Do I need calcium supplements during late pregnancy?

Calcium supplementation is an issue that requires special attention during pregnancy. Since the mother needs to provide nutritional supplements for two lives, and calcium has extremely important clinical significance for human bone development, calcium supplementation has gradually become a special focus. There is no clear answer as to whether calcium supplementation is needed in the late pregnancy. This depends on the health of the mother and fetus in the late pregnancy. Moreover, the more calcium supplementation, the better.

Do I need calcium supplements during late pregnancy?

1. Calcium is an important component of human bones and teeth. The fetus needs to consume a large amount of calcium from the mother to grow from a fertilized egg to a height of about 50 cm at birth. Data show that during pregnancy, an additional 30g of calcium is needed, including 27.4g for the fetus, 1g for the placenta, and 1g for the mother. During pregnancy, expectant mothers have a very high demand for calcium. However, from the seventh month of pregnancy, when entering the late pregnancy, the calcification rate of the fetus's bones suddenly accelerates. At this time, the fetus needs a lot of calcium, and the pregnant mother needs to take in 1200 mg of calcium. The fetus needs 100-150 mg of calcium per kilogram of body weight per month to ensure normal bone calcification. Throughout fetal development, 80% of the calcium reserves in the fetus are accumulated in the late pregnancy, with the highest level at 38-39 weeks of pregnancy. In addition, there are even studies that have found that calcium supplementation in the late pregnancy is more effective.

2. Therefore, calcium supplementation during pregnancy is very important. No matter what time it is, expectant mothers should take in a certain amount of calcium to provide it to the fetus and help the fetus develop healthily. However, it is difficult to meet the needs in the late pregnancy by dietary supplementation alone. When calcium deficiency is severe, the blood calcium concentration will decrease and gastrocnemius muscle cramps will occur, so don't wait until leg cramps occur before supplementing calcium.

How much calcium is good for late pregnancy

When supplementing calcium, the more the better is not necessarily better. It should be taken in moderation. After entering the late pregnancy (starting from the 7th month of pregnancy), the calcification rate of the fetal bones will suddenly accelerate. At this time, pregnant mothers need to take in 1200 mg of calcium to meet the calcium needs of the fetus. Excessive calcium supplementation can cause harm to expectant mothers and also affect the fetus. It can easily cause calcium to precipitate in the walls of placental blood vessels, causing placental aging and calcification, reduced amniotic fluid secretion, and a hard fetal head. Therefore, calcium supplementation is possible in the late pregnancy, but in moderation.

There are also some things to note when supplementing calcium

Pregnant women should not take calcium tablets on an empty stomach

Do not take calcium tablets on an empty stomach. It can be taken with meals, after meals, between meals or before bedtime. It is best to rest for half an hour after dinner, because sufficient chyme can interfere with oxalic acid and promote calcium absorption. In addition, the blood calcium concentration is low at night, so taking calcium before going to bed is also beneficial for calcium absorption.

Do not take calcium and multivitamin tablets together

It is best for pregnant women not to take other multivitamin tablets while supplementing calcium, because multivitamin tablets generally contain other inorganic salts, and there are interactions between calcium and iron, zinc, magnesium and phosphorus. For example, calcium can inhibit the absorption of iron, zinc, etc. Therefore, it is best not to take calcium supplements at the same time as other multivitamin tablets.