Patient's question:
I started experiencing lower back pain when I was 2 months pregnant. It was okay during the day, but it became more severe at night. This condition lasted for about a month.According to my friends, pregnant women usually don't start lacking calcium until around the 5th month, so it might be a problem with the sciatic nerve. They suggested I get a urine test.
Could you please share the doctor's opinion? Is this pregnancy-related discomfort or another illness? How should it be diagnosed and treated, and what precautions should I take? Thank you!
Doctor's answer:
Hello: Based on the situation you described, what you need to do now is actively strengthen nutrition, pay attention to rest, and actively take good personal care. Throughout the entire pregnancy, a woman needs 40 grams of calcium, most of which accumulates within the first three months of pregnancy. During these three months, daily calcium intake should be 1.2 grams. 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 generally do not lack calcium. 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 mobilized easily. 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) Drink 250 grams of milk in the morning and evening each day, which can provide about 600 milligrams of calcium.
(2) Consume more calcium-rich foods, such as bone broth, fish, and shrimp.
(3) Supplement with calcium, preferably with calcium that is easily absorbable.
If the above (1) and (2) are sufficient, calcium supplementation is generally not necessary. Pregnant women who do not enjoy drinking milk can supplement with 600 milligrams of easily absorbable calcium daily.