Calcium in pregnancy: how much to take and why it is important.

Calcium in pregnancy

Eating a healthy and varied diet during pregnancy will help you get most of the vitamins and minerals you need, as well as maintain the right body weight. But sometimes it is not enough to simply eat healthy, it is important to make sure that you are getting all the essential vitamins and substances to keep the body healthy and to ensure a corrector of fetal development. This is why the doctor, at the beginning of pregnancy, for example, prescribes a multivitamin supplement or one of vitamin B9 (folic acid) or vitamin D.

What is calcium used for in pregnancy?

Calcium is a fundamental substance in our body, responsible for multiple functions. The main one is linked to the maintenance of a good bone and skeletal structure. In pregnancy there is a need to ensure the body the right amount of calcium, both to ensure the health of the bones and to ensure proper development of the musculoskeletal and nervous system of the fetus, but also to reduce the risk of preeclampsia. , a serious complication. Calcium deficiency, in fact, increases the risk of hypertensive disease in pregnancy: a correct intake of calcium reduces the risk of pre-eclampsia by 45 to 75 percent.

Recent studies have shown that calcium supplementation during pregnancy significantly reduces the risk of pre-eclampsia and hypertension (with or without proteinuria).

How much calcium should you take in pregnancy

current indications recommend the intake of 1000 mg of calcium per day in pregnant and lactating women between 19 and 50 years of age.

This is a dose that can be reached by eating at least 2 servings of dairy products a day, however most pregnant women do not reach this threshold and to avoid the risk of a deficiency the gynecologist generally prescribes a multivitamin supplement which also includes recommended daily dose of calcium and vitamin D.

Water rich in calcium in pregnancy

According to the guidelines of the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), pregnant women should drink at least 1.5-2 l of water per day and increase the amount from 300 to 700 ml per day while breastfeeding. This increased need for water is caused by the maternal organism's increased demand for fluids needed to produce amniotic fluid, support the growth of the fetus and feed it.

The type of water recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding is calcium water, which therefore has a calcium content higher than 200 mg / L. Drinking tap water is perfect, which respects these characteristics, or a mineral water that shows the quantity of calcium inside it on the label. If you drink tap water, be careful not to filter it in the special jugs, as the resulting water is deprived of most of the minerals you need.

Foods rich in calcium. Where is football found?

In milk and all its derivatives, in which a highly available form is present, but also in dried fruit, vegetables of the cruciferous family (turnip greens, broccoli) and legumes.

Foods that provide calcium include, therefore

• dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt (which are some of the best sources of calcium),

• dark green leafy vegetables

• some foods are fortified with calcium, such as some breakfast cereals, breads, fruit juices or soy drinks.

Dear mothers, after reading our article we recommend that you visit our Luxury Kids site where you will find many articles for the birth of your baby.