Whilst most people nowadays treat cholesterol as a dietry nightmare, the right kind has a natural part to play in our bodies, and is important during pregnancy. Indeed, cholesterol-lowering foods and drugs should in fact be avoided when you are expecting.
Why some cholesterol is good
Cholesterol is one of the body's fats - or lipids - produced by the liver, and to make matters confusing there are two kinds; a 'good' and a 'bad' kind of cholesterol.
The 'good' cholesterol is known as HDL and the 'bad' as LDL. LDL is what's responsible for cardiovascular disease by clogging up the arteries, whereas HDL can actually help protect against cardiovascular disease by reducing cholesterol in the body's tissues and directing it back to the liver for processing.
Why cholesterol levels naturally increase in pregnancy
After initially falling during the first trimester of pregnancy, your cholesterol levels are naturally higher than usual during the second two trimesters, when general fat levels rise as hormones prompt the liver to increase production. As the level of fats rise, the ratio of HDL to LDL increases.
Doctors believe that this is all as it should be because cholesterol helps to make cell membranes, some hormones, and vitamin D and therefore is essential for healthy fetal development. In fact, some studies have shown a link between low levels of maternal cholesterol in early pregnancy with serious malformation of the fetus' brain, limbs and central nervous system.
Avoiding cholesterol-blocking products in pregnancy
Because of the role of cholesterol in healthy development and vitamin D absorption, cholesterol-blocking products aren't recommended for pregnant women or breastfeeding mums. There are a variety of these cholesterol-blockers on the market, usually in dairy products like margarine or yoghurt. All these products should contain warnings on the packaging for pregnant and lactating (breastfeeding) women.
Controlling cholesterol in pregnancy
The importance of cholesterol to general health and fetal development is not a green card to indulge your pregnant or breastfeeding self with a feast of fatty treats.
Your liver naturally provides for your body's cholesterol needs, so there's no need to take in significant extra from meats and whole milk dairy products. Standard nutritional advice stands: make sure your dietary intake of cholesterol is moderate, and if you're upping your dairy or red meat intake to ensure you get the vitamins and minerals they provide, then opt for low-fat or lean versions of these foods.
Pregnancy for women with an existing cholesterol problem
If you have been told by your doctor that you have a cholesterol problem, with too low levels of the 'good' cholesterol and too high levels of the 'bad', then the only safe way to treat it through pregnancy and breastfeeding is through diet and exercise.
This is because available anti-cholesterol drugs, known as statins, are not yet considered safe for use during pregnancy and could be transferred to the infant during feeding with damaging consequences.
Treatment through diet and exercise works in two ways. Through reducing your dietary intake of cholesterol you can lower your LDL, bad cholesterol, levels. Meanwhile exercise prompts the production of HDL to improve the ratio in your blood.
