Vitamin B12 in pregnancy

Why it matters, when it matters most, and where it comes from.

Vitamin B12 is called out in 13 of the 42 pregnancy weeks we publish. This page gathers what those weeks say, and links to the full guide with daily amounts.

Requirements differ by country and by person. The guide names the authority behind every figure, and your own doctor or dietitian may advise something different for you.

Why vitamin b12 matters in pregnancy

Reasons the week-by-week guidance gives: with folate, for blood + nerves.

The weeks that call for vitamin b12

Common questions

Why does vitamin b12 matter in pregnancy?

with folate, for blood + nerves.

Which foods provide vitamin b12?

Meat. Being a good source does not by itself make a food right for pregnancy — check food safety too.

What are the signs of low vitamin b12?

Megaloblastic anemia. These have many other causes and several are common in pregnancy anyway, so they are a reason to ask for a blood test rather than to self-diagnose.

Show the evidence

Sources: ACOG, WHO, NHS; NIH Office of Dietary Supplements; ICMR-NIN.

This page gathers and links what the individual week and nutrient pages already publish — it introduces no figure they do not carry, and each one names its own source.

How we source and check every figure on this site

Educational reference, not medical advice. Pregnancies and the care offered around them differ; follow the team looking after you.