Creatine is an amino acid that’s found in your body, as well as in food sources like red meat and fish. It’s often sold in powder form as a dietary supplement. A supplement that’s usually used while working out!
People use creatine for a variety of reasons, such as to improve exercise performance, build muscle mass, and prevent aging. Some women take creatine while pregnant in the hopes that it will help with pregnancy and delivery. Let’s take a closer look at the safety of taking creatine during pregnancy.
Can You Take Creatine While Pregnant?
The short answer is that there’s no one answer. There have been no large-scale studies on the effects of taking creatine while pregnant.
However, there is some evidence to suggest that it may not be safe. Which is why the FDA hasn’t really recommended it to pregnant women. According to them, there’s not enough evidence that proves that it’s beneficial, which is usually enough reason to avoid synthetic substances during pregnancy.
There has been some research into it, though. One small study found that pregnant rats who were given creatine had babies that were stronger than those who didn’t take the supplement.
Another study looked at pregnant women who took part in exercising while taking creatine. This study found no adverse effects on the mothers or their babies. At the same time, there weren’t any significant benefits either.
However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that creatine is safe for all pregnant women. Every woman’s pregnancy is different, and what may be safe for one woman may not be safe for other so we strongly advise to consult with your doctor before making this decision.
The Possible Benefits of Creatine for Pregnant Women and the Fetus
There are a few potential benefits of taking creatine while pregnant. First, it’s possible that it could help with the baby’s brain development.
First of all, let’s discuss the major question: Does Creatine Energize you? Yes! Creatine is involved in the production of energy in the body. It’s possible that by taking creatine, you could increase the amount of energy available to the fetus. This could help with brain development.
Second, creatine could help improve the mother’s exercise performance. This is important because pregnant women often feel fatigued and may have trouble working out.
The heightened levels of hormones during pregnancy can cause fatigue, and the extra weight can make it difficult to move around. Creatine could help with this by giving the mother more energy.
Last, creatine could help prevent preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a condition that can occur during pregnancy. It’s characterized by high blood pressure and can be dangerous for both the mother and the baby. Creatine can help improve blood flow, which could, in turn, lower the risk of preeclampsia for the mother.
It is, of course, important to reiterate that there hasn’t been that much research on creatine consumption for pregnant women. While there may be potential benefits to using the supplement, there’s also a chance that it may not be the best for the fetus in the long run. There are substances that we learn a lot more about once there’s more research on it, and until that happens, it’s best to avoid the supplement just in case things progress into something that you might not even expect.
How You Can Take Creatine While Pregnant?
The good thing is, in general, there are lots of benefits to taking creatine. That’s why so far, it’s not considered to be dangerous in pregnancy, so you could take it. However, it’s important to practice caution as you do so.
If you’re thinking about taking creatine while pregnant, first of all, it’s important to speak with your doctor first. They’ll be able to advise you on whether or not it’s safe for you to take the supplement based on your individual health and pregnancy history.
If your doctor does give you the green light to take creatine, there are a few things you can do to reduce your risk of side effects:
- Only take the recommended dosage: Don’t exceed the dosage that your doctor recommends. That’s because taking too much creatine could put you at a higher risk of developing side effects.
- Don’t start off with too much: If you’re just starting to take creatine, it’s best to start with a lower dosage and then increase it gradually over time. This will help your body get used to the supplement and reduce your risk of side effects.
- Drink plenty of water: This will help your kidneys flush out any excess creatine from your body.
- Avoid other supplements: Taking multiple supplements can increase your risk of side effects. If you do decide to take creatine, avoid taking any other supplements unless recommended by your doctor.
- Monitor your side effects: If you do start to experience any side effects, stop taking creatine right away and speak with your doctor.
- Don’t take it for too long: Taking creatine for long periods of time could be dangerous. Try to only take it for a few months at a time, and then take a break.
Creatine is generally considered to be safe in pregnancy, but there’s still not that much research on it. If you’re considering taking creatine while pregnant, make sure to speak with your doctor first. They’ll be able to advise you on whether or not it’s safe for you based on your individual health and pregnancy history. So, before you start taking creatine (or any other supplement, for that matter), make sure your healthcare provider has cleared you for its use. They can help you weigh the pros and cons of taking creatine during pregnancy and can help you make the best decision for both you and your baby.
The Takeaway
Overall, it’s usually better to avoid doing something new after you’ve confirmed that you’re pregnant. So the main takeaway here is that if you were already taking creatine before you found out you were expecting, get an OK from your physician. If you weren’t already taking creatine and have just found out about the baby, you might want to avoid putting anything new in your body and wait it out until the baby is here! There aren’t any known side effects, but it’s usually better to be safe than sorry!
