Arielle, from Elkhorn, Wisconsin, asks The Doctors if babies born in the spring are at higher risk of certain illnesses, and what the best time of year is to have a baby.
Some studies show there may be a link between babies born in spring and autism, Alzheimer’s disease, alcohol abuse and diabetes. It is suggested that since the mother of a spring baby is pregnant during the winter, she can contract the flu virus and have less exposure to the sun, reducing the amount of vitamin D
she absorbs.
“All of these things can happen all throughout the year,” OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson says. “But there’s a subtle increase during the spring.”
Dr. Lisa says experts are looking into whether pregnant women should take vitamin D supplements or be screened for a deficiency. Currently, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists does not recommend universal vitamin D level screening in pregnant women. Women who may be at risk for a deficiency include vegetarians, women with darker skin and women who don’t spend much time outside or live in areas that lack sunlight.
To safely increase your vitamin D levels, eat foods high in the vitamin, such as salmon, eggs and cod liver oil.
• Pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears’ recipe for boosting your vitamin D levels.
