How does it help you?
Zinc is essential for the proper functioning of DNA, and also helps build your immune system, so it’s very important that you get all that you should during pregnancy. Zinc also helps you build healthy cells, which you’ll be doing a lot of as you grow along with Baby!
How does it help Baby?
Zinc is incredibly important for Baby, because they are building so many new cells, with so much new DNA, and needs all of that zinc to make sure the process goes totally smoothly. Getting enough zinc is known to reduce the incidence of miscarriage, low birth weight, and other potentially dangerous pregnancy complications.
Where do you find it?
Most prenatal vitamins will contain a healthy amount of zinc, but most meats (and especially dark meat) will have some as well. In many countries, certain foods are also fortified with zinc, so zinc deficiency is generally not a hugely widespread problem.
What’s the recommended dose?
- 11 mg per day when you’re pregnant
- 12 mg per day when you’re breastfeeding
Read more
Sources
- Ian Darnton-Hill. “Zinc supplementation during pregnancy.” e-Library of Evidence for Nutrition Actions (eLENA). World Health Organization, 7/15/2015. Web.
- “Zinc: Fact Sheet for Consumers.” Office of Dietary Supplements. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 9/20/2011. Web.
- University of Granada. “Low zinc and copper levels might cause spontaneous abortion, study suggests.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 9/28/2011. Web.
