Calcium
The Right Choice for the Pregnant Female
Why Choose Calcium?
During pregnancy, calcium is necessary for proper development in the child's bones, teeth, and organs. If you do not take in enough calcium, the child will draw calcium from your bones, which could lead to fragile or brittle bones, a disease known as osteoporosis. Calcium will also help blood to naturally clot and to help sustain a normal heartbeat.
Where can I get calcium and how much do I need?
Each day, a pregnant female should take in at least 1000 mg of calcium. Dairy products, such as yogurt (400 mg), milk (300 mg for skim milk), and cheese (250 mg) are rich in calcium as well as orange juice (300 mg), sardines (300 mg), and spinach (140 mg). You may also buy 300 count of 500 mg calcium tablets for only $16.99 (6 cents per pill!), so each day you only need to take 1 to 2 tablets, depending on other dietary intake.
What if I get too much calcium? Too little?
Intake of too much calcium (more than 3000 mg) may block absorption of other essential minerals in the body, which could lead to enhanced symptoms of pregnancy. If too little calcium is taken in, bones can become weak and brittle, called Osteoporosis. Symptoms of osteoporosis include difficulty walking, leg pain, and easy bone fracture.
More About Calcium
Calcium is a chemical element, abbreviated with Ca. Calcium's atomic number is 20. Located in group 2 on the periodic table, calcium is an Alkaline Earth Metal.
Sources
"Calcium in Your Pregnancy Diet." BabyCenter. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Sept. 2014. <http://www.babycenter.com/0_calcium-in-your-pregnancy-diet_665.bc>
"Risks of Taking Too Much Calcium When Pregnant." LIVESTRONG.COM. LIVESTRONG.COM, 16 Aug. 2013. Web. 14 Sept. 2014. <http://www.livestrong.com/article/515796-risks-of-taking-too-much-calcium-when-pregnant/>.
"Cleveland Clinic - Increasing Calcium in Your Diet During Pregnancy."Cleveland Clinic. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Sept. 2014. <http://my.clevelandclinic.org/healthy_living/pregnancy/hic_increasing_calcium_in_your_diet_during_pregnancy.aspx>.