How long should women take calcium supplements?

During pregnancy, the body needs plenty of high-quality protein. Especially during the fetal bone formation stage, the demand for high-quality protein will continue to increase, so every pregnant mother needs to supplement high-quality protein to ensure her own and the baby's calcium needs for growth. However, there is an optimal time range for calcium supplementation during pregnancy. So, how many weeks should calcium and zinc supplements be taken during pregnancy?

How long should calcium be supplemented during pregnancy?

Pregnant mothers can start to supplement calcium and zinc after three months of pregnancy, because the fetus's bones begin to grow and develop at this time and need more calcium. From the 3rd to the 7th month of pregnancy, the standard daily calcium and zinc supplement is 1000 mg, including various foods; after the 7th month of pregnancy, it is recommended to supplement 1500 mg of calcium and zinc every day.

However, excessive intake of high-quality protein is not completely harmless to the human body. If pregnant mothers take too much calcium and zinc supplements, high-quality protein will be deposited in the blood vessel walls of the embryo, causing aging and thickening of the placenta, a decrease in the amount of amniotic fluid metabolized by the pregnant woman, and a firm fetal head. In this way, the baby cannot get enough nutrition and oxygen provided by the pregnant mother. The heavy head will also delay the delivery process and threaten the health of the baby. Therefore, calcium and zinc supplementation must be scientifically studied, and you must not blindly follow the trend and excessively supplement calcium and zinc. Calcium and zinc supplements are no longer needed until 36 weeks of gestation to prevent premature thickening of the fetus' skull.

Pregnant women have just started to supplement calcium and zinc for several months.

In the second half of pregnancy, starting around the fourth month of pregnancy, the daily calcium requirement of pregnant women gradually increases to 1000-1200 mg. At this time, the amount of calcium contained in the daily diet can no longer meet the growth needs of the baby, so the remaining calcium must be taken from foods high in calcium or high-quality iron supplements.

The late pregnancy is the fastest growth and development stage of the fetus. The daily calcium intake should exceed 700 mg, and pregnant mothers should eat more calcium-rich foods. At this time, the growth rate of the fetus begins to accelerate, and he needs calcium. The calcium content in the pregnant woman’s daily diet cannot meet his needs, so he "robs" from the pregnant woman’s body. At this stage, pregnant women should eat according to their own physical condition.