How to Stay Safe with Vitamin A in Pregnancy [2025 Doctor-Reviewed]

Pregnancy is an exciting journey for every expecting mom. It is filled with pure joy and lots of anticipation. This is the time when your body goes through various changes, and therefore, the nutritional needs also change. So, getting the right balance of vitamins becomes very important during pregnancy. Amongst the essential nutrients, Vitamin A is crucial for visual health, immune function and foetal growth and development, according to WHO.

Why do you need Vitamin A in Pregnancy?

Just like other important vitamins, intake of Retinol or Vitamin A is necessary for you during pregnancy. Some of the benefits of Vitamin A during Pregnancy includes: -

  • It supports a healthy immune system
  • It helps in healing and repair
  • It supports good vision
  • It helps with the body’s metabolism

Benefits of Vitamin A for the baby

  1. It is essential for the healthy growth of foetal organs
  2. It helps to maintain healthy skin and good vision
  3. It helps prevent deficiency diseases

How Much Vitamin A Does a Pregnant Woman Need in 2025?

A pregnant woman might need a little more vitamin A than the usual people. The Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) is about 770 mcg per day, which can come either from food or prenatal vitamin tablets. You must take care that you do not exceed the amount, as it can harm your developing baby, lead to birth defects, and cause damage to the development of the nervous system.

Another important point to be noted is that while intake of vitamin A is essential throughout your pregnancy, the risk of deficiency becomes higher during the third trimester due to the baby’s accelerated development and higher blood volume. To avoid such risks, it is suggested to intake enough Vitamin A from food sources and prenatal vitamins.  

Which foods contain Vitamin A? 

Obtaining the right amount of vitamin A from the appropriate source is crucial. There are various sources of Vitamin A. For example, it can be found in dairy foods, oily fish, and some fruits and vegetables.

There are 2 forms of Vitamin A, Retinol and Beta-Carotene.

Retinol is derived from cheese, eggs, and dark leafy green vegetables. Beta-Carotene is a plant-based pigment and a natural antioxidant. Some of the examples include carrots, apricots, sweet potatoes, red peppers, and oranges.

How to Meet Your Vitamin A Needs Safely during pregnancy?

  1. Choose a prenatal supplement with Vitamin A
  2. Eat beta-carotene-rich foods daily
  3. Avoid high doses of retinol supplements

Conclusion:-

Vitamin A is essential for a healthy pregnancy, but understanding how much to consume daily or balancing your intake is necessary to support the healthy growth of the baby, as well as for the well-being of the mother. During pregnancy, your body experiences various changes, so the requirements of your body naturally keep changing. To cope with the transformations, your body would require all the essential nutrients that cannot come from only a single vitamin. Therefore, to meet complete nutritional requirements and for proper prenatal care in each trimester, Trimacare may play a significant role. It is a comprehensive and advanced trimester-specific pregnancy nutritional supplement developed to make mothers stronger and babies healthier.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is vitamin A important for a pregnant woman?
Vitamin A may help with the embryonic growth of the baby. It supports the development of the circulatory, respiratory, and central nervous system, including the development of the heart, lungs, kidneys, eyes, and bones.

2. How can I increase my vitamin A?
To increase the level of Vitamin A in your body, you must consume foods that are rich in Vitamin A, including cereals and dairy products. Vitamin is fat soluble, so they are efficiently absorbed into the bloodstream when eaten with fat.

3. What are the symptoms of low vitamin A?
The symptoms of low vitamin A include: -
• Night Blindness
• Drying up of eyes
• Loss of hair
• Skin Problems

4. What are the major functions of vitamin A?
Here are some of the major functions of Vitamin A: -

• Improved vision
• Efficient immune function
• A healthy reproduction
• Maintenance of healthy epithelial tissues
• Normal foetal development
• Promotes healthy growth of skin and organs
• Helps maintain a healthy mucous membrane

5. Is vitamin A safe during pregnancy?
Yes, it is safe to take Vitamin A during pregnancy. However, an excessive intake can be harmful and cause birth defects.

6. Which fruit is full of vitamin A?
There are various fruits rich in vitamin A, including mangoes, papayas, apricots, guava, watermelon, peaches, and passion fruit.
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Pallavi Aggarwal

A Certified Nutritionist with a rich healthcare background in health journalism, the author has immense experience in curating reader-friendly, engaging, and informative healthcare blogs to empower readers to make informed pregnancy-related decisions.