Patient's question:
Patient gender:Doctor's answer:
Hello: Pregnant women need 40 grams of calcium throughout their entire pregnancy, most of which is accumulated within the first three months after pregnancy. During these three months, they need to supplement 1.2 grams of calcium per day. Milk is rich in calcium, with 1 kilogram of milk containing 1.2 grams of calcium. In developed countries, where people primarily consume milk as their main food source, pregnant women rarely suffer from calcium deficiency. In China, if women consume 250 to 500 grams of milk daily, their calcium intake is insufficient. However, pregnant women have sufficient calcium stored in their bone marrow, which can be easily mobilized. Additionally, pregnant women have enhanced calcium absorption, so generally, first-time pregnant women do not lack calcium, and their newborns will not either. In the later stages of pregnancy, some pregnant women may experience leg cramps, and supplementing with calcium can alleviate these symptoms. Generally, calcium supplementation can be approached from the following three aspects:(1) Drinking 250 grams of milk in the morning and evening each day can provide approximately 600 milligrams of calcium.
(2) Consuming more calcium-rich foods, such as bone broth, fish, and shrimp.
(3) Taking calcium supplements, preferably those that are highly absorbable.
If the above (1) and (2) are sufficient, additional calcium supplementation is generally unnecessary. Pregnant women who dislike drinking milk can take 600 milligrams of easily absorbable calcium daily.