Vitamin B12 during pregnancy and lactation
Since vitamin B-12 builds immunity and promotes growth of the nervous system and body in general, it is essential
during pregnancy and nursing. To grasp the B12 requirements of a fetus, consider that the newborn, compared to
the mother, has over twice as much B12 in its blood, and that the placenta contains more than three times as
much of the vitamin. Yet vitamin B12 is one of the most commonly deficient vitamins during pregnancy and
lactation. Pregnant and lactating vegetarians in particular need to be certain they are getting enough. Children
born to mothers low in the vitamin run a high risk of retarded mental and physical development and weakened
immunity. Mothers who only occasionally consume B12 put their breast-feeding infants at risk of becoming
deficient. The mother can recycle B12 stored in her body for her own purposes; she may feel healthy and so
(falsely) assume that her milk is completely nourishing. Unfortunately, there are indications that only vitamin B12
ingested during the formation of milk will go into the mother's milk; B12 stored in the mother's body does not. This
means that for a nursing infant to receive B12 in its milk regularly, the lactating mother must take in B12 regularly.
(Healing with whole foods written by Paul Pitchford, third edition in 2002, page 140-)