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How Vitamin C Helps Promote a Healthy Pregnancy

May 20, 2021

Graphic of oranges
Vitamin C is a vital nutrient that our bodies need but cannot produce on their own. Expecting moms should be especially concerned about their vitamin C intake, as it helps boost immunity and aids in the absorption of iron. However, it is possible to get too much vitamin C. Knowing the proper dosage is a must.

Why Vitamin C is Important During Pregnancy

Vitamin C not only protects moms-to-be by boosting the immune system, reducing the risk of iron-deficiency and anemia during pregnancy, and promoting wound healing, but it’s also necessary for the healthy physical and metabolic development of babies. Because vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, it is not stored by the body. Receiving a healthy daily dose during pregnancy is crucial.

How Much Vitamin C You Should Consume

Experts suggest a recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of at least 85 milligrams per day for pregnant women age 19 and older, with a safe recommended maximum daily amount of 2,000 milligrams per day.1

How You Can Get Vitamin C

Fortunately, vitamin C is readily available from a healthy, well-balanced diet of fruits and vegetables. Experts recommend that pregnant women consume two to four servings of fruit and four or more servings of vegetables each day. Here are some great sources to get your vitamin C2:

  • Broccoli
  • Citrus fruits (orange, lemon, mango, grapefruit, kiwi)
  • Tomatoes
  • Red, green, and yellow peppers
  • Strawberries
  • Orange juice
  • Potatoes

A healthy diet is the best way to get the essential vitamin C that your body needs during pregnancy, but supplementing with a specifically formulated prenatal vitamin can help you meet your nutritional needs. Prenatal vitamins are readily available online, over the counter, or by prescription, but they are not all the same. Our family of vitamins offers a range of vitamin C dosages to fit the different needs of expecting moms. Talk with your doctor about the nutritional support you need for a healthy pregnancy.

Is it Possible to Get too Much Vitamin C?

Sometimes too much of a good thing turns out to be not so good. Vitamin overdose can occur when you take more than the recommended daily limit of any vitamin. Vitamin C has low toxicity, but if taken in large doses, it can cause gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, and constipation.3 Any vitamin can be toxic if taken in large amounts. Other symptoms of vitamin overdose may also include4:

  • Cloudy urine
  • Frequent urination
  • Loss of appetite
  • Muscle weakness
  • Muscle, joint, or bone pain
  • Yellow-orange tint to the skin
  • Sun sensitivity
  • Itching or rash
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Mental or mood changes
  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat
  • Eye irritation or sensitivity to light
  • Cracked lips

With all the wonderful and necessary benefits that vitamin C provides to you and your developing baby, it’s important to make sure you are getting enough in your daily diet. But if you have trouble meeting those daily requirements, you should speak with your doctor about supplementing.

 

Prenate® Vitamin Family
This post is brought to you by the Prenate® Vitamin Family, a line of prescription prenatal supplements designed to enhance preconception, prenatal, and postpartum nutrition in women. Talk with your doctor about how taking a daily prescription prenatal or postnatal vitamin could help support a healthy pregnancy and postpartum wellness.

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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Keep this product out of reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.

WARNING: Ingestion of more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids (such as DHA) per day has been shown to have potential antithrombotic effects, including an increased bleeding time and International Normalized Ratio (INR). Administration of omega-3 fatty acids should be avoided in patients taking anticoagulants and in those known to have an inherited or acquired predisposition to bleeding.

This site and its contents are an information resource only, and are neither intended to nor should be used in replacement of your doctor or other prescribing professional’s medical guidance, recommendations or advice. Neither this site nor its information should be used or relied upon for any diagnostic, medical, treatment, nutritional or other purpose. All aspects of pregnancy, including whether pregnancy is right for you, and the nourishment and care of your child, should be made with your doctor and other appropriate medical professional, and in consideration of your and your child’s particular medical history. Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC (“Avion”) makes no representation, warranty or other undertaking that this site or its information are appropriate for you or your child’s specific needs or issues, and further expressly disclaims all damages, losses, injuries or liability whatsoever incurred or alleged to have been incurred in consequence of your reliance on the information on this site. Avion does not endorse any test, procedure, treatment, remedy, therapy, cure, nutritional regimen, method or other activity or undertaking that you and/or your doctor or other medical professional may elect or recommend. By visiting this site you agree to these terms and conditions and acknowledge that you have read and understand the same. These terms and conditions, together with any information on this site, may be amended, restated or otherwise changed from time to time and at any time by Avion within the sole, absolute and uncontrolled exercise of its discretion. You acknowledge and agree that Avion has no duty or obligation to keep you informed of any amendments to, restatements of or other changes to these terms and conditions or this site, and that you are solely and exclusively responsible for apprising yourself of the same.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Keep this product out of reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.

WARNING: Ingestion of more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids (such as DHA) per day has been shown to have potential antithrombotic effects, including an increased bleeding time and International Normalized Ratio (INR). Administration of omega-3 fatty acids should be avoided in patients taking anticoagulants and in those known to have an inherited or acquired predisposition to bleeding.

This site and its contents are an information resource only, and are neither intended to nor should be used in replacement of your doctor or other prescribing professional’s medical guidance, recommendations or advice. Neither this site nor its information should be used or relied upon for any diagnostic, medical, treatment, nutritional or other purpose. All aspects of pregnancy, including whether pregnancy is right for you, and the nourishment and care of your child, should be made with your doctor and other appropriate medical professional, and in consideration of your and your child’s particular medical history. Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC (“Avion”) makes no representation, warranty or other undertaking that this site or its information are appropriate for you or your child’s specific needs or issues, and further expressly disclaims all damages, losses, injuries or liability whatsoever incurred or alleged to have been incurred in consequence of your reliance on the information on this site. Avion does not endorse any test, procedure, treatment, remedy, therapy, cure, nutritional regimen, method or other activity or undertaking that you and/or your doctor or other medical professional may elect or recommend. By visiting this site you agree to these terms and conditions and acknowledge that you have read and understand the same. These terms and conditions, together with any information on this site, may be amended, restated or otherwise changed from time to time and at any time by Avion within the sole, absolute and uncontrolled exercise of its discretion. You acknowledge and agree that Avion has no duty or obligation to keep you informed of any amendments to, restatements of or other changes to these terms and conditions or this site, and that you are solely and exclusively responsible for apprising yourself of the same.

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