Underground Journal

Vitamin B 12 – Pregnancy and Newborn Nutrition

For some time, it has been established that pregnant women need to increase their b12 consumption because their body’s stores of this essential nutrient were redirected to the fetus.  In fact, because of the way that the body redirects B12 to the baby, it has been shown that the mother can experience a severe deficiency even when they had normal b12 levels prior to getting pregnant.  Because of this, medical professionals suggest that all pregnant women supplement with vitamin b12, either through oral supplementation, or by taking a b12 shot.

When the child is born, they will lack the stores of B12 that older children and adults have.  This means that they must get their b12 from either formula or breast milk.  For the first six months of their life, the levels of B12 in breast milk will be higher than they will be later on.  This seems to indicate that higher levels of b12 are needed initially so that the baby can build up their own stores.

A problem can come in if the child is weaned prior to six months, which is not at all uncommon.  Unless a replacement source of b12 is given, the child is at serious risk of developing b12 deficiency symptoms.  This can lead to serious neurological damage and retardation.  In severe instances, death can result.

This was shown in a case study surrounds an American religious group called the “Black Hebrews”.  This group relocated to Israel, where they followed a very strict vegan diet.  They did not use fortified foods or consume any type of synthetic b12.  Their infants were all weaned when they reached three months of age.  The results of these practices were significant and tragic.  Eight babies died and another twenty five experienced serious neurological side effects.  This tragedy could have been avoided with b12 supplementation like vitamin b 12 shots.

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