I have to digress from the Vegas blogocoaster for a bit, because I've recently seen this study popping up in a bunch of places.
Scientists have found what appears to be a pretty definite link between a lack of Vitamin D early in pregnancy and an increased risk for pre-eclampsia. Women who developed pre-eclampsia had Vitamin D concentrations that were significantly lower early in pregnancy compared to those with normal pregnancies.
So what does this mean for you?
Make sure you get your daily dose of Vitamin D!
There are some super simple ways to boost your dose -- though you should always check with your doctor before beginning any sort of supplementation.
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Take your prenatal vitamin. Your doctor has probably already prescribed one for you -- and it's for a good reason, so make sure you take it faithfully. If you are having trouble swallowing the pills or they make you nauseous, simply ask your doctor for an alternative. There are lots of great vitamins out there, so there's bound to be one that's right for everybody!
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Put on the sunscreen and take a walk. (Come on, you know you need to exercise anyway!) Believe it or not, your body can synthesize one type of Vitamin D just from exposing your skin to the sun for a few minutes a day. This does not give you carte blanche to tan, so put the baby oil and reflector away.
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Watch your diet. While you can't possibly consume enough of the foods you would need to in order to meet your daily recommended dose of the D, you can help your body along by incorporating things like eggs (yolks included), salmon, and milk or fortified soymilk. (If you are a vegan, check your soymilk -- not all brands use a vegan form of Vitamin D.)
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Ask about further supplementation. Your doctor may want you to take a bit extra Vitamin D, especially if you are already at risk for pre-eclampsia.
The bottom line is that at your next appointment, you should ask your doctor or midwife about Vitamin D. Your prenatal vitamin may be covering all the bases, but your doctor may have other suggestions that can help you have the safest pregnancy possible!