Calcium supplements for pregnant women in the last 3 months of pregnancy

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Doctor Hoang Thi Anh Tuyet - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.
Calcium supplements for pregnant women in the last 3 months have a particularly important role in the formation of bones, joints and teeth of children later. So how much calcium need for pregnant women in the last 3 months?

1. Why should calcium supplement in the last 3 months of pregnancy?

If the first 3 months is the period of fetal musculoskeletal development, the last 3 months of pregnancy is the period when the fetus completes the skeleton, so the need for calcium of the fetus at this stage is very high. If the source of nutrients is not enough, the mother's body will withdraw calcium to provide for the fetus.
This is the reason why pregnant mothers often have symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, muscle aches, cramps, bone loss, osteoarthritis,... In the worst case, pregnant women can have contractions. Seizures due to hypocalcemia exceeding the body's allowable level. Not only that, calcium deficiency also causes children to be malnourished right from the time they are in the womb. After birth, they are malnourished, bones are deformed, causing malformation, short stature, ..
Therefore, shoulders The role of calcium at the end of pregnancy is very important, as recommended by experts, at this stage every day the mother needs a calcium intake of 1200-1500mg per day. This dose exceeds the calcium requirement in the second trimester of pregnancy of 1000mg per day and the first trimester of pregnancy is 800mg per day.

2. Proper calcium supplement for pregnant women in the last 3 months of pregnancy

The best source of calcium for pregnant women and fetuses comes from natural foods every day, but the body does not always absorb the full amount of calcium in food. Therefore, the mother should alternate using calcium-containing foods or oral calcium supplements, but should follow the instructions and prescriptions of a nutritionist. Besides, pregnant women should regularly expose themselves to the sun before 8 am to absorb vitamin D. Vitamin D works to help the body absorb calcium more efficiently so that the fetus also absorbs calcium better. However, if using calcium supplements, you must follow the instructions of your doctor and to best absorb calcium, pregnant women should take it about 1 hour after breakfast. During pregnancy, in addition to calcium, pregnant women need to supplement iron for the body, but should not supplement iron and calcium at the same time.
The pregnant mother's body in the last 3 months of pregnancy can only absorb a maximum of 500mg each time, so it is advisable to allocate a reasonable time to load calcium into the body, avoiding the situation of pooling and at the same time.
In order for the body to absorb calcium effectively, pregnant women also need to avoid some of the following foods:
Carbonated drinks, soft drinks, coffee and some other foods that contain a lot of phosphoric acid. Limit eating foods with high fat content because this is the main cause of calcium deficiency in pregnant women in the last 3 months of pregnancy. These fatty acids will greatly reduce the mother's ability to absorb calcium. Be careful when using foods containing phytic acid such as unfermented flour or some types such as bamboo shoots, onions, .. because they can combine with calcium into insoluble or insoluble substances, directly affecting the health of the body. absorption of calcium by the body. Control the amount of salt you eat every day because this spice not only reduces the body's ability to absorb calcium, but also causes calcium to be lost through excretion.

3. Explain about stopping calcium intake in the last 3 months of pregnancy due to placental calcification

Placental calcification or placental calcification is the deposition of calcium between the placenta and the uterine muscle. This phenomenon occurs when the fetus is in the near-complete stage of development. This is just saying that the fetus is developing and not the placenta is calcified as rumored.
In fact, there are 3 levels of placental calcification, if by stage 3, the fetal lung function is complete, the baby can be ready for the outside world. Therefore, during this period, pregnant women should go to antenatal care regularly to monitor the status of the fetus in the most specific way.
Placental calcification is not caused by excessive use of calcium or the need to stop taking calcium to prevent this condition. This is a normal phenomenon that proves the development of the fetus and pregnant women should continue to supplement with calcium in the last 3 months of pregnancy as directed by the doctor, because the need for calcium at this time is still very much. .Calcium loading through eating, in addition to pregnant women should take supplements under the guidance of nutritionists. This not only makes the fetus healthy, but also reduces the negative effects on the mother's health.
Calcium plays a big role in the development of the fetus and the health of the mother, but it is not allowed to supplement indiscriminately, at each stage of pregnancy, the doctor will prescribe a different dose. Therefore, doctors recommend, when pregnant, women should go to reputable medical centers to be examined, do tests and listen to advice from qualified doctors.

Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital currently has a package maternity service as a solution to help pregnant women feel secure because of the companionship of the medical team throughout the pregnancy. When choosing Maternity Package, pregnant women can:
The pregnancy process is monitored by a team of qualified doctors Regular check-up, early detection of abnormalities Maternity package helps to facilitate the process. birthing process Newborns get comprehensive care

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.