Is Collagen Safe For Women To Take Whilst Pregnant?

Is collagen safe to take when pregnant?

Collagen supplements have been known to help with hair growth as well as helping with skin elasticity, but with the thick glossy hair and glowing skin that pregnancy is meant to bless you with, why is that now more than ever, pregnant women are looking to take collagen supplements?

There is a lot of advice about what vitamins and supplements you can take whilst pregnant that can potentially help boost you and your baby's health. But what if you choose to take a supplement that isn't on the recommended list?

Collagen has a lot of health benefits, so here's everything you need to know about it and whether it is safe to take when pregnant.

Can you take collagen supplements during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, it is advised that women should consume an average of 70-100 grams of protein a day whilst pregnant, but there can be many reasons why women aren’t meeting these guidelines. Protein is a key building block that your body uses to create skin, muscle, hair and bones. It is advised that you increase your intake to ensure your baby's normal growth and the maintenance of your body's tissues. As you can imagine, stomaching this much meat and dairy when battling with pregnancy-related nausea can be a challenge to say the least, this is where taking a collagen supplement come in. Collagen powder is a great (and easy) way of supplementing your diet, which can help you hit the recommended daily intake of protein for yourself and your growing baby. 

All peptide collagen (aside from marine collagen) is safe during pregnancy, which is why our collagen is safe to take whilst pregnant as it is Bovine collagen.

Bovine collagen is a protein which is naturally occurring in the connective tissue, bones, cartilage, and hides of cows. There are several types of collagen, which are each composed of different amino acids. The collagen from cows happens to be similar to the collagen that we have in our own bodies!

What is Collagen?

Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins which is already found in our body, which accounts for about one third of its protein composition. In recent years, collagen has acquired its popularity as a nutritional supplement and also has become an ingredient found in beauty products. Collagen supplementation has been known to aid with your skin, joint and muscle health as well as being known for encouraging healthy hair and nails.

You can think of collagen as the “glue” that holds all of these things together. In fact, the word comes from the Greek word “kólla,” which means glue! Who knew?!

Why should we take Collagen during pregnancy?

• It can support your skins natural elasticity. Healthy, hydrated and elastic skin will carry better through during and after pregnancy. All women are different as our pregnancies, but you can't go wrong by boosting your natural collagen production and stores with a collagen supplement.

• It has digestive benefits. Collagen is comprised of amino acids. There are a few major benefits of collagen when it comes to your gut: it aids in digestion, helps repair the gut lining, and helps heal leaky gut and IBS. There are foods that already contain collagen or help strengthen the gut, which we discuss later. Taking a collagen supplement can potentially help boost your natural collagen production and promote healing in the gut wall. It is vital to take a supplement that contains either hydrolysed collagen or collagen peptides. This means the collagen has been broken down into very small particles, making it easier to digest and for your stomach to fully absorb it.

• Collagen aids strength in our joints and ligaments to help our bodies carry the physical load during pregnancy. After your baby is born, healthy joints will help you carry your baby and the various items you need to take with you constantly. Caring for a new baby is physically demanding work, and plenty of mothers suffer with sore necks, backs, and arms. Collagen can help with muscle soreness, straining and recovery process.

• While pregnancy can create lush, thick hair for many pregnant women (due to slower hair shedding), postpartum hair loss can come as a shock to some and can occur for months after their baby is born. Taking collagen a supplement can encourage new hair growth and healthy, strong hair.

• Due to increases in blood pressure and hormone levels whilst pregnant, you may find your nails growing faster and longer than normal. The bad news is, can result in thin, weak nails that crack and peel. By taking a collagen supplement, you can help reduce the risk of your nails becoming problematic!

Please note, we highly recommend that you always check with your doctor or midwife before starting any new supplement or medication.