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The role of calcium in the body.
Calcium and its compounds play leading role in the processes of formation of bone and dental tissue in the human body,
they directly affect the functioning of the immune system, are actively involved in the work of the endocrine glands, the transmission of nerve impulses, and hormonal changes. The human body needs a daily replenishment of calcium in combination with vitamin D, which promotes the absorption and breakdown of the mineral.

During pregnancy and lactation when female body share useful vitamins and minerals with their baby, women have an increased need for calcium minerals. An acute lack of calcium during pregnancy can provoke a number of complications and pathologies in the development of the fetus, as well as damage general health pregnant woman.

Calcium intake during pregnancy.

As we noted above, the body of a pregnant woman suffers from calcium deficiency. The intake of calcium during pregnancy should not be lower than 1.5 grams per day. note that daily rate, increases during the development and growth of the child. If in the first trimester the fetus consumes 2-3 milligrams of calcium per day through the placenta, then in the third, when the formation of the skeleton is actively taking place, the daily rate increases to 250-300 milligrams. Calcium is extremely necessary for the children's body for the formation of absolutely all tissues of the body, the full growth of bones, teeth, the development of the nervous and immune systems. In addition, under the influence of pregnancy hormones, significantly increases total weight body of a woman, which in turn requires an increase in the volume of circulating calcium.

An acute lack of calcium in the body of a pregnant woman is clearly observed in the last trimester. Calcium deficiency is accompanied by a general deterioration in the condition of the skin, hair, nails and teeth of a pregnant woman. Also, according to experts, calcium deficiency can cause the development of such a serious disease as preeclampsia. In children born of women who suffered during pregnancy with calcium deficiency in the body, rickets is common, which leads to irreversible consequences.

Prevention of calcium deficiency in the body.

To avoid complications and the development of pathology, calcium during pregnancy must be consumed in prescribed doses. In the diet of a pregnant woman, there should be a sufficient amount of foods containing calcium. The ideal option are dairy and sour-milk products with a low fat content (cheese, kefir, yogurt, yogurt) in combination with fresh vegetables and fruits. From vegetables, you should choose cabbage, especially Beijing or broccoli - they contain the largest amount of calcium that is useful for the body. Legumes, almonds, lettuce, and root crops also have a high calcium content. But there is a group of exceptions - these are vegetables with a high percentage of oxalic acid (sorrel, beets, spinach).
Vegetables lose about twenty-five percent of their calcium during cooking, so steaming vegetables is best.

How to make up for the lack of calcium?

If a pregnant woman follows a healthy diet, she is outdoors every day in autumn - summer period then she has a minimal risk of developing a calcium deficiency. In this case, you can do without additional intake of calcium.
If you have complications during pregnancy, or the last trimester falls in the winter - spring, you work a lot or are not able to provide a healthy and nutritious diet, you should consult your doctor about the selection of calcium-containing supplements.

For the full development of the baby in the mother's tummy, the regular intake of all microelements and vitamins is very important. This helps the baby grow faster and develop fully. One of these vital substances is calcium.

What does it do in the body?

Calcium for pregnant women is one of the most important substances. It is necessary not only for the body of the future mother, but also for her baby.

Calcium performs many different functions in the body. Maintaining its normal concentration is important not only in the first, but also in all subsequent periods of pregnancy.

The main function of this chemical in the body to maintain bone density. The structure of bone formations largely depends on the initial concentration of calcium in the blood plasma.

Job nervous system is impossible without the optimal intake of this chemical. The 2nd trimester is a very important period for its formation. At this time, the need for calcium in the expectant mother begins to increase greatly. If a woman is expecting twins, then her daily dose of this microelement is significantly increased.

Calcium entering the body provides a very important process. It is involved in the transmission of nerve impulses. With a decrease in its concentration in the blood plasma, a woman develops various neurological disorders. Normal concentration prevents the development of such dangerous conditions in a pregnant woman as uterine hypertonicity and convulsive contractions of the arms and legs.

The role of calcium in blood clotting cannot be overestimated. It is necessary for the plasma to retain its necessary liquid properties and fluidity. This ensures good blood flow through the common uteroplacental blood flow system.

Optimal calcium concentration is very important in the 3rd trimester. In this final period of pregnancy, the female body is preparing for the upcoming birth, which means severe blood loss. Optimal blood clotting is necessary in order not to cause irreparable damage to the mother's body.

Calcium is also very important for the fetus. It is the main structural element which is required to build all the organs of the baby's musculoskeletal system. Calcium ions are built into its bones, being a kind of cement.

