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.
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.
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.
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!
