Calcium during pregnancy is a trace element, the role of which is difficult to overestimate

Pregnancy is the period when a woman should pay special attention to her health, because the development of her baby depends on it. One of the most important elements needed by a woman during this period is calcium. The need for it during the period of bearing a child increases significantly.

Proper nutrition and calcium-containing preparations are the basis for the full development of the baby. But how and when to take calcium during pregnancy is up to the doctor. Otherwise, a woman can harm herself and the child.

Calcium is an element due to which bones and cartilage are formed. During pregnancy, it is doubly important, because the expectant mother and baby need it. When a woman's body does not receive enough calcium, the fetus takes it from the mother's skeleton, which sometimes leads to a disease called osteoporosis.

The kid needs calcium to form:

• skeleton;
• a full-fledged nervous system;
• muscles;
• hearts;
• nail plates;
• hair;
• teeth;
• ears and eyes;
• internal organs.

Calcium for pregnant women plays an equally important role:

• makes a woman mentally stronger, she is less exposed to stressful situations;
• protects teeth, nails, hair;
• helps prevent allergies;
• performs a protective function during childbirth (prevents blood loss, prevents seizures from developing).

If the expectant mother does not pay attention to nutrition, refuses to take vitamins containing calcium, this can lead to dangerous complications during childbirth. The cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys suffer.

At the age of 19 to 50, the female body needs 1000 mg of calcium per day. But during the period of bearing a child, this figure increases by one and a half times - up to 1500 mg. The reason is that approximately 300 mg of calcium penetrates the placental barrier per day.

Frequent urination during pregnancy is another reason for the loss of this important element, which is excreted along with urine.

Symptoms and effects of calcium deficiency in pregnant women

According to medical statistics, 17% of all women lack calcium during pregnancy.

This manifests itself in various conditions:

• a woman constantly feels "goosebumps" on her body (paresthesia);
• convulsions, more pronounced at night;
• aching bones.

If calcium is added to the lack of calcium, then all the symptoms will increase significantly.

If the expectant mother does not tell the gynecologist about her condition or does not adhere to his recommendations (nutrition, taking medications), soon this may threaten with such consequences as:

• the development of osteoporosis and osteomalacia;
• , gestosis;
• intense hair loss;
• the development of caries, tooth loss;
• deterioration of the skin condition (becomes dry, flakes off).

As statistics show, every fifth pregnant woman on the later lines experiences most of the above symptoms. Children who were born to these women are more likely to be diagnosed with rickets.

Rickets is a disease characterized by impaired growth and development of bones, which sometimes leads to pathologies of the entire skeleton as a whole.

Who is more likely to have a calcium deficiency?

Calcium levels during pregnancy primarily depend on the nutrition of the expectant mother. Women who do not follow what they eat, in what quantity, themselves provoke a deficiency of this important element in their body.

After all, some foods interfere with the normal absorption of calcium, and even contribute to its excretion. These are coffee, carbonated drinks, pasta, baked goods, all kinds of pastries, fatty, spicy, spicy dishes, spinach.

Studies show that calcium deficiency is most often diagnosed in blondes and women who smoke. Another reason can be a sedentary lifestyle, and vice versa - excessive physical exertion.

What drugs can be taken by pregnant women

If a woman who has noticed suspicious symptoms in her immediately tells her doctor about them, then he will definitely prescribe medications with calcium (if the reason is a lack of this element).

Almost all pharmaceutical companies produce calcium in tablets for pregnant women, both in pure form and as part of vitamin complexes. Most often, this element is combined with vitamin D, since it is needed for the absorption of calcium. Without vitamin D, calcium will not be fully absorbed.

Ecology, constant stressful situations and "haste" nutrition are the reason that with the help of food a pregnant woman cannot provide herself with the necessary amount of vitamins.

She needs regular medication to compensate for the lack of calcium and other trace elements. How to take calcium during pregnancy should be explained by the gynecologist.

• monopreparations (they contain only calcium salts);
• combined products containing not only calcium and vitamin D, but several other useful elements;
• multivitamin preparations.

In order to prevent the development of such a disease as osteoporosis, a pregnant woman is prescribed monotherapy or combined drugs. Most often, doctors recommend taking Calcium D3 NIKOMED.

1 tablet of this drug contains 500 mg of calcium (one third of the required amount per day). Method of application - 1 tablet 2 times a day. This tool does not cause side reactions. It is sold in any pharmacy at an affordable price and is ideal for expectant mothers.

Other popular calcium tablets for pregnant women are Calcium-Sandoz Forte and Calcium Active.

The dosage and duration of the course for each agent is selected individually and only by the doctor. It is impossible for a woman to independently decide to start taking any medications during pregnancy. This can harm both her and the unborn baby.

Some women are closely monitored and have to pass urine regularly to determine the amount of calcium leached out of the body. Based on the results of the analysis, the doctor decides whether to increase the dosage of the drug or decrease it.

Women who have a tendency to form calculi in the urinary system need to drink plenty of fluids while taking calcium-containing drugs.

What do you need to eat to maintain calcium levels?

A complete and healthy diet is an indispensable addition to calcium vitamins for pregnant women.

A woman should regularly consume dairy and sour milk products, nuts, green vegetables (all varieties of cabbage, broccoli, green onions). The main thing is that everything is prepared correctly, without harmful additives.

Drinking a glass of kefir, yogurt or milk every day should become a habit for the expectant mother. Hard cheese or fresh cottage cheese in the amount of 100-150 grams per day are good sources of calcium. It is better to choose rye bread. You need to increase the amount of fruit in the diet.

When to drink calcium during pregnancy, the doctor decides. Calcium-based medications, taken uncontrollably, can cause irreparable harm. We must not forget about nutrition. It should be balanced, with a focus on dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables.

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