This trace element also affects the formation of the visual and other receptor apparatus of the fetal body. The normal concentration of calcium in the blood of the expectant mother is necessary for the baby to have good intelligence and memory.

Consumption rates

Normal blood calcium concentrations during pregnancy are somewhat different from those used in the general female population. This is due to the increased need for this substance during fetal development.

In the future, more calcium should be consumed per day during lactation. During this period, the need for this trace element also increases significantly.

Doctors point out that the daily norm during the bearing of the baby of this substance is 1.2-1.8 grams. Calcium is absorbed into the systemic circulation in the intestine. Then, through the uteroplacental blood flow system common with the fetus, this microelement enters the baby's body.

Scientists have found that in the first weeks of its intrauterine development, the fetus requires about 10 mg of calcium every day. By the end of the first trimester, the need for this substance increases significantly. This is due to the active growth of the baby in the mother's tummy. At this time, the daily norm of the fetus in calcium is already 0.3 grams.

Such a need determines the fact that doctors can recommend the expectant mother to use special medications. They will compensate for the resulting calcium deficiency.

You can find out if calcium in the blood is normal during pregnancy by the results of a biochemical blood test. Normal level calcium in the blood of pregnant women - from 2 to 2.45 mmol / l.

Deficiency symptoms

Calcium deficiency in the body may not manifest itself for quite a long time. Only with a significant decrease in its concentration in the blood plasma, a woman has specific changes and unpleasant sensations.

One of the most characteristic features lack of calcium in the female body is development of hypersensitivity of the teeth. A woman begins to develop caries quite quickly. At the same time, tooth enamel becomes thinner and more sensitive to any chemical influences.

Also, the teeth begin to react strongly to cold temperature. This symptom usually appears while drinking chilled drinks or when talking outside in windy weather.

A decrease in calcium in the body leads to the fact that the expectant mother begins to get tired faster. Her concentration may decrease, and forgetfulness appears.

Many expectant mothers with calcium deficiency complain to doctors that their hair becomes very brittle and begins to fall out badly. Quite often there is a strong fragility of the nails.

Characteristic longitudinal stripes appear on the nail plates, indicating that the female body is in dire need of an additional dose of calcium.

Mood change and emotional background - common symptoms, indicating a low concentration of calcium in the blood plasma. Expectant mothers begin to complain of excessive irritability, spontaneous mood swings, and sometimes excessive tearfulness. Some women develop sleep disorders. They find it difficult to sleep at night.

Calcium deficiency also leads to the development of neurological disorders. They are manifested by sensations of movements of "goosebumps" on the skin. Hands and feet become cold to the touch. Some women have a constant feeling of chilliness. It makes them dress up a lot warm clothes or constantly wrapped in a blanket.

Discomfort in the pelvic area is a symptom that often develops with a decrease in the level of calcium in the blood plasma. In some cases, this sign is manifested by a feeling of soreness in the lower back. Many expectant mothers note that they feel a strong ache in the pelvic bones.

Women who are deficient in calcium for too long can develop osteoporosis. This pathological condition is characterized by excessive fragility of all bone formations in the body.

This pathology is accompanied by the development of frequent pathological bone fractures. Osteoporosis is an extremely unfavorable condition during pregnancy, as it can lead to the development of congenital malformations of the musculoskeletal system in the fetus.

Tendency to develop abnormal heart rhythms- Another possible manifestation of a violation of calcium metabolism in the body. In this case, the woman's heartbeat becomes irregular. She may feel “interruptions” in his work. Typically, these symptoms occur after any physical activity or after a lot of stress.

Pathologies of blood clotting often develop in violation of calcium metabolism. A common clinical sign is the development of gingival bleeding. The most undesirable consequence of a decrease in the concentration of calcium in the blood of a future mother is the appearance of blood from the genital tract. In this case, urgent therapy is already required.

Women with calcium deficiency in the body are also prone to frequent colds and respiratory diseases. In this case, the development of these pathologies leads to a decrease in the functioning of the immune system, which inevitably occurs when calcium metabolism is disturbed.

Consequences of deficiency

A significant and persistent decrease in the concentration of calcium in the blood of a future mother often leads to the development of rickets in her baby. This condition manifests itself after birth.

This pathology is characterized by the development of numerous anomalies and defects in the baby's skeleton. The child's gait is disturbed, and neurological disorders may also develop.

Pathologies of hematopoiesis in the fetus can also appear if during pregnancy a woman has a decrease in calcium in the blood plasma. Such diseases appear prone to increased bleeding. The risk of developing these pathologies increases many times in the presence of a genetic predisposition to their formation.

