Calcium during pregnancy

Calcium plays a vital role during pregnancy. That is why its content in the body should be balanced. A sufficient amount of this microelement helps reduce the likelihood of miscarriage and premature birth, regulates blood pressure and reduces the risk of eclampsia, reduces blood loss during childbirth, eliminates such unpleasant phenomena as calf muscle cramps, brittle nails, hair loss, tooth sensitivity and much more.

The growth and development of the child requires a huge amount of calcium from the mother and if there is not enough of it, the body begins to draw this microelement from its own resources, namely from bones and teeth (after all, this is where 98% of free calcium is contained). This, in turn, leads to sad consequences. The expectant mother begins to develop osteoporosis, teeth crumble, hair falls out. In our article, we will tell you everything about calcium deficiency during pregnancy, hypocalcemia diagnostics, as well as calcium supplements during pregnancy.

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Risk group of people with calcium deficiency during pregnancy

We all (or almost all) consume dairy products and therefore rightly believe that we have enough calcium in our bodies. In reality, things are a little more complicated. There is a certain group of people who are predisposed to calcium deficiency during pregnancy. These include:

• women with a thin build and light hair color (according to research, they are the ones who most often suffer from calcium deficiency during pregnancy);
• women who have been on a diet for a long time (insufficient consumption of calcium-containing foods negatively affects its levels);
• women who consume a lot of flour products, bran, carbonated drinks, coffee, cocoa, as well as fatty and salty foods (all of the above contribute to reduced absorption of calcium by the body);
• women suffering from lactose intolerance (milk sugar) - as a result, the lack of consumption of dairy products, and, accordingly, calcium;
• women using certain hormonal contraceptives (they reduce the absorption of this microelement into the blood);
• women with thyroid diseases, namely with increased production of thyroid-stimulating hormones;
• women with a sedentary lifestyle (physical activity is necessary for good absorption of calcium);
• women working in offices (this microelement is better absorbed when exposed to ultraviolet light);
• women who suffer from bad habits (smoking and alcohol have a detrimental effect not only on overall health, but also disrupt metabolism).

High body temperature (during colds) and intense physical activity also contribute to the “washing out” of calcium.

Signs of calcium deficiency and excess during pregnancy

Often, all pregnant women complain of the same symptoms, which cause them a lot of inconvenience. But not all women associate this with a lack of calcium in the body. Most often, everything is attributed to the situation and the excuse "All pregnant women are like this." Sufficient calcium in the mother is very important, which is why we will list below the most common signs of calcium deficiency during pregnancy:

• muscle cramps;
• bone pain, osteoporosis;
• general weakness, rapid fatigue;
• blood clotting disorder, bleeding gums;
• urolithiasis;
• sensitivity of tooth enamel;
• hair loss, brittle nails and teeth;
• insomnia, nervousness.

If you have at least two signs of calcium deficiency during pregnancy, then this is already a signal that you need to tell your doctor about your concerns.

It is also important to remember that not only calcium deficiency during pregnancy is dangerous, but also its excess. Excess calcium can lead to premature closure of the fontanelle in the fetus, excessive hardness of the skull bones, which can lead to birth trauma. There is also an assumption that an excess of this microelement can lead to its deposition in the placenta, and this in turn will worsen the flow of nutrients to the child.

Calcium supplements during pregnancy

For the treatment of hypocalcemia and osteoporosis, the doctor prescribes calcium intake during pregnancy. There are an incredible number of drugs on the market that contain this microelement, but the most common prescriptions are calcium gluconate and Calcium D3. What is the difference between these drugs?

Calcium gluconate contains only a trace element, while Calcium D3 contains a trace element + vitamin D, which is actively involved in the absorption of calcium.

A special feature of calcium gluconate use during pregnancy is its use strictly before meals or 1.5-2 hours after taking it with a glass of milk, since this drug aggressively affects the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract. The dosage is usually 2-3 tablets per day (one tablet contains 500 mg of calcium).

Calcium D3 during pregnancy can be taken regardless of food intake. It can be chewed or swallowed, and it is completely safe for the gastrointestinal tract, has a pleasant taste. The dosage is also 2-3 tablets per day (one tablet contains 500 mg of calcium).

Another popular drug is calcemin. Its peculiarity is that it contains not only free calcium, but also substances that promote its successful absorption, namely cholicalciferol (50 IU), copper (0.5 mg), zinc (2 mg), manganese (5 mg) and boron (50 mcg). The recommended dose is 2-3 tablets per day (one tablet contains 250 mg of calcium).

You can also take complex vitamins for pregnant women, which include calcium, to prevent the development of hypocalcemia. But at the same time, strictly ensure that the daily dose of calcium consumed does not exceed the recommended norm (1200-1500 mg). Examples of such drugs can be:

• Elevit Pronatal (contains 125 mg of calcium), prescribed one capsule per day 15 minutes after meals;
• Vitrum Pronatal (contains 200 mg of calcium), prescribed one capsule per day after meals;
• Multitabs Prenatal (contains 160 mg of calcium), prescribed one capsule per day during or after meals;
• Materna (contains 250 mg of calcium), prescribed one tablet per day after meals.

Calcium supplements during pregnancy should be prescribed only by a doctor! Self-medication can lead to negative consequences not only for you, but also for your child.

Diagnosis of calcium deficiency during pregnancy

After reading all of the above, you will most likely ask yourself: "If calcium is so important for our body, why is its level not monitored throughout pregnancy?" The answer to this question is very simple. In fact, the diagnosis of hypo- or hypercalcemia comes down to a routine biochemical blood test, which is done for all pregnant women. If the doctor sees deviations from the norm, then he prescribes calcium supplements.

The norm of calcium during pregnancy in the blood is 2.15-2.50 mmol/l

If the patient is bothered by bone pain, the doctor may prescribe an ultrasound (densitometry). This method can diagnose the early development of osteoporosis, long before irreversible processes occur in bone tissue.

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Sources of Calcium During Pregnancy

The recommended daily intake of calcium during pregnancy is 1000-1200 mg. For comparison, the average adult needs only 800-1000 mg. Below we provide a list of products that contain the highest concentration of calcium.

• hard cheeses (up to 1000 mg per 100 g of product)
• low-fat yogurt (450 mg per 100 g)
• nuts (170 mg per 100 g)
• cottage cheese (150 mg per 100 g)
• milk (120 mg per 100 g)
• spinach (106 mg per 100 g)

It turns out that in order to provide the daily calcium requirement during pregnancy, it is enough to eat two cheese sandwiches, a glass of milk and 100-150 grams of cottage cheese. It is not that difficult.

If you are one of those people who suffer from lactose intolerance, you can replenish the calcium deficiency by eating cabbage, broccoli, parsley, soybeans and seeds.

When planning your diet, you need to remember that acidic foods (sorrel, pickles) dissolve calcium salts, and a large amount of fat prevents its absorption.