When you're pregnant, your body is doing something incredible-it’s building a whole new human. But that miracle comes with demands. Your baby needs calcium and vitamin D to grow strong bones. If you’re not getting enough, it doesn’t just affect your baby. It can put you at risk for rickets-a condition most people think only happens in children.
What Exactly Is Rickets?
Rickets isn’t just a childhood disease. While it’s most common in kids under 3, pregnant women can develop a version of it too. It’s caused by a severe, long-term lack of vitamin D, calcium, or phosphorus. Without these, your bones soften and weaken. In babies, that leads to bowed legs, delayed growth, and skull deformities. In pregnant women, it can mean bone pain, muscle weakness, and even fractures during delivery.
The good news? Rickets is preventable. The bad news? Many women don’t realize how much their body needs during pregnancy. The average adult needs 600 IU of vitamin D a day. But during pregnancy, your body uses more than that-up to 800-1,000 IU daily-to support both you and your baby’s bone development.
Why Pregnancy Increases Your Risk
Your baby pulls calcium from your bones to build its own skeleton. That’s normal. But if your intake is low, your body can’t replace what’s lost fast enough. Vitamin D helps your gut absorb calcium. Without it, even if you eat dairy, your body can’t use it.
Here’s what makes it worse:
- Living far from the equator-less sunlight means less natural vitamin D production
- Dark skin-melanin reduces the skin’s ability to make vitamin D from sun
- Wearing full clothing for cultural or religious reasons
- Staying indoors most of the day
- Having a BMI over 30-fat cells trap vitamin D, making it less available
A 2023 study in the Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine found that nearly 40% of pregnant women in the U.S. had vitamin D levels below the recommended threshold. Many didn’t even know they were at risk.
Signs You Might Be Developing Rickets
Early symptoms are easy to miss. You might think it’s just pregnancy fatigue. But here’s what to watch for:
- Deep bone pain, especially in your hips, pelvis, or lower back
- Muscle cramps or spasms that don’t go away with stretching
- Tingling or numbness in your hands, feet, or around your mouth
- Difficulty walking or standing for long periods
- Teeth becoming loose or gums receding (yes, your teeth are bone too)
If you’ve had any of these for more than a couple of weeks, talk to your doctor. A simple blood test can check your vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus levels. No need to wait until your next appointment.
How to Prevent Rickets During Pregnancy
Prevention is simple-but only if you act early. Here’s what works:
- Take your prenatal vitamin daily. Most contain 400-600 IU of vitamin D. If you’re high-risk, your doctor may prescribe 1,000-2,000 IU. Don’t skip it.
- Get 10-15 minutes of sunlight daily. Bare arms and legs, no sunscreen. Morning or late afternoon sun is best. Even on cloudy days, some UVB rays get through.
- Eat vitamin D-rich foods. Fatty fish like salmon, canned tuna, egg yolks, and fortified milk or orange juice. One 3-ounce serving of salmon gives you 570 IU.
- Don’t forget calcium. Aim for 1,000 mg a day. Dairy, leafy greens, tofu, almonds, and fortified plant milks all help. If you’re lactose intolerant, talk to your doctor about calcium supplements.
- Check your levels. Get a 25-hydroxyvitamin D test by your 20th week. If you’re low, your doctor will adjust your dose.
Some women think taking extra vitamin D is risky. But studies show that up to 4,000 IU per day is safe during pregnancy. The Institute of Medicine says there’s no evidence of harm at that level. What’s dangerous is not getting enough.
What Happens If Rickets Isn’t Treated?
Left untreated, rickets during pregnancy can lead to serious complications:
- Your baby may be born with low bone density, increasing their risk of fractures
- They could develop rickets after birth, even if they’re breastfed
- You could have a prolonged labor or pelvic fracture during delivery
- Your baby might need vitamin D injections or high-dose supplements right after birth
One real case from a hospital in Chicago followed a 28-year-old woman who had severe back pain and couldn’t walk by her 34th week. She was diagnosed with rickets. Her baby was born with soft skull bones and low calcium. Both needed months of treatment. It was preventable.
What About Breastfeeding?
Yes, you still need to keep up your vitamin D after birth. Breast milk alone doesn’t give babies enough. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends all breastfed infants get 400 IU of vitamin D drops daily starting in the first few days of life.
And you? Keep taking your prenatal vitamin. Your body is still rebuilding after birth. Your bones won’t recover overnight. Continue your vitamin D and calcium intake for at least 6 months postpartum.
Common Myths About Rickets and Pregnancy
Let’s clear up some false ideas:
- Myth: I eat dairy, so I’m fine. Truth: You need vitamin D to absorb calcium. Eating cheese won’t help if you’re deficient in D.
- Myth: Sunscreen blocks vitamin D, so I shouldn’t wear it. Truth: Even with sunscreen, you still make some vitamin D. Don’t skip sunscreen-just get 10-15 minutes without it daily.
- Myth: Only kids get rickets. Truth: Pregnant women are at risk too. It’s called maternal rickets, and it’s real.
- Myth: I’m healthy, so I don’t need testing. Truth: You can be fit, eat well, and still be low in vitamin D. Testing is the only way to know.
When to See a Doctor
You don’t need to wait for symptoms. If any of these apply to you, talk to your provider now:
- You have dark skin and live in a northern state
- You’ve had a gastric bypass or digestive disease
- You’re vegan or avoid dairy
- You’ve had rickets as a child
- Your first pregnancy had complications related to bone health
Ask for a vitamin D test at your first prenatal visit. It’s quick, cheap, and could prevent a life-altering problem.
What to Do If You’re Diagnosed
If you’re diagnosed with rickets during pregnancy, your doctor will likely:
- Prescribe high-dose vitamin D (usually 2,000-4,000 IU daily)
- Add a calcium supplement (500-1,000 mg per day)
- Monitor your levels every 4-6 weeks
- Recommend physical therapy if you’re having trouble walking
Most women see improvement within 6-8 weeks. Your baby’s bone development will also improve. The earlier you start treatment, the better the outcome.
Final Thoughts
Rickets during pregnancy isn’t common-but it’s not rare either. And it’s completely preventable. You don’t need fancy supplements or expensive diets. Just consistent vitamin D, enough calcium, and a little sun. Your body is doing something amazing. Don’t let a simple nutrient deficiency stand in the way.
Take your prenatal vitamin. Get outside. Eat your salmon. Ask for the test. These small steps protect not just your health-but your baby’s future too.
Can rickets be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy?
Yes. If a mother has severe vitamin D deficiency, her baby can be born with low bone mineral content, which can lead to rickets after birth. The baby’s bones don’t form properly because they didn’t get enough calcium and vitamin D in the womb. This is why prenatal testing and supplementation are so important.
Is it safe to take vitamin D supplements during pregnancy?
Yes. The Institute of Medicine says up to 4,000 IU of vitamin D per day is safe during pregnancy. Most prenatal vitamins contain 400-600 IU, which is a good baseline. If you’re deficient, your doctor may recommend higher doses. Never exceed 10,000 IU without medical supervision.
Can I get enough vitamin D from food alone?
It’s very hard. Even the best food sources-like salmon, egg yolks, and fortified milk-don’t provide enough to meet the increased needs of pregnancy. One cup of fortified milk has only 120 IU. You’d need to eat 8-10 servings daily to reach 1,000 IU. That’s not realistic. Supplements and sunlight are necessary.
Does breastfeeding protect my baby from rickets?
No. Breast milk contains very little vitamin D-usually less than 50 IU per liter. That’s far below the 400 IU per day that babies need. All breastfed infants should receive vitamin D drops starting in the first few days of life, regardless of the mother’s diet or supplement use.
How long does it take to fix vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy?
Most women see their vitamin D levels rise within 4-6 weeks of starting treatment. Symptoms like bone pain and muscle weakness often improve in 2-3 weeks. But full bone recovery can take months. That’s why continuing supplements after birth is just as important as taking them during pregnancy.
Abdula'aziz Muhammad Nasir
November 18, 2025 AT 19:30