Patient's question:
Pregnant for 6 months, why do calf muscles cramp, what to do?Doctor's answer:
Hello; Proper calcium supplementation is sufficient. Pregnant women need 40 grams of calcium throughout their entire pregnancy, most of which is accumulated in the first three months of 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, pregnant women rarely suffer from calcium deficiency. In China, if women consume 250-500 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 late stages of pregnancy, some pregnant women 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 to supplement approximately 600 milligrams of calcium.
(2) Eat more calcium-rich foods, such as bone broth, fish, and shrimp.
(3) Supplement with calcium, preferably with a calcium supplement that is highly absorbable.
If the above (1) and (2) are sufficient, additional calcium supplementation is generally not necessary. Pregnant women who dislike drinking milk can take 600 milligrams of easily absorbable calcium daily.