This is due a combination of more doctors checking Vitamin D levels in “well” people and also an increased incidence with people being encouraged to say out of the sun, to cover up and to use strong sun screens to help prevent the sun causing skin cancers especially malignant melanoma. Vitamin D helps to develop your baby’s bones. Significant Vitamin D deficiency reduces the amount of calcium your baby has in their bones and in very severe can cause a bone deformity called rickets.
For you it is a long term rather than a pregnancy only consideration. Vitamin D helps to maintain your muscle and bone strength, helps your body absorb calcium from food and may also protect you against developing diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer.
People with vitamin D deficiency do not usually feel any different, but in some cases they may have sore or weak muscles or have weakened bones.
"Significant Vitamin D deficiency reduces the amount of calcium your baby has in their bones and in very severe can cause a bone deformity called rickets."
What can be done about it?
Sunlight: It is important to get enough sunlight to produce vitamin D without increasing your risk of skin cancer. In summer, many fair skinned people produce enough vitamin D from having their hands, arms and face (or equivalent area of skin) in the sun for a few minutes each day during normal day to day & outdoor activities. People with darker skin need more sunlight and those with very dark skin may need three to six times as much sunlight as fair skinned people.
Food: While there is vitamin D in a small number of foods the average person’s diet will only supply about 10% of the amount they need. Vitamin D is present in oily fish such as mackerel and sardines, in eggs, in margarine and in some brands of milk. Although liver and cod liver oil contain vitamin D, they are not recommended in pregnancy as they also contain too much vitamin A.
Vitamin D supplements are recommended in pregnancy if your Vitamin D level is low. OsteVit D and Ostelin are the most common vitamin D supplements. Both contain the same amount of vitamin D.