Consequences of an oversupply

An excess concentration of this microelement in the blood is also no less dangerous for the fetus. It can lead to premature closure of the large fontanel, as well as cause the child to develop various pathologies the bones of his skull. In this case, the concentration of calcium in the blood should be monitored from 30-34 weeks of pregnancy, closer to childbirth.

Too dense head bones can cause difficulties for the baby when passing through the birth canal.

It can also provoke traumatic damage to the cervical canal and uterus in the mother. The situation becomes quite dangerous when the fetus is too large with a narrow pelvis of a woman.

Excess calcium can be deposited in the body "in reserve". Such formations are called calcifications. The danger of this pathology is that they can appear in the urinary tract, leading to the development of urolithiasis. In this case, the risk of developing secondary chronic pyelonephritis increases several times.

Calcifications can also be deposited in the placenta. Such a pathology can lead to a violation of the proper nutrition of the fetus. In this case, the necessary for growth and development nutrients they just can't get into his body. This situation is dangerous for the development of numerous intrauterine malformations in the fetus.

How to determine?

In order to establish the concentration of calcium in the blood of a pregnant woman, she only needs to pass a biochemical analysis. Such laboratory tests are carried out both in a regular women's clinic and in a private laboratory. This study is usually prescribed by an obstetrician-gynecologist, which controls the development and course of a woman's pregnancy.

The future mother can also undergo this study in a private medical clinic on her own, at her own request.

There is no rigorous preparation for the study. It is better to come to the examination on an empty stomach. This is necessary to obtain more reliable analysis results.

It takes a little to run the test. venous blood. The results of the analysis are usually ready within a few hours. Reference values ​​must be indicated next to the concentration obtained. They are necessary to determine the boundaries of the normal values ​​of this indicator.

Treatment

Calcium deficiency can be corrected by using a special diet. It includes products that contain a large amount of this chemical element. Such nutrition is prescribed for all expectant mothers who are at high risk. It is especially important to consume enough foods containing calcium during multiple pregnancies.

In order to secure your daily requirement and your baby, the expectant mother should consume 1-2 servings of foods every day that contain a sufficient amount of this substance. Doctors consider sour milk to be the main source of calcium. Cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt and kefir must be included in daily menu pregnant woman. They will help to increase the concentration of calcium in the blood quickly enough.

This trace element is also V sea ​​fish, sesame, nuts, eggs. Expectant mothers practicing a vegetarian diet should be very careful about the use of this style of nutrition during pregnancy. The doctor will definitely recommend that a vegetarian woman switch to a regular mixed diet for the entire period of bearing a baby.

If the body of the expectant mother cannot fully absorb and digest dairy products, she should definitely enrich her diet with sesame seeds or oil. This product is a natural "record holder" for its calcium content. Intolerance to fermented milk products and cow's milk occurs with lactase deficiency.

In some herbal products also contains calcium. It can be found in green beans, legumes (especially green peas), poppy seeds, parsley and celery, various types of cabbage, green leaf lettuce. A salad prepared from these plants will not only improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, but also help normalize the level of calcium in the blood plasma.

Scientists have found that There is a direct relationship between vitamin D and calcium. Both of these substances are involved in the construction of bone tissue in the child's developing organism. If the concentration of vitamin D in the blood plasma is increased, then this can lead to the fact that calcium simply ceases to be fully absorbed.

Absorption of this trace element in the intestine can also be caused by the use of sugary carbonated drinks, a large amount of tea or coffee, muffins and pasta, as well as too fatty dairy products. Smoking and drinking alcohol also lead to a decrease in the concentration of calcium in the blood.

If, on the background of diet therapy, the general condition of a woman has not improved, then in this case, doctors will recommend that she drink medicines. They are enriched with calcium and are necessary to compensate for deficient conditions.

Currently, there are several forms of these drugs. In his chemical composition they contain various calcium salts. In carbonate, the concentration of this element, as a rule, is 40%. Citrate in its chemical structure already contains only 20-25% calcium. In lactate, this substance is even less - 13%.

This chemical structure explains why it is better to use mainly calcium carbonates or citrates for treatment. A very important criterion before prescribing these funds is how well they are absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.

Pharmacologists believe that citrates quickly pass into the systemic circulation from the intestines. Also, after taking these drugs in the blood plasma, a peak calcium concentration is quickly reached.

Another indisputable advantage is that calcium citrates can be prescribed to expectant mothers suffering from diseases of the urinary tract. Such funds help shift the pH of urine to a more alkaline side, which does not lead to the appearance of various stones in the kidneys and ureters.

