Are you pregnant? Make sure you read our Pregnacare A-Z of Pregnancy and Nutrition, covering everything important for parents-to-be. Next, we take a look at the letter V during pregnancy

Our Pregnacare A-Z is a series of posts, one for each letter of the alphabet, designed to help you understand your nutritional needs, how they change and the best foods to choose during pregnancy and breast-feeding.

This A to Z answers many of the important questions mums-to-be have about pregnancy and nutrition. It covers everything from antenatal care through to water intake, via pregnancy vitamin supplements. You can download the full version of the guide in PDF format here.

If you have any further questions, make sure you ask your midwife or GP.

Pregnacare A-Z Of Pregnancy And Nutrition – What Does The Letter V Stand For?

Vegetables

How Many Portions Of Vegetables Should I Eat Per Day During Pregnancy?

Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables (at least 5 portions each day) to boost vitamin and mineral intakes whilst pregnant.

Wash or peel fruit and vegetables before eating.

Vegetarian And Vegan Diet

Can I Still Eat A Vegetarian Or Vegan Diet During Pregnancy?

Vegetarian and vegan pregnant women can still enjoy a carefully planned vegetarian/vegan diet. There are many health benefits to vegetarian and vegan diets, but pregnant women need to take

extra care to get enough of the nutrients more easily supplied in non-vegan/vegetarian diets, especially protein, iron, zinc, vitamin D, calcium and vitamin B12. Read our posts on how to have a healthy vegan pregnancy and how to have a healthy vegetarian pregnancy.

Vitamin K

What Is Vitamin K And Why Is It Routinely Given To Newborn Babies?

Vitamin K is offered to the baby after birth either orally (3 doses) or injection (1 dose) to help prevent a rare bleeding disorder called haemorrhagic disease of the newborn.

Your midwife should discuss the injection with you while you are pregnant. This is because newborns are born with low levels of vitamin K which contributes to normal blood clotting. This leads to a decrease in vitamin K-dependent blood coagulation factors, making some newborns more susceptible to haemorrhage in the first several days of life until vitamin K is manufactured in their bodies.*

Babies will produce their own vitamin K as they start digesting milk, therefore, early and regular (or unrestricted) feeding is important.

*(Cunningham et al. 1989:611)

Vitamins And Minerals

What Vitamin And Mineral Deficiencies Are Possible During Pregnancy?

Possible deficiencies during pregnancy include:

*British Nutrition Foundation Nutrition Bulletin, 30, 253.

Vitamin Supplements

What Vitamins Should I Take During Pregnancy?

The Healthy Start scheme helps low income families by providing vouchers for free plain fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables, milk, infant formula milk, basic vitamin supplements for women with vitamin C, D, folic acid and children with vitamin A, C and D. Ask your midwife for an application form, or visit this NHS website.

Many women choose to take a comprehensive pregnancy specific multivitamin and mineral supplement, such as Vitabiotics Pregnacare Original, Pregnacare Liquid or Pregnacare Plus in order to safeguard dietary intake.

Make sure you also check out the rest of our Pregnacare A-Z Guide to Pregnancy and Nutrition:

A / B / C / D / E / F / G / H / I / J / L / M / N / P / S / T / U / V / W 

While every attempt has been made to ensure that the information contained in this guide is accurate and reliable, this is intended as a guide only and not a substitute for advice from a health professional. Please note: Vitabiotics cannot guarantee the reliability of facts obtained from other third party information sources. Information correct at time of being published (May 2020).