During pregnancy your body is working hard to make chemical adaptions to accommodate the fetus. Not only do hormone levels rise, which is one of the changes women feel most, but also cholesterol levels do too. Here’s the good, bad and the ugly breakdown on cholesterol during pregnancy:

Like everything in life, and certainly health and wellness, it’s all about balance. Too much or too little cholesterol can each have separate effects on your baby. One thing to keep in mind is it’s completely normal for your cholesterol to rise a little during the second trimester and a little more during the third trimester. It’s a good thing! This is because your baby is using that cholesterol (lipids/fats) for important tissue and organ development.

However, research looks to be supporting the old mantra “too much of anything is a bad thing”. Associations have been found that if Mom’s pre-pregnancy baseline cholesterol is higher or she has too much cholesterol during pregnancy, baby is at a increased risk for hypercholesterolemia and fatty plaque streaks in the arteries later in life.

On the other hand, too little cholesterol can affect fetal development in a negative way. Often doctors do not recommend taking a statin, which is a cholesterol lowering medication, during pregnancy because of this reason.

Overall, the bottom line is balance. Be healthy and remember what you eat, your baby eats too. Since each woman is different, it’s important to talk with your doctor regarding any of your concerns and to discuss what’s best for you and your baby.

In good health,
Brianna, RN http://www.ancaireinternational.org