Maternal vitamin d status and delivery by cesarean.

Scholl TO, Chen X, Stein P.


Source

Two Medical Center Drive, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, SOM, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Stratford, NJ 08084, USA; Email: chenx1~umdnj.edu.


Abstract

We examined the association of vitamin D deficiency to risk of cesarean delivery using prospective data in a cohort of 1153 low income and minority gravidae. Circulating maternal 25-hydroxyvitamin D and intact parathyroid hormone were measured at entry to care 13.73 ± 5.6 weeks (mean ± SD). Intake of vitamin D and calcium was assessed at three time points during pregnancy. Using recent Institute of Medicine guidelines, 10.8% of the gravidae were at risk of vitamin D deficiency, and 23.8% at risk of insufficiency. Maternal 25-hydroxyvitamin D was related positively to vitamin D and calcium intakes and negatively to circulating concentrations of parathyroid hormone. Risk for cesarean delivery was increased significantly for vitamin D deficient women; there was no increased risk for gravidae at risk of insufficiency. When specific indications were examined, vitamin D deficiency was linked to a 2-fold increased risk of cesarean for prolonged labor. Results were the similar when prior guidelines for vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D < 37.5nmol/L) and insufficiency (37.5-80 nmol/L) were utilized

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22606373

Very interesting! I take lots of vit D supplements and know my vit D level is at LEAST 80 (likely closer to 100). My labor progressed easily without any medical intervention, and I only had to push through 3 contractions to get him out! I woke up with contractions around 3am, decided to head to the hospital around 7am, and had a baby boy at 2:31pm - and it was only that late because I couldn't feel any "pressure" to push, so they kept waiting for the baby to move down...come to find out, he WAS down, and I just hadn't felt pressure for some reason, so he could have been delivered even earlier!

Hurray for vit d

I love D3! When I found out I was low in D3 I started supplementing 10,000iu per day. I've upped it recently to 20,000iu daily while I combat severe congestion...that along with Vit C is helping tremendously. I know I was really good about taking D3 via cod liver oil with my last pregnancy and my daughter's labor was an amazing 2 hours 45 minutes (yoga and other stuff helped too I'm sure).