Vitamin-A plays a vital role in a healthy lifestyle. Vitamin-A plays an even important role during pregnancy. It helps with postpartum tissue repair and enhances vision and healing power as well. It also helps your baby’s embryonic growth, including the development of the lungs, heart, eyes, kidneys and bones. Richly found in many of the fruit materials, vitamin A has got a lot of importance. 

Know the complete details of its importance and the abundant sources available for you. 

Importance of vitamin A for women during pregnancy

1. Enhance the growth and development of tissues and cells during pregnancy
2. Prevents gestational anemia, a condition in which the increased need for iron is seen during pregnancy. 
3. Fights the common infections that affect pregnant women 
4. Tremendously helps to increase the chance of normal delivery during labour. 
5. Prevents the mother from losing vast amounts of blood during labour 
6. Vitamin A also plays an active role in healing the scars in the genital areas. 
7. Enhance the recovery rate from the postpartum in the mothers 

Importance of vitamin A for unborns when inside womb 

1. Plays a vital role in the development of the fetus’ teeth, vision and skin. 
2. Ensures that fetus is away and safe from infections
3. Enhance the organ growth of the fetus, especially during the 3rd trimester 
4. Accelerate the fetal development in the second trimester 
5. Proper physical and mental growth of the baby 

Right amounts of Vitamin A during pregnancy 

When vitamin A consumed in the right amounts, it has fantastic effects on the mother and fetus health. However, when consumed in high doses, it leads to adverse impacts. Too much vitamin A has pieces of evidence that resulted in congenital disabilities. Know the right amounts to be consumed during pregnancy. 

Pregnant women age 18 and younger can consume 750 micrograms RAE per day. 

Pregnant women age 19 and older can consume 770 micrograms RAE per day.

Abundant sources of vitamin A in food

Fruits and green leafy vegetables have abundant amounts of vitamin A available in them. A few of the major ones include Carrots, Spinach, Sweet Potato, Pumpkin, Butternut Squash, Mustard Greens, Collard Greens, Kale. Dried Apricots and liver meat. 

Signs to identify vitamin A deficiency 

Signs of vitamin A deficiency include impaired night vision and a weakened immune system. Few people also develop a condition called xerophthalmia, a condition in which the cornea becomes dry and thick.

In most cases, vitamin A deficiency is rarely observed due to the high abundance and readily available food sources. Due to the same reason, vitamin A supplements are not preferred, which might affect the pregnancy otherwise.

Vitamin A plays an active role in developing and maintaining the circulatory, respiratory, and central nervous systems. Consume the right amounts of vitamin A and ensure you have a safe and risk-free pregnancy!! 

*Information shared here is for general purpose. Please take doctors’ advice before taking any decision.