How to judge whether pregnant women are calcium deficient

Everyone knows that pregnant women need to take some calcium tablets, and they should also get some sun exposure while taking calcium tablets, which will help a lot with calcium absorption. When pregnant, the fetus also needs to obtain a lot of calcium from the pregnant woman's body, which will cause many pregnant women to suffer from calcium deficiency. Therefore, pregnant women must pay attention to calcium supplementation. Timely calcium supplementation is good for physical health and also helps the development of the fetus.

How to judge whether pregnant women are calcium deficient

During the growth and development of the fetus, the calcium in the pregnant woman's body will be actively transferred to the fetus through the placenta. In addition to providing a large amount of calcium to the fetus, pregnant women are also prone to hypocalcemia due to the increase in their own circulating blood volume, which reduces the blood calcium concentration. Symptoms of calcium deficiency in pregnant women include:

1. Calf cramps:

It usually occurs during the 5th month of pregnancy and often occurs at night. However, some pregnant mothers, although lacking calcium in their bodies, do not show symptoms of calf cramps and tend to neglect calcium supplementation. (Note: Cramps during pregnancy are not always caused by calcium deficiency!)

2. Loose teeth:

Calcium is the main element that constitutes the hard tissues of human bones and teeth. Calcium deficiency can cause abnormal development of tooth enamel, reduced anti-caries ability, and loose hard tissue structure. If pregnant mothers feel loose teeth, it may be due to calcium deficiency.

3. Pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome:

Calcium deficiency has a certain relationship with the occurrence of gestational hypertension. If you are troubled by gestational hypertension, you may need to be alert.

4. Joint and pelvic pain:

If calcium intake is insufficient, in order to ensure that the calcium concentration in the blood is maintained within the normal range, a large amount of calcium in the bones of pregnant women will be released under the action of hormones, causing joint and pelvic pain.

What are the effects of calcium deficiency in pregnant women on the fetus?

1. Congenital rickets

Congenital rickets is characterized by enlarged fontanelles in newborns, communication between the anterior and posterior fontanelles, and is often accompanied by hypocalcemic convulsions. Mothers of such babies often experience symptoms of hypocalcemia such as back pain, calf cramps, and numbness in the hands and feet during pregnancy. Therefore, mothers' proper calcium supplementation is helpful in preventing rickets in newborns.

2. Eczema

Also known as "milk ringworm", there are many theories about its cause, but recent studies have shown that hypocalcemic vascular spasm and local blood supply insufficiency can cause rash, rough skin, and dandruff.

Calcium has anti-inflammatory and vascular permeability reducing effects. Calcium supplementation has functions in the treatment of eczema that other drugs cannot achieve.

3. Laryngeal wheezing

Laryngeal stridor refers to the "gurgling" sound that newborns or 2-3 month old babies make when breathing. It is caused by the softening of laryngeal cartilage due to calcium deficiency. If mothers supplement calcium in time, the occurrence of this disease can be reduced.

4. Babies tend to cry at night

The baby always cries at night but has no other diseases. In fact, this is because the baby is calcium deficient. If the baby's calcium intake is sufficient, the symptoms of night crying can be effectively controlled.

5. Babies are prone to night terrors

Because the baby's brain nervous system is immature and has poor control ability before six months old, it is easy to have night terrors while sleeping, which is also caused by calcium deficiency. This phenomenon rarely occurs in babies who have adequate calcium intake.

6. Babies are prone to cramps when sleeping

When babies are sleeping, they often twitch involuntarily. It is usually believed that this is because the baby is frightened in a dream or because of growing. In fact, this is a kind of cramp, which is also caused by calcium deficiency. When this happens, it means that the mother needs calcium supplementation.

7. Functional abdominal pain

There are many reasons for baby's abdominal pain, the most common of which is functional abdominal pain. Recent studies have found that functional abdominal pain is mainly caused by calcium deficiency, which leads to increased nerve excitability, intestinal spasms and abdominal pain. Calcium supplementation can treat this abdominal pain.

8. Late Teething

Normal babies can grow new teeth at 4-6 months, but babies who are calcium deficient may not grow new teeth until they are one or even two years old, or the order of tooth growth is chaotic and the enamel of their teeth is rough. If mothers can supplement calcium during pregnancy and lactation, similar symptoms can be reduced.

9. Affects brain development

Pregnancy is a critical period for the development and growth of the fetal brain. The growth and metabolism of brain cells and the normal functioning of the brain are inseparable from calcium. Therefore, calcium is very important for the intellectual development and nervous system of newborns. Calcium supplementation can enhance the future intellectual development of the fetus.