During pregnancy, the vitamins and minerals stored in the expectant mother’s body begin to decrease as she meets the needs of her baby as well. The baby in the womb gets all its needs from the mother. If the expectant mother eats regularly, there will be no decrease in these stores. However, with unbalanced nutrition, the baby continues to develop. This is met from the resources accumulated in the mother’s body. If the expectant mother consumes foods rich in vitamins and minerals, a healthy process will be experienced for both. Vitamin B12 deficiency is a serious problem especially during pregnancy. The expectant mother’s stores should always be supplemented. The baby’s needs must be met. Deficiency of B vitamins brings serious problems during pregnancy.

Which B Vitamins are Deficient During Pregnancy?

During pregnancy, all B vitamins stored in the expectant mother’s body decrease.

These are:

• Thiamine, namely vitamin B1
• Riboflavin, namely vitamin B2
• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is the most deficient during pregnancy. Vitamins B1, B2, B6 generally do not decrease severely. However, in case of vitamin B12 deficiency, all B vitamins are also affected. Therefore, other vitamins are not taken from outside. Only a path is followed to eliminate vitamin B12 deficiency.

How is Vitamin B12 Deficiency Detected During Pregnancy?

Vitamin B12 deficiency is very common during pregnancy. Because in our society, vitamin B12 deficiency accompanied by iron deficiency affects almost every other woman. During pregnancy, vitamin B12 deficiency occurs due to faster absorption of vitamins, namely the baby’s use of vitamins. Since vitamin B12 cannot be produced in the body, the expectant mother needs to get this vitamin from outside through nutrition.

B12 deficiency can be easily detected as a result of a blood test performed during pregnancy. Experiencing anemia during pregnancy can lead to some neurological problems in the expectant mother as well as loss of the baby. Therefore, attention should be paid to nutrition during pregnancy, and foods should contain B vitamins. However, vegetarian pregnant women may need external vitamin B12 supplementation. Because these women cannot get enough vitamin B12 through nutrition.

Foods to Eat for Vitamin B Deficiency During Pregnancy

Having vitamin B deficiency during pregnancy prevents the blood from carrying enough oxygen in the body. This is an important risk for the baby in the womb. Vitamin B deficiency causes fatigue, dizziness and general weakness in pregnant women. Therefore, foods containing vitamin B should be consumed. Among these foods:

Most animal foods are very rich in vitamin B12. Therefore, meat and meat products, fish varieties, chicken meat and eggs should have enough place in an expectant mother’s diet. Also, milk and dairy products are rich in vitamin B. In seafood, varieties such as tuna, salmon, octopus contain enough B12. However, pregnant women should be more careful about fish and seafood. They should not consume these foods frequently. Raw seafood should not be eaten, generally grilled cooked ones should be preferred. Although mussels and oysters are rich in vitamin B12, they are foods not recommended during pregnancy.

Meat and meat products are important foods in terms of vitamin B12. Among these foods, offal are varieties not recommended for pregnant women. It is more appropriate to eat veal and lamb meat well-cooked. Half of a pregnant woman’s daily vitamin B12 need can be met with 100 grams of lamb meat.

Cheese varieties, although high in cholesterol values, are important sources of vitamin B2 and are rich in calcium and protein. The vitamin B12 ratio in their content is not the same in every cheese. White cheese is the most beneficial in this regard. Approximately 6% of daily vitamin B12 need can be met with 100 grams of white cheese.

Is it appropriate to give Dodex B12 injection for vitamin B12 deficiency during pregnancy?
If vitamin B12 deficiency is detected in a pregnant woman in the blood test, Dodex B12 injection can be given as a supplement at 2.2-2.6 mcg per day. It is appropriate to give this vitamin supplement after the first trimester of pregnancy.

External supplementation is appropriate weekly for pregnant women with detected vitamin B12 deficiency. This should be followed with the doctor’s recommendation. Pregnant women should not take vitamin B12 as pills or injections on their own unconsciously.

How is the vitamin B12 deficiency test applied during pregnancy?
Vitamin B12 deficiency during pregnancy is revealed by a blood test. In these blood tests to be done on an empty stomach in the morning, at least 10 hours of fasting is sufficient. The blood sample to be taken from the pregnant woman should be like this. Vitamin B12 deficiency can be checked with a blood sample taken from the arm.

The daily vitamin B12 that people need is at the level of 1 microgram. In the blood count, vitamin B12 should be between 150-550 micrograms. If it is outside these values, the pregnant woman’s doctor will take the necessary measures.

Harms of vitamin B12 deficiency during pregnancy
Experiencing vitamin B12 deficiency during pregnancy will primarily negatively affect the baby’s nervous system. Vitamin B12 is water-soluble. Therefore, the excess of what is used in the body is excreted through urine. That is, vitamin B12 is not retained in the body. The required amount must be taken through nutrition. If pregnant women do not consume enough foods like meat, eggs, milk, they experience vitamin B12 deficiency. In this case, the risk of miscarriage during pregnancy also increases.

In some cases, even if foods containing enough vitamin B12 are consumed, if this vitamin is not absorbed enough in the intestines, vitamin B12 deficiency can still be experienced. In these cases, anemia and nervous system disorders are seen more in pregnant women. Effects such as depression, forgetfulness and fatigue can be seen for this reason.

If women are going to have a planned pregnancy, B12 values should definitely be checked beforehand. If deficiency of this vitamin is determined, the necessary treatment path should not be neglected.