Your body doesn’t store vitamin C, so you need a constant fresh supply.  This means you want to be enjoying a diet rich in Vitamin C, and you'll benefit from a "safe guard" of a food-based vitamin C supplement.  
vitamin c benefits in pregnancy

What Does Vitamin C do for you?

Vitamin C has antioxidant properties that prevent cell damage in mother.
It helps to repair tissues and heal various wounds.
Vitamin C offers a boost to the immune system, so much that research shows in the general population it lowers the risk for various cancers.
vitamin c boosts immunity in pregnancy and for baby
It is essential for production of Collagen, a cartilage component needed for growth of bones, tissues and tendons.  There is a very interesting animal study that showed that vitamin c supplementation in pregnancy improve the structure of the cardinal and uterosacral ligaments.  This suggests that vitamin C supplementation may prevent pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence. 
vitamin c increases collagen and strengthens pelvic organs

Supports absorption of iron.

Supplementation increases gestational age for babies of women who have PROM (premature rupture of membranes) before 37 weeks. *

Vitamin C has been shown to decrease cancer risk 

What Does Vitamin C do for baby?

Vitamin C may reduce asthma, and improve pulmonary function. Preliminary research shows that supplementation of 500mg of Vitamin C can mitigate the effects of smoking on fetuses.  Nicotine stunts fetal lung growth: alveolar and pulmonary vasculature development, airway growth, and reduces total lung weight. *

Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and reduces cellular damage in baby.

Vitamin C also boosts the immune system of babies.

Vitamin C supports the absorption of iron for babies as well.

Deficiency may cause:

Damage to capillary veins, often noted by bleeding gums.
Harm to baby’s brain development.
Slow healing wounds, dry brittle skin.
Anemia

Lack of vitamin C for pregnancy is easily detected by slow-healing wounds, dryness of skin and brittle hair.

Foods Rich in Vitamin C***

Green leafy vegetables like cabbage
Red-bell pepper, 1/2 cup; 95mg
Orange, medium, 70mg
Mango
Kiwi, medium 64mg
Green pepper, raw 1/2 cup; 60 mg 
Broccoli, cooked 51mg
Strawberries, fresh, sliced; 1/2 cup, 49mg
Grapefruit, 1/2 39mg
Broccoli, raw 39mg
***




Are you just amazed to learn that the standard recommendations for nutrition in pregnancy are in conflict with evidence? 

It's a lot to sift through and it can be overwhelming. I would love to support you to have the healthiest pregnancy possible in my mentorship program. Book your free consultation and let's see how I can support you in your pregnancy, birth and postpartum.




Sources:
*Abdulhussain AS. The efficacy and safety of vitamin C administration to women with history of premature preterm rupture of membrane in prevention of such event in current pregnancy: Randomized controlled clinical trial. J Popul Ther Clin Pharmacol. 2022 Dec 6;29(4):e188-e194. doi: 10.47750/jptcp.2022.985. PMID: 36481988. 
**Merritt, T.A. Improving fetal lung development with vitamin C and reducing asthma in children. J Perinatol 38, 775–777 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-018-0148-1
*** Health Fact Sheet for Providers: Vitamin C, National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, Vitamin C - Health Professional Fact Sheet (nih.gov) 

Birth is a very special time in your life, but it's one day out of the entire childbearing year.  

You are meant to have a positive experience.  You can navigate all the challenges and concerns during pregnancy, birth and beyond with grace and ease.  

I support you with personalized coaching, pregnancy health, childbirth education, breastfeeding/formula feeding preparation as well as preparing for postpartum and even returning to work!  


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