Long-term use of calcium carbonate can lead to a decrease in gastric secretion. It also contributes to the appearance of unpleasant symptoms in a pregnant woman, such as severe gas formation, soreness in the abdomen, and frequent constipation.

In order to reduce the severity of these clinical signs, these drugs should be taken along with acidic juices. Drinks made from citrus fruits or made from green apples are great.

For better absorption of calcium, doctors may recommend expectant mothers to use preparations that contain both vitamin D and calcium. Such complex products provide good absorption and have a minimum side effects. These drugs include: "Vitrum-calcium - D3", "Calcium - D3-Nycomed", "Calcemin" and others.

Usually, taking such funds does not cause any adverse symptoms in the expectant mother. However, some women may still develop constipation, nausea, or a decrease in appetite.

While taking the drugs should not exceed a single dose of calcium intake. It is important to remember: only 0.5 grams of this substance can be absorbed once. Large dosages taken at one time will simply be excreted from the body without bringing any benefit.

This dose-dependence explains why calcium supplements should be consumed in small doses throughout the day. This will saturate the body without harm to the health of the mother and her baby.

For information on why pregnant women need calcium, see the following video.

During pregnancy, a woman's body works with a vengeance, as it actively builds the cells of the baby's body. No less actively it consumes vitamins and minerals necessary for the formation and growth of the skeleton, tissues and organs. One of the most important minerals that are actively consumed during pregnancy is calcium. This substance is necessary for the full formation and growth of the skeleton, muscle development, the formation of neuromuscular conduction, blood clotting and the functioning of the kidneys and heart. The need for calcium during pregnancy increases several times compared to the normal state.

Calcium levels during pregnancy

The level of calcium intake during pregnancy increases significantly, on average, a pregnant woman needs from 1000 to 1500 mg of calcium per day. Consumption rates are increasing from month to month. In the first trimester, the fetus spends 2-3 mg per day on growth and development, in the second trimester 100-200 mg, and in the third, especially in the last month, 250-300 mg of calcium can be consumed. Equally important is the presence of calcium for the woman herself - the strength of the skeleton, the integrity of the teeth and nails with hair depend on this. During pregnancy, there is an increase in calcium absorption from the intestines, but a lot of it is also lost in the urine. Therefore, it is important to monitor its sufficient daily intake.
Often, the entire amount of calcium needed by a pregnant woman cannot be covered by nutrition, therefore, either enhanced calcium nutrition is used, or additional calcium supplements are taken with or without vitamin D.

Signs of calcium deficiency, indications for taking calcium

There are a number of specific symptoms that will indicate a calcium deficiency during pregnancy. This is first of all:
- cramps of the calf muscles, recurring from day to day, especially during sleep and at rest,
- a feeling of crawling in the fingers or toes, bringing the fingers together,
- fragility of nails, their delamination, cracking,
- dry and brittle hair, thinning hair,
- dryness and flaking of the skin even when using moisturizers,
- tooth decay, caries, rapidly progressing during pregnancy,
- pain in the bones, joints, fatigue,
- frequent bruising on the skin.

Predisposed to calcium deficiency are natural blondes, women who smoked before and during pregnancy, those who consume a lot of starchy foods and sweets, drink a lot of coffee or cocoa, carbonated drinks. Calcium is absorbed worse with a sedentary lifestyle, poor nutrition, passion for diets, with preeclampsia and somatic diseases, during pregnancy with weather, multiple pregnancies.

With calcium deficiency, there may be a delay in fetal development of the fetus, a violation of the ossification of its bones, which is noticeable on ultrasound. If at least some of the described symptoms appear, or if there is a high risk of calcium deficiency, the use of calcium supplements and the use of calcium-containing foods is necessary.

Taking calcium supplements

There are a lot of calcium preparations in pharmacies, but not all of them are equally well absorbed by the body of a pregnant woman. Least of all useful calcium contain calcium gluconate tablets, but they are the most inexpensive of all. More useful and easily digestible are calcium lactate and calcium carbonate. All calcium preparations are divided into monopreparations, only with calcium salts (latktate, gluconate or calcium carbonate in tablets), combined preparations are usually calcium preparations with vitamin D, which enhances calcium absorption. Sometimes vitamin C, trace elements boron, magnesium or zinc are also added to these preparations. The third group of drugs include multivitamin preparations, which include any and calcium salts.

Today, Calcium-D3-Nycomed is considered the most widely used drug among all calcium products, it is often even issued by prescription. antenatal clinic in pharmacies for pregnant women for free. This preparation contains calcium carbonate at a dosage of 1250 mg, in terms of pure calcium it is 500 mg, and also contains 200 IU of vitamin D. The drug belongs to the group combined funds, and this drug has shown its high efficiency in the prevention of calcium deficiency and in the treatment of disorders in the phosphorus-calcium metabolism. The intake of this drug, in combination with good nutrition, covers the daily norm of calcium, does not allow calcium to be lost from the bones, during pregnancy it helps to actively eliminate the symptoms of calcium metabolism disorders. For prophylactic purposes, the drug is prescribed once a day for a tablet, with therapeutic purpose I've been using two tablets a day. The drug has almost no side effects.

In general, the combination of calcium with vitamin D has a beneficial effect on the pregnant woman and the fetus when taking drugs in the last trimester. Due to this combination, calcium is actively absorbed by the mother and fetus, which also contributes to the prevention of early rickets in children after birth. Multivitamin preparations with minerals will also be effective, they contain at least 200 mg of calcium. These are preparations "Elevit", "Vitrum prenatal" with calcium, "Materna" and others. They do not possess therapeutic effect, but for the purpose of prevention can be used in all pregnant women, in the absence of proper contraindications.

What else is needed?

Undoubtedly, the main source of calcium for any woman, especially a pregnant woman, is food. However, not all food products are rich in calcium, and in addition, substances such as zinc and magnesium, copper and manganese, partially boron and some vitamins affect the absorption and assimilation of calcium. The main sources of calcium in the diet of pregnant women are natural healthy foods - milk and any dairy products, including cheese, and butter, nuts, vegetables. However, in the pursuit of calcium, we must not forget about the variety of products - one cottage cheese and nuts, not the most suitable food for pregnant women. There is a lot of calcium in broccoli and in general in any cabbage, in greens and green vegetables. However, in those vegetables where there is a lot of oxalic acid, calcium is poorly absorbed - beets, spinach and sorrel make it difficult to absorb calcium.

If there is no need for increased calcium intake, there is no chronic pathology of the digestive tract and the problems that we talked about earlier, you can increase calcium nutrition. This will be enough for your growing needs and good health. You can add to your daily diet about 200 g of cottage cheese, a glass of kefir and a glass of milk (you can cook porridge on it), and 50 g of cheese per sandwich. This is quite enough for the daily rate. And if you add nuts, fish, salads or cabbage dishes, berries and raisins here, the diet will turn out to be quite rich in calcium almost in its daily norm. If you use up to three or four dairy products a day, you can bring the amount of daily calcium received to 1000-1500 mg.

In addition, it is worth remembering that calcium "loves" Fresh air And sunlight, with regular walks with active movements and being under the sun's rays, calcium is absorbed much more fully and more actively. Firstly, under the action of sunlight, an additional portion of vitamin D is produced in the skin, which is necessary for the absorption of calcium, and secondly, calcium is more actively absorbed by actively working muscles of the body and bones of the skeleton that receive loads. The duration of walks should not be less than 45 minutes a day. If you walk very little, do not get the necessary physical activity, drink a lot of tea or coffee, do not tolerate dairy products, or even smoke during pregnancy, if your pregnancy is mostly in autumn-winter period, it is necessary to take additional calcium supplements.

Suction problems

Although you can eat a lot of foods that contain calcium, not enough calcium can be absorbed from the intestines, which can lead to calcium deficiency in the body. Some foods can significantly slow down the absorption of calcium from food. These products include cereals, currants and sorrel, spinach and gooseberries. These products contain phytins and oxalic acid, which bind calcium into insoluble compounds. Caffeine and products containing it - coffee, tea, Coca-Cola also create a problem with calcium absorption, so they should be drunk very limitedly during pregnancy, and Coca-Cola should not be drunk at all.

There are a number of diseases that lead to impaired calcium absorption - these are problems of the digestive tract with peptic ulcer, colitis, enteritis, as well as inflammation of the liver. There are also problems with calcium metabolism when diabetes, diseases of the thyroid and parathyroid glands, with bronchial asthma, especially if glucocorticoid drugs are required. In such cases, taking calcium supplements should be discussed with your doctor, and he will prescribe you additional drugs.

calcium plays during pregnancy essential role. That is why its content in the body must be balanced. A sufficient amount of this trace element helps reduce the likelihood of miscarriage and premature birth, regulates blood pressure and reduces the risk of developing eclampsia, negates blood loss during childbirth, relieves such unpleasant phenomena as calf muscle cramps, brittle nails, hair loss, tooth sensitivity and much