It is very uncommon to have a deficiency of Biotin, also known as vitamin H, but being pregnant makes it more common. Biotin digests proteins, fats, and carbohydrates and uses them as energy. It is also extremely beneficial for your eyesight, hair, skin, and proper nervous system and liver functioning.
Understanding Your Symptoms
Since the vitamin biotin is water-soluble, you excrete it through urination and it is not stored in your body. A doctor should notice a deficiency based on your symptoms. Symptoms of a biotin deficiency include a scaly rash on your face and thinning hair. You may also experience hallucinations, exhaustion, depression, and tingling in your extremities since biotin is necessary for a nervous system that is healthy.
Where Is It Found?
The recommended daily dose of biotin for adults is 30 micrograms a day and for pregnant women, it’s 35. You can find biotin in mushrooms, bananas, cauliflower, whole grains, black-eyed peas, beans, nuts, egg yolks, and in brewer’s yeast. When a food item is processed it may leave less biotin in the final product so look for food that has not been as processed. If you do feel like you may be biotin deficient, speak to your doctor and they should be able to advise you to start taking a supplement or not.
What Your Baby Gets
Your child gets some of the biotin you consume through your breast milk and the rest is excreted through urine which is why you need to have more during pregnancy. What’s interesting is that the more you nurse your child, the more biotin enters your milk flow. Also, the biotin in your milk and your blood are linked, but your milk is supplied with hundreds more than your blood.
Benefits For Baby
As a mom, you probably heard of or know what cradle cap is. Just for a reminder, it is flaky, dry skin on your baby’s scalp. It may also be around their armpits, eyelids, eyebrows, ears, and head. It could look yellow or even brown. Cradle cap usually clears up on its own when your child is a year old. You can gently scrape it off when your child is in the bath but it may return. Biotin supplements are taken to help get rid of it sooner. It is also taken to strengthen baby’s finger and toenails. You should always check with your doctor before taking any supplements.
Final Verdict
To sum it all up, biotin is a great resource for pregnant, and especially nursing, women. Biotin is usually found in prenatal supplements. Being low in biotin can make you feel tired and may even lead to depression. It is essential for your nervous system. It’s found in many common foods that you may already include in your diet. If none of the food items are in your diet, try to figure out how to get them there. Keep an eye on your skin and hair to help figure out if you have a biotin deficiency and always speak with your doctor before starting to take any new supplements.
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