Background
rickets, seizures
PRETERM BIRTH, RICKETS, POST-PARTUM HAEMORRHAGE, CARDIOMYOPATHY, VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY, VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY
Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy is common. In a study of predominately White women in the south of the UK, 31% had a serum 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/l (typically considered ‘insufficient’The primary function of vitamin D is in calcium and phosphate homeostasis and severe maternal vitamin D deficiency can result in neonatal hypocalcaemia resulting in seizures, rickets and cardiomyopathy. There is consistent evidence that the incidence of symptomatic neonatal hypocalcaemia can be reduced by antenatal vitamin D supplementation.Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with obstetric outcomes in numerous observational studies, including timing and mode of delivery and incidence of post-partum haemorrhage (PPH),Despite the wealth of observational evidence, there are few data from intervention studies to support the use of vitamin D supplementation to reduce the incidence of preterm birth and rates of Caesarean section.