Can you take collagen while pregnant? Maybe or maybe not. The answer depends on you, your pregnancy, and the source of collagen you are going to use.

It seems that you have hundreds of decisions to take now you are pregnant. They include everything from bringing a life to this world and caring for it to not forgetting yourself and your health doing so.

And when it comes to deciding and planning, health concerns make the priority. You need the best products with pregnancy-friendly results and zero side effects. And with what seems like hundreds of supplements, you are wary of knowing which will work for you and which will work against you.

The ultimate answer can only come from your doctor, of course. But sometimes, those supplements which are not essential but only improve the life quality are omitted by the doctors in prescriptions. Collagen can easily become one of those.

And if that is the case for you, don’t panic. Just consult a reliable source of information that answers the question, ‘Can you take collagen while pregnant’ – like this article – and make your mind. Once you know you can take it, ask your doctor’s opinion to get it included in your life.

Oh, and don’t forget to keep taking collagen-rich foods along with the supplement.

What is Collagen?

Source:researchgate.net

In simple terms, collagens are proteins. For humans, this is the most abundant and also the most essential one in our body. It is at the foundation of every one of our body parts. It makes a part of our bones, joints, skin, and muscles.

This chemical keeps our body together. Based on the source, collagens are divided into two categories: Endogenous and Exogenous. The latter of the two comes from external sources and have a part in the repair of body tissues.

When we talk about collagen supplements, we talk about this collagen – and that too in peptide form. But why do we talk about their peptide and not the actual collagen units? It’s because peptides are easily absorbed in the body so consumption is easy.

What are its Types and Sources?

Our bodies contain more than 15 types of collagen. Out of these more than 90% of the proteins come from the five most common types: I, II, III, V, and X.

• Type I is most abundant and is mostly connected to bones, joints, and cartilages.
• Type II makes part of cartilage found in the cushion of the joints.
• Type III supports muscles.
• Type V enhances the function of Type I.
• Type X helps in the creation of bones and cartilage.

Naturally, we take exogenous collagens from our food. It is abundant in fish, berries, citrus fruits, leafy green vegetables, red and yellow vegetables, chicken, cashew, egg whites, and beans.

Mostly, artificial sources of collagen include cartilage, eggshell membrane, chicken feet, and porcine skin. These supplements not only help us maintain our muscles and bones but also make ageing graceful – and that too without increasing your weight!

Can You Take Collagen While Pregnant?

So, collagen is good for general health but is collagen safe during pregnancy? Or more specifically, can you take collagen while pregnant? Are collagen supplements safe?
In all sincerity, the answer should come from your obstetrician, not a web resource because of the uniqueness every pregnancy carries. But for most cases, collagen is a safe supplement to take during pregnancy.

Based on the limited number of studies which are conducted on pregnant women and collagen intake, the compound seems safe for both fetus and mother.

When you ask your doctor about the supplement, also ask for recommendations. Your obstetrician should tell you the best collagen power after considering the source of these peptides. You would want to know if the animals – from which this supplement is sourced – were farm-fed or factory-raised.

Should You Take Collagen While Pregnant?

So, collagen is protein and you want more of this compound during pregnancy. Against a daily requirement of 46 grams of protein for non-pregnant women, pregnant women require 80 to 100 grams every day.

If you want to know, ‘If I can take collagen while breastfeeding’, we have to perfect answer for you. Just like its importance is emphasized during pregnancy, its importance also increases during breastfeeding. Taking these supplements improves their quality of life and reduces pain.

Exogenous collagen can help fulfill this requirement. But you should not rely solely on this supplement for fulfilling the protein daily requirement rather you should use it in combination with foods to provide natural collagen.

These compounds also indirectly help the fetus in development. They offer vitamins and minerals which are used in the development of the fetus. Some important vitamins and minerals for pregnancy that are provided by collagens include Vitamins A, B6, C, D, E, and K; choline, potassium, calcium, folate, iron, magnesium, and zinc.

Collagen intake eliminates one of the primary reasons for stretch marks. Pregnancies are prone to stretch marks not only because of the stretching of abdominal muscles. They also increase the chances of these marks because of a decrease in collagen levels that repair the skin muscles and maintain their elasticity. By increasing collagen levels, you are basically allowing these skin muscles to repair themselves in time.

These peptides may also help you with body aches, especially joint pains. As we know pregnancy is the season of lots of aches and pain. Joint pain makes a prominent one. On top of this ache, the joints seem to be giving way. Collagen helps them remain glued so they can support you during this vital period and remains free of injury.

Collagen has another – not very direct – impact on the pregnancy. It may have a hidden role in morning sickness. One reason for morning sickness is the lack of enough nutrients. This lack, in turn, comes from the inability of the to-be-mother to ingest food. Collagen supplements make an easy method to fill the body without triggering the notorious nausea of pregnancy.

What are the Side Effects?

Collagen should be safe for most people. As a would-be-mother, you should check out allergies before taking the supplement. The allergen information should be detailed on the pack of supplements or you can deduce your risks from reading the sources of the collagen you are taking in.

Take Away

Collagens are found in every part of our body. They make our muscles, joints, bones, cartilage, and hairs. They are the reasons our body parts remain glued together. Our muscles repair themselves and grow only because of this compound.

Its supplements help us with healthy body and skin and also improve our life quality. Pregnancy also gets benefitted from these supplements. But before you decide to take it during pregnancy, ask your doctor, ‘Can you take collagen while pregnant’?