The American Pregnancy Association recommends 80 to 85 mg/day, while according to the National Institutes of Health’s Medline Plus, it should be 120 mg/day. However, it is possible to get too much when it’s from animal sources, although you probably don’t need to worry too much about that. During pregnancy, you should get at least 85 mg of vitamin C each day if you are older than 19, and 80 mg if you are younger than 19. I heard taking too much vitamin C during pregnancy causes infantile rebound scurvy. When used in large quantities, vitamin C can even result in the loss of your fetus. "There is definitely no benefit to using vitamin C to prevent or treat preeclampsia and, as mentioned above, taking too much can lead to a potential increased risk for weakening of the fetal membranes and possibly preterm delivery," warns Dr. Svets. Inability to eat a balanced diet during pregnancy due to morning sickness or inadequate funds to buy food. As noted, too much vitamin C may rupture the membranes too soon, which could lead to a miscarriage. When pregnant, the RDA is 85 mg per day, and vitamin C supplementation is safe up to 2,000 mg. All vitamin C supplements should be approved by the doctor/midwife before adding it to your daily vitamin regime. Continuous consumption of vitamin C above two grams every day can aggravate gout … In studies relating to the influence of vitamin C on preeclampsia risk, a secondary outcome of increased risk for preterm premature rupture of the membranes (when the sac or amniotic membrane surrounding your baby breaks before 37 weeks of pregnancy) was found, she adds. To assess the effects of vitamin C supplementation, alone or in combination with other supplements, on pregnancy outcomes, adverse events, side effects and the use of health resources The safest way to obtain this vitamin is from food sources. Taking the recommended dose of Emergen-C per day for a few days shouldn’t be an issue, but make sure you are watching your other sources of vitamin C. Read more: What You Really Need to Know About Supplements. The C found in this special supplement is plenty for nearly all pregnant women, says Dr. Svets. On a scary note, it can cause growth restriction in your baby and may lead to stroke or heart attack for you. It’s unsafe to take this herb during pregnancy, as it can cause uterine contractions, which could induce preterm labor. Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. She's also done many custom content projects for such clients as the National Sleep Foundation, National Geographic KIDS, Febreze (IdeasThatSpark.com), Pampers (Pampers.com), the city of Cincinnati (GoVibrant.com), MasterCard, Elle.com and MarieClaire.com. This is because the liver processes it too quickly, eliminating it from the body. Vitamin E and C supplementation during pregnancy. Her work can be found on SafeBee, Fisher-Price.com, Grandparents.com, WorkingMother.com, Parents.com, Realtor.com, Chewy.com, American Airlines Vacations, Oxo, Zillow, Celebrations and EverydayHealth. If mom is feeling cramps, gas, bloating and has diarrhea soon after taking vitamin C, notify your doctor and stop taking the supplement until the doctor advises otherwise. Diarrhea during pregnancy can lead to dehydration, which can pose a huge threat to baby and health risks to mom. If Vitamin C is taken in mega doses during pregnancy, it can theoretically have a negative effect on the pregnancy and the developing baby. If your vitamin contains retinyl palmitate or retinyl acetate, there shouldn’t be more than 2,500 IU from these two. For example, high doses of vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin D or vitamin E can be dangerous. Check out our Zodiac Center! Pregnant women need around 2,500 IU. Vitamin C, fortunately, is very inexpensive, and in the United States, pregnant women can get fruit juice during pregnancy at greatly reduced cost. Too much Vitamin K is associated with babies having worse cases of jaundice, the yellowing of the skin due to a buildup of bilirubin in the body. The negative effects of vitamin C likely occur at dosages above 2,000 milligrams, according to the Mayo Clinic. According to Alan Gaby, MD, infantile "rebound scurvy" is a myth: consuming large quantities of vitamin C during pregnancy … Read more: What to Expect With Pregnancy, Week by Week. Medication may be recommended to lower blood pressure and some women are put on bed rest to mitigate this condition. It's best not to take these vitamins as supplements in pregnancy. All fruits and vegetables contain some amount of C, but the ones with the highest concentrations are cantaloupe, oranges, grapefruits, kiwi, mangoes, broccoli, peppers, sweet potatoes and spinach. It also helps build strong bones and muscles. "Historically, vitamin C was used in excessive amounts as an abortifacient," notes Monica McHenry Svets, MD, an ob-gyn at Cleveland Clinic. There's some concern that taking too much vitamin C in the form of supplements during pregnancy may increase the risk of preterm birth. A vitamin C supplement, however, delivers a more reliable dosage of C during pregnancy. Vitamin C and pregnancy. The latest research on taking vitamin C while pregnant is mixed and limited, and the World Health Organization (WHO) does not recommend adding an additional vitamin C supplement to your prenatal. Too much vitamin C during pregnancy does get to your baby, and regular excessive doses can affect the baby’s ability to metabolize vitamin C after birth, which can lead to scurvy. Vitamin C: