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Expectant mothers may want to consider including foods or supplements with vitamin D to their daily diets to lower the risk of Cesarean section. A new study shows that low vitamin D levels could lead pregnant women to the surgical suite for delivery, rather than delivering via vaginal birth. Surgical deliveries or Cesarean sections (C-sections) are becoming more common, but are still considered major surgery with a six-week recovery time and should be avoided whenever possible.

Vitamin D is a necessity to building strong bones and muscles. When delivering a baby naturally, women need to have healthy abdominal muscles to help push the baby through the birth canal. A new two-year study conducted by Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center researchers investigated the link between vitamin D levels in expecting mothers and C-section. According to study author Dr. Michael Holick, director of the General Clinical Research Center, "In our analysis, pregnant women who were vitamin D-deficient at the time of delivery had almost four time the odds of Caesarean birth than women who were not deficient."

The study, published online in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, involved 253 women with a 17 percent overall C-section rate. Of the participants, 28 percent of the women who had low levels of vitamin D and 14 percent of those with high levels of the vitamin had a C-section. Vitamin D deficiencies have been linked to several other health problems. This study also noted a correlation between low levels of vitamin D and pre-eclampsia, a potentially life-threatening condition to both mother and baby, where immediate delivery of the baby is required, and usually requires a C-section. Other studies have linked lacking the vitamin to higher rates of cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

There are several natural sources of vitamin D that can be incorporated into our daily diets, including several foods such as, salmon, tuna, other oily fish, eggs, fortified cereal, and some milk that contain vitamin D. The main form of vitamin D is obtained through the sunlight. There are also a couple of vitamin D supplements called vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. Researchers have found that vitamin D3 is more effective. Try to avoid taking too much vitamin D for long durations, because your body will begin to absorb too much calcium, which could cause weakened bones, and possibly damage the kidneys or liver.

While doctors still are not sure as to what the optimal level of Vitamin D levels are, it seems that higher levels are better. There is still a lot of research to be conducted to gather more data as to the links between vitamin D and health issues and even increased Cesarean childbirths. If you are pregnant or considering having a little one, you may want to talk about vitamin D supplements with your doctor.