Pregnancy is a beautiful yet challenging stage in a woman’s life. Sacrifices are made in diet and habits, all for the health and safety of the baby, especially during these uncertain and stressful times. With that said, changing daily habits is as important as choosing the right prenatal vitamins that can strengthen immunity.
Changes in the body are expected when one is pregnant and that includes changes in the immune system. It fortifies and works hard so that it can protect both you and your baby from disease. Despite these precautionary mechanisms though, pregnant women may be more prone to infections that don’t normally cause illness.
Continue reading below to find out why it’s important to strengthen your immune system while pregnant and which vitamins for immunity to look for.
What are the common causes of lower immunity in pregnant women?
Are you continuing these unhealthy habits in your pregnancy? Then you and your baby might be at risk.
1. Lack of sleep
According to a study, poor sleep quality and quantity during pregnancy can damage normal immune processes and lead to lower birth weights and other complications.
Pregnancy is often correlated with changes in sleep patterns including insomnia symptoms, shortened sleep, and poor sleep quality. These disruptions can aggravate the body’s natural inflammatory response and result in the overproduction of cytokines. Excess in cytokines can not only attack and kill healthy cells, it can also destroy body tissues in pregnant women, thereby impending the ability to ward off disease. To prevent this from happening, most doctors recommend getting 8 to 10 hours per night.
2. Stress
It’s normal to feel stressed, especially during pregnancy, but certain stress-related hormones like cortisol may cause certain complications. Serious or long-lasting stress may damage the immune system and hinder its ability to shield against infections. When this happens, it can increase the chances of getting an infection in the uterus, upping the risk for premature birth. In fact, according to a study, high chronic stressors in women and poor coping skills to deal with those triggers may be associated with lower birth weight.
3. Raw foods
While these foods normally don’t pose a risk, it’s different when one is pregnant. Raw shellfish, raw meats, and raw or undercooked eggs carry bacteria and other infectious germs that may cause problems during pregnancy. In some cases, the pregnant woman may not feel sick after eating these foods, but some of its germs may possibly still affect the fetus.
Its continuation of consumption during pregnancy heightens the risk of toxoplasmosis, an infection with bacteria often found in raw meat. Aside from putting the immune system at risk, this sickness can also cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or damage to the organs of the fetus.
Which vitamins should you look for?
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, has multiple health benefits for pregnant women. Mainly, this antioxidant can help the immune system ward off infections and counteract damaging free radicals in the cells. Additionally, it can aid in the absorption of iron, which is a vital mineral for pregnant mommies and the healthy development of their baby.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women need more Vitamin C than women who are not pregnant. Pregnant women ages 19 and older need 85 mg per day and breastfeeding women ages 19 and older need 120 mg per day. Meanwhile, healthy, non-pregnant women need 75 mg of Vitamin C each day.
Meanwhile, zinc is also an important essential mineral to get enough of during pregnancy. Not only does it give your immune system a boost, it’s also helpful for your baby’s cell growth and brain development. Zinc deficiency can cause a lower resistance to infections.
You'll need a bit more zinc than usual when you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Pregnant women ages 19 and older need 11 mg per day and breastfeeding women ages 19 and older need 12 mg per day. Meanwhile, non-pregnant women ages 19 and older need 8 mg of Zinc each day.
When combined, Vitamin C and Zinc can not only significantly improve the immune system, they can also prevent or treat certain deficiencies caused by pregnancy. Both play a vital role in wound healing, bone growth, tissue and bone repair, and healthy skin.
Fortunately, Vitamin C and Zinc are both present in prenatal vitamins for immunity like Multivitamins + Minerals + DHA + EPA (Obimin Plus).
Help strengthen your immune system with Multivitamins + Minerals + DHA + EPA (Obimin Plus)!
Multivitamins + Minerals + DHA + EPA (Obimin Plus) is a prenatal supplement to help provide an adequate supply of vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA, during pregnancy and lactation.
It has Vitamin C and Zinc together with Vitamins A and C to trap harmful free radicals through their protective antioxidant effects and help boost immune function when taken with proper diet and exercise.
Ask your doctor about Obimin Plus.
ASC Reference No. U133P100721OS
SOURCES:
https://www.unilab.com.ph/products/obimin-plus
https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/infections
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/07/130717164725.htm
https://www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/vitamin-c-plus-zinc
https://www.marchofdimes.org/complications/stress-and-pregnancy.aspx
https://ada.com/foods-to-avoid-during-pregnancy/