How Much Is Too Much During Pregnancy? If you're diagnosed with preeclampsia, you'll need more prenatal visits with your doctor than other women, as well as blood tests, ultrasounds and non-stress tests. How Much Vitamin C Do You Require During Pregnancy? Turning to vitamin C for help with preeclampsia isn't recommended. While you can consume as many carotenoids as you want through fruits and vegetables, getting too much preformed vitamin A can increase the chances that your baby will be born with a birth defect. Dr. Amos Grunebaum, MD, FACOG is a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and among the world's leading authorities on fertility and pregnancy. Vitamin C in pregnancy Vitamin C protects cells and helps keep them healthy. Read Dr. Amos' full bio, the book about him "Lessons in Survival: All About Amos," and a fictionalized account of his father's life in the novel, "Through Walter's Lens.". Because of this, it`s very important when you find out you`re pregnant to do all the required analyzes and start taking prenatal vitamins that your doctor will recommend. In addition to his current work, Dr. Amos is using his vast experience to launch Obie, a science-based app that offers personalized fertility advice. Still, safe dosage recommendations may vary, and it's smart to consult with a physician about what's best for you. Too much Vitamin C pregnancy maximizes chances of preterm birth. In addition to his current work, Dr. Amos is using his vast experience to launch Obie, a science-based app that offers personalized fertility advice. When used in large quantities, vitamin C can even result in the loss of your fetus. Some people use multivitamins that contain very high amounts of vitamin C, which are not considered safe during pregnancy. Obie takes a holistic approach to improving your fertility, tracking your cycle and ovulation, and helping you get pregnant. 4. The study confirmed vitamin D at this level is not only safe for you, but for your baby, and the researchers from this study now recommend this daily dosage of vitamin D for all pregnant women. Experts looked at 29 trials involving more than 24,000 women and found that supplementing with vitamin C — either alone or with other nutrients (usually vitamin E) — didn't improve health outcomes for pregnant women and their babies, including stillbirth, preterm birth, preeclampsia or low birthweight babies. Read more: The Biggest Mistakes New Moms Make Trying to Get Fit After Baby. Vitamin C is important for a healthy immune system. ", Mayo Clinic: "Pregnancy diet: Focus on these essential nutrients", Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews: "Vitamin C supplementation in pregnancy". As far as you’re concerned, too much vitamin C can cause diarrhea, vomiting, heartburn, stomach cramps, and headaches . Maybe it was just too much diarrhea for my body to handle, since I already had it during my pregnancy. What does this mean? Every mother wants to have a healthy pregnancy. The basic claim is that vitamin C is best successful at causing a miscarriage up to the fourth week of pregnancy. You can manage your intake by eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables for their vitamin C content, rather than taking supplements to meet your nutritional needs. There is no credible scientific information suggesting that vitamin C has any effect on pregnancy, implantation, or menstruation. The amniotic fluid is the lifeline for baby. Read More:Is a Gummy Prenatal Vitamin Good Enough?Vitamin C: How Much Is Too Much During Pregnancy? https://www.babymed.com/.../vitamin-c-how-much-too-much-during-pregnancy Preeclampsia is a serious complication during pregnancy that's characterized by high blood pressure and possible organ damage to the kidneys and liver, according to the Mayo Clinic. The concept of using vitamin C to cause a miscarriage came during the 1970s. However, people may sometimes experience mild side effects, such as digestive discomfort. Read More: Is a Gummy Prenatal Vitamin Good Enough? If your diet includes only plant sources of iron (beans, nuts and whole grains), that's when it becomes particularly important to pair your eats with foods high in vitamin C. Ones to try: Orange juice, strawberries and tomato juice. If this is the case, either the diet will need to be adjusted or the prenatal vitamin will need to be changed. During pregnancy, your body needs double the normal amount of iron in order to make enough blood to supply oxygen to your growing baby. Zinc deficiency during early pregnancy may lead to severe complications, which include miscarriage. Vitamin C is usually safe to take even at high dosages. Excessive vitamin C can also upset your stomach. Your best bet? Preeclampsia typically resolves at the baby's birth, according to Mayo Clinic. The average prenatal vitamin only contains 400 IU of vitamin D, … So it's best to speak to your naturopath first. It also can cause liver toxicity. If mom gets dehydrated during pregnancy, the amniotic fluid level will decrease. Vitamin C is perfect for keeping the immune system healthy. Other symptoms include a sore tongue, menstruation problems, fatigue, weight loss, and pale skin. It's also best to avoid foods that may be very high in vitamin A, including liver and liver products such as pâté. The review found in one study only an increased risk of abdominal pain with vitamin C indicating there may be harms associated with vitamin C supplements in pregnancy. Without this fluid, the baby will not gestate to term.