The Importance of Calcium in Pregnancy: Best Options for 2024

Pregnancy is an unforgettable journey that surprises you with new marvels every day, but it also comes with an increased nutritional need. Calcium is the crucial nutrient that supports both the mother's and baby’s physical and mental health. Calcium helps develop healthy and strong bones and teeth, muscle function, nerve transmission, and cellular development of the baby. Thus, doctors suggest consuming adequate calcium during pregnancy. However, the diet fails to provide enough calcium for several reasons. So, what should we do now? Calcium pregnancy supplements are the solution. We know you must be wondering about the credibility and safety of calcium vitamins for pregnancy, so we are here.

This blog will educate you about the importance of calcium in pregnancy, its RDA, natural calcium sources, and the best calcium tablets for pregnant women.  

Importance of Calcium Pregnancy Supplement

Calcium is crucial for the mother's and baby’s development during pregnancy because:

• Bone and Teeth Development: Calcium helps develop healthy and strong bones and teeth of the baby. The baby’s skeleton develops rapidly, and calcium is required for stronger development. If your body does not have adequate calcium, then the body will draw it from your bones to provide for your baby’s stronger bones and teeth development, leading to weaker bone density.
• Nerve Function: Calcium plays a critical role in nerve signalling, an essential process for both the mother and the baby. Therefore, you should consume calcium tablets for pregnant women.
• Optimal Muscle Function: Calcium helps the heart muscle function properly because it works harder to pump more blood to support your baby’s growth.
• Regulate Blood Pressure: Calcium regulates your blood pressure. Thus, calcium prenatal supplements during pregnancy are recommended to lower the risk of developing high blood pressure conditions that could be dangerous for both you and your baby.
• Healthy Pregnancy Outcomes: Calcium helps prevent pregnancy complications like preterm labour and birth. Studies have shown that expectant mothers who consume calcium supplements during pregnancy experience healthy pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, you should consume calcium tablets for pregnant women.
• Prevents Pre-eclampsia: This is a hypertensive disorder that leads to high blood pressure and protein in the urine. Some of the top contributors are low calcium consumption, twin pregnancy, obesity, diabetes, etc. Therefore, consuming calcium pregnancy supplements is essential.

Calcium-Rich Foods

• Milk & Milk Products: Milk, yoghurt, cheese, and buttermilk
• Leafy Green Vegetables: Broccoli, collards (cabbage family), bok choy, Chinese cabbage, spinach
• Soy and Tofu: Tofu, tempeh, calcium-fortified soy drinks
• Fish: Sardines and canned salmon
• Nuts and Seeds: Brazil nuts, almonds, sesame seed paste
• Calcium-fortified Foods: Breakfast cereals, fruit juices, bread, plant-based milk

How Much Calcium Is Required Daily?

As per experts, expectant mothers between the ages of 19 and 30 years of age should consume around 1000 mg of calcium daily. If you are between 31 and 50, you should consume around 1200 mg of calcium daily.

Who Should Consume Calcium in Pregnancy?

Calcium is an essential nutrient during pregnancy for healthy and strong development of the bones, teeth, heart, and nervous system of your baby. Whereas, your body needs more calcium during pregnancy because, in case of calcium deficiency, your body would draw it from your bones to support the growing child. While there are several calcium-rich food items, including leafy green vegetables, dairy products, and fortified foods. However, some pregnant women struggle to get enough calcium from calcium-rich foods due to health conditions, leading to a lack of calcium. Let’s learn who should consume calcium supplements during pregnancy:

• Women with Lactose Intolerance: Pregnant women who are lactose intolerant require calcium pregnancy supplements to support optimal health. These vitamins for pregnancy help bridge the nutritional gap and meet the daily required allowance of 1000 mg (for 19 to 30 years) and 1200 mg (for 31 to 50 years) of age.
• Women with Health Disorders: If you have a history of osteoporosis or other bone health issues, then you require calcium tablets for pregnant women. Additionally, women with poor diets or eating disorders are at a higher risk of insufficient calcium levels. Therefore, you should consume calcium tablets for pregnant women.
• Young Mothers or Teenagers: Pregnant teenagers or young mothers are still developing, leading to increased calcium requirements. Thus, they need calcium pregnancy supplements to support their growth with the baby’s.
• Multiple Pregnancies: Women carrying twins or triplets require calcium pregnancy supplements to support the well-being of multiple babies. Therefore, you should consume calcium tablets for pregnant women.
• Vegans or Vegetarians: Vegetarians or vegans often lack the RDA of calcium, as the staple Indian diet does not provide enough nutrients. Thus, consuming calcium vitamins for pregnancy becomes crucial for supporting the optimal health of both the mother and the baby. 

However, before starting any supplement, consult your healthcare provider and follow their advice about the right dosage.

Why is Trimacare the Best Calcium Vitamin for Pregnancy?

Trimacare is renowned as the best calcium supplement for pregnancy and is recommended by top medical experts. Formulated under the supervision of the best medical professionals, the supplement follows the WHO guidelines and ICMR. It contains 20+ essential nutrients, including calcium, iron, folate, Vitamins, etc., required during and after pregnancy. It is also rich in Omega-3 (EPA: DHA) (100% vegetarian and derived from deep-sea Algae), which helps the baby’s brain development.

The Bottom Line

Calcium is an essential nutrient that helps support the well-being of the mother and the baby during pregnancy. It helps prevent preterm birth and pre-eclampsia while supporting healthy bone and teeth development, regulating BP, nerve functioning, and healthy pregnancy outcomes. Several calcium-rich foods like milk products, green leafy vegetables, and fortified foods can help obtain calcium. However, the Indian diet lacks enough nutrients, thus, the requirement for calcium tablets for pregnant women arises. Most doctors suggest Trimacare™ as the best calcium for pregnancy for optimal results.

FAQs

1. Why is calcium important during pregnancy?

Calcium is crucial for the baby’s bones, teeth, and nervous system development. It also helps support the muscles to function while maintaining the mother’s bone health.

2. How much calcium do I need daily?

Calcium intake for women between 19 and 30 years old requires 1000 mg of calcium daily, while women between 31 and 50 require 1200 mg of calcium daily.

3. What are the natural sources of calcium?

• Milk & Milk Products: Milk, yoghurt, cheese, and buttermilk
• Leafy Green Vegetables: Broccoli, collards (cabbage family), Chinese cabbage, spinach
• Soy and Tofu: Tofu, tempeh, calcium-fortified soy drinks
• Fish: Sardines and canned salmon
• Nuts and Seeds: Brazil nuts, almonds, sesame seed paste
• Calcium-fortified Foods: Breakfast cereals, fruit juices, bread, plant-based milk