Is it good to take calcium tablets during late pregnancy?

We all know that as the fetus continues to grow day by day, the demand for nutrition is often particularly large. However, many women in the late pregnancy are about to face the birth of the fetus, and they don’t know whether they should take better calcium supplements. Because many people believe that if calcium supplements are taken in the late pregnancy, it will cause the fetus’s skull to become hard, making it difficult to give birth naturally. So in order to dispel the concerns of more pregnant women, let’s take a look at whether it is good to take calcium tablets in the late pregnancy.

Is it good to take calcium tablets during late pregnancy?

When pregnant women choose calcium tablets, in addition to looking at the calcium content calculated as elemental calcium, a very important point is safety. In addition, they must also consider the product's solubility, the body's absorption and utilization rate, as well as the cost-effectiveness and taste. There are three main types of calcium tablets for pregnant women:

Inorganic calcium tablets. Common ones include calcium carbonate, calcium hydrogen phosphate, calcium chloride and calcium oxide. Inorganic calcium tablets are high in calcium, but have low water solubility. After entering the body, they must be dissociated into calcium ions by gastric acid before they can be absorbed and utilized by the human body. Some pregnant women who take this type of calcium tablets may experience gastrointestinal irritation symptoms.

Organic acid calcium tablets. The main ones are calcium gluconate, calcium lactate and calcium citrate. Most organic acid calcium tablets have a low effective calcium content, but they are more water-soluble than inorganic calcium tablets and have relatively less irritation to the gastrointestinal tract of pregnant women.

Organic calcium tablets are the third generation of calcium supplements. Common ones include amino acid chelated calcium, L-calcium threonate, calcium glycinate, L-calcium aspartate, etc. Amino acid chelated calcium tablets have the advantages of high calcium content, are independent of the dissociation effect of gastric acid, and are fully absorbed and utilized. They are currently the most ideal calcium supplement for pregnant women.

When considering the calcium content of calcium tablets, it is worth noting that if you are drinking milk powder for pregnant women at the same time, you must learn to calculate the amount of calcium you consume. You can take calcium tablets alone, or you can drink milk powder or milk at the same time. The key is to control the calcium intake within a reasonable range. It is recommended not to rely too much on exogenous calcium supplements (calcium tablets).

Will calcium supplementation in late pregnancy make it difficult for the fetus to be born?

Normal calcium supplementation in the late pregnancy generally will not cause the fetal skull to be too hard or the fontanelle to close prematurely. Some pregnant women are worried about "placental calcification". In fact, placental calcification is not a standardized diagnostic name. It is an indicator for judging the maturity of the placenta by ultrasound imaging, and it is also an important reference indicator for maturity grading. According to literature reports, when the normal placenta ages, its gross morphological changes are mainly manifested in the accumulation of fibrin under the villous plate and increased calcification of the maternal surface of the placenta. Generally, calcification does not mean there is a major problem, nor does it affect fetal growth and oxygen supply.

As for the problem that calcium supplementation in the late pregnancy will harden the fetal skull and make delivery difficult, in fact, although the fetal head is the largest part of the fetus, it is plastic. During delivery, the cranial sutures can overlap slightly, which will reduce the diameter of the skull and facilitate delivery. Therefore, calcium supplementation generally will not make it difficult to give birth to a baby, unless there is a macrosomia, pelvic stenosis, or abnormal fetal position, which will make delivery difficult.

The above is an introduction to whether it is good to take calcium tablets in the late pregnancy. After understanding it, we know that everyone’s physique is different after all. However, whether calcium supplementation is needed also needs to be judged based on personal physique. In addition, the choice of calcium tablets for pregnant women during pregnancy is also crucial. Calcium tablets should also be chosen based on their own situation. In addition, try to get more trace elements through diet. This is also a safe and effective method compared to drugs.