How many months does it take for pregnant mothers to start taking calcium supplements? How to take calcium supplements in the early, middle and late stages of pregnancy?

Pregnant women are a very special group, and calcium supplementation during pregnancy is very important. Some expectant mothers ignore the importance of calcium supplementation during pregnancy, resulting in calcium deficiency in themselves and the fetus, which is not good for the baby's growth and development.

How many months does it take for pregnant mothers to start taking calcium supplements?

To understand how many months of pregnancy it is good to start calcium supplementation, we must first understand the calcium demand of pregnant women. In the early stages of pregnancy, the calcium demand of pregnant women is roughly the same as that of normal people, so there is no need for special calcium supplementation. After 4 months of pregnancy, the daily calcium demand of pregnant women gradually increases to 1000-1200 mg. At this time, the amount of calcium contained in our daily diet can no longer meet the growth needs of the baby, so the remaining calcium required must be taken from calcium-containing foods or high-quality calcium supplements. How many months of pregnancy is good to start calcium supplementation? From the above analysis, it can be seen that calcium supplementation for pregnant women is not the earlier the better, nor the more the better. Under normal circumstances, calcium supplementation for pregnant women can start from the fourth month of pregnancy. Of course, if the pregnant woman is pregnant, perhaps not in the fourth month, there are obvious symptoms of calcium deficiency such as calf cramps, loose teeth, pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome, joints, pelvic pain, etc. If the pregnant woman has one of the above symptoms, it means that the pregnant woman is already calcium deficient and needs to supplement calcium in time.

How to supplement calcium in early, middle and late pregnancy

1. Early pregnancy (0 to 12 weeks)

Many pregnant mothers are confused. Do you need to supplement calcium in the early stages of pregnancy? The fetus needs a lot of calcium, phosphorus and iron during its growth and development. The formation of fetal bones and placenta also requires a lot of calcium, and 800 mg of calcium should be taken every day. However, since the embryonic growth rate in the early stages of pregnancy is very slow, the recommended calcium intake for pregnant women in the early stages of pregnancy is the same as before pregnancy. If you have a balanced diet, just pay attention to the intake of calcium-rich foods (such as milk and its products, dried shrimps, soy products, sesame paste, kelp, dark green vegetables, etc.), and at the same time, exercise appropriately, often get some sun, and let the body synthesize vitamin D to promote calcium absorption. It is generally not recommended to take extra calcium tablets. However, if you are a vegetarian or don't like to eat calcium-rich foods such as soy products, or if you have been diagnosed with calcium deficiency, you should take calcium tablets appropriately.

2. Mid-pregnancy (13-26 weeks)

During the rapid growth period of the fetus, the intake increases to 1000 mg per day. Drink 500 ml of milk or yogurt every day. For pregnant mothers who are not used to drinking milk, you can supplement about 500 mg of calcium tablets every day, and eat some calcium-rich foods such as dried shrimps, bean curd, soybeans and green leafy vegetables. Generally, it can be achieved. At the same time, do some outdoor sports and enjoy sunbathing to promote the body's absorption of calcium. Calcium supplementation during pregnancy is the focus of calcium supplementation throughout the pregnancy. If the pregnant woman has not supplemented calcium before, it is recommended that calcium supplementation must be done at this time. In addition to dietary attention, you can also consult a doctor for additional calcium supplementation.

3. Late pregnancy (27 weeks to full term)

The third trimester is the period when the baby accumulates the most bone mass. The mother should insist on calcium supplementation to supplement the calcium needed for herself and the baby in the last stage of pregnancy. The Chinese Nutrition Society recommends that mothers in the third trimester and during lactation should consume 1200 mg of calcium every day to ensure a "win-win" for the bones of mothers and babies. Drink 500 ml of milk or yogurt every day, supplement 500 mg of calcium tablets, and eat some calcium-rich foods to reach the required amount of calcium. Of course, don't forget the daily sunshine, which is generally no less than 1 hour a day in winter and about half an hour in summer, and try to avoid the sunlight from 10 am to 3 pm when the ultraviolet rays are the strongest.

Can the baby absorb the calcium supplement given by the mother?

Calcium is an essential mineral for human bones and teeth. The calcium in bones is not constant. The human body inputs calcium from food into the blood, from the blood into the bones, and continuously outputs calcium from the bones to the kidneys, and finally excreted through urine. From infancy to adulthood, calcium input is greater than output, forming bone growth. For adults, calcium input and output are balanced. For middle-aged and elderly people, calcium input is less than output, and reduced bone density can easily lead to osteoporosis. It is clear at a glance who needs calcium supplementation.

When is the best time to supplement calcium during pregnancy?

It is best to supplement calcium from the time of pregnancy preparation. At present, the average daily calcium intake of women in my country is only half of the national recommendation. Many people basically do not consume calcium-supplemented foods such as milk, which makes the calcium deficiency phenomenon more serious. From the moment of pregnancy, the fetus begins to quietly "steal" the calcium from the mother. If the expectant mother is calcium deficient at the beginning, calcium supplementation later is already "half a beat late". If your plan to have a baby is already on the agenda, and you rarely pay attention to calcium supplementation, then you should start calcium supplementation now. If you are pregnant now and have not started calcium supplementation, although it is a bit behind, there is still a chance to catch up. After pregnancy, doctors recommend that it is best not to supplement calcium beyond 20 weeks of pregnancy. At this time, the fetus enters a period of rapid growth, and the development of bones and teeth requires calcium support. In order to ensure the normal growth of the fetus's height, it is necessary to ensure the normal calcification (or ossification) of the spine, limbs, skull and teeth, and there must be enough calcium. On the other hand, the expectant mother's physical condition is at its best at this time, which is very suitable for calcium absorption and is conducive to conversion into nutrients needed by the body. After the 27th or 28th week of pregnancy, as the fetus grows rapidly, calcium supplementation is necessary. If you are a vegetarian or do not like to eat soy products, you should start supplementing earlier. The best time to supplement calcium during the day is before going to bed and between meals.