A severe vitamin B-12 deficiency may have disastrous consequences in pregnancy. It may increase the risk of miscarriage and preterm birth or may cause neural tube defects in the unborn baby. Vitamin B-12 injections can treat a deficiency and prevent these effects from occurring. Although these injections are considered safe during pregnancy, talk to your doctor if you have any specific questions or concerns. Vitamin B-12 does not have a tolerable upper intake level. This means that you are unlikely to experience negative side effects from the vitamin, even when you take large amounts of it. Because of this, vitamin B-12 injections are safe during pregnancy. In fact, if you are deficient in the vitamin, it may be riskier not to get this extra supplementation. If you have specific questions or concerns about getting these injections during pregnancy, talk to your obstetrician. While it is true that pregnant women need increased amounts of vitamin B-12 during pregnancy, most get enough of the vitamin from their diet and their prenatal vitamin and do not need additional supplementation or injections.
Vitamin B-12 supplements may be recommended for women who have highly restricted diets. Injections are typically recommended when someone is unable to properly absorb the vitamin through food or supplements or when a deficiency is already present. Healthy pregnant women with an average diet can prevent the need for extra supplementation or injections by ensuring they get the appropriate amount of the vitamin on a regular basis. Most healthy pregnant women should get at least 2.6 mcg of vitamin B-12 each day. Since many prenatal vitamins contain between 2.2 to 12 mcg of vitamin B-12, according to the Cleveland Clinic, you may be able to meet most or all of your vitamin B-12 needs by simply remembering to take your prenatal vitamin. However, a healthy diet is also important. Food sources of vitamin B-12 include rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, liver, clams and fortified cereals. If you are struggling to get enough vitamin B-12 or if you have a medical condition that may interfere with your vitamin absorption, talk to your doctor about other ways you can prevent a deficiency.
Many women have heard about the importance of folic acid while trying to conceive and during pregnancy. While it is true that folic acid may prevent certain birth defects, large doses of folic acid may also mask a vitamin B-12 deficiency. Talk to your doctor if you have been taking large doses of folic acid and have risk factors for a vitamin B-12 deficiency. She may recommend blood work to determine if you are deficient and are in need of vitamin B-12 injections. How Much Vitamin A Is Safe in Pregnancy? Consequences of Taking 1200 mg of Folic Acid When I Am Pregnant Pregnancy & B12 Level Prenatal Vitamins & Depo-Provera How Safe Is a B12 Shot? Advantages & Disadvantages of Prenatal Vitamins Is It Bad If You Skip Your Prenatal Vitamins? Vitamin Toxicity & Pregnancy Vitamins to Prevent Miscarriage Lavender Tea & Pregnancy Sublingual Vitamin B12 vs. Injectable B12 Fruits and Vegetables Containing Folic Acid Eating Sauerkraut While Pregnant
Foods High in Folic Acid for Pregnancy Will Too Much Vitamin B-6 Cause Birth Defects? Taking B6 & B12 to Lose Weight Vitamin B12 Injections & Alcohol Ingestion Is Vitamin D3 Safe During Pregnancy? The Effect of Caffeine on an Unborn BabyThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and supplements. There is no guarantee of strength, purity or safety of products, and effects may vary. You should always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, you should speak with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy. Consult a healthcare provider immediately if you experience side effects.Vitamin B12 supplements should be avoided in people sensitive or allergic to vitamin B12, cobalt, or any other product ingredient. Vitamin B12 is likely safe when taken according to the recommended dietary amounts (RDA) or less. Use cautiously in people with heart concerns, due to an increase in rates of restenosis (reoccurrence of narrowing of a blood vessel) after stent placement and vitamin B12 supplementation.
Use cautiously in people with high blood pressure, as high blood pressure following intravenous (IV) administration of hydrocobalamin has been reported. Use cautiously in people with a history of cancer. Use cautiously in people with skin disorders, as rash, itching, and burning have been reported. Pink or red skin discoloration and facial flushing have also been reported. Use cautiously in people with genitourinary concerns, as urine discoloration has been reported. Use cautiously in people with gastrointestinal concerns, as nausea, difficulty swallowing, and diarrhea have been reported. Use cautiously in people with blood disorders, as it has been reported that treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency may lead to an increase in blood volume and the number of red blood cells. Use cautiously in people with low serum levels of potassium, as the correction of megaloblastic anemia with vitamin B12 may result in fatally low potassium levels. Use cautiously in people with a history of gout, or elevated uric acid levels, as the correction of megaloblastic anemia with vitamin B12 may start a gout attack.
Use cautiously in people taking the following agents, as they have been associated with reduced absorption or reduced serum levels of vitamin B12: ACE inhibitors, acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), alcohol, antibiotics, anti-seizure agents, bile acid sequestrants, chloramphenicol, colchicine, H2 blockers, metformin, neomycin, nicotine, nitrous oxide, oral contraceptives, para-aminosalicylic acid, potassium chloride, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), tobacco, vitamin C, and zidovudine (AZT, Combivir® Avoid in people sensitive or allergic to vitamin B12, cobalt, or any other product ingredient. Vitamin B12 is likely safe when taken according to the recommended dietary amounts (RDA) or less. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of larger amounts of vitamin B12 during pregnancy. Infants, when breastfed by a vitamin B12-deficient mother, are at risk for many health issues such as severe developmental disorders, growth failure, and anemia. Some research has reported that vitamin B12 levels during pregnancy have effects on mental function in infants.