muscle pain and other pains before hand.

Thank you so so much to everyone for your comments, advice and article. I was panicking unnecessarily it seems (will happen when you haven't had any comments or reassurance from the GP/ specialist) and its too late at night to speak to anyone!) I really appreciate the guidance from you - we cant use the internet to substitute a GP but you all made me feel much better with the information you gave me. That article was illuminating - I didn't even think about the need to continue to supplement baby's vitamin D post birth.

Apparently my levels are very low so actually this being a lower dose than usually prescribed for adults is fine - it means they are being cautious due to the pregnancy and I feel better about that. I spent a few hours in the sun today to help give my levels a natural boost too! (take advantage of the heatwave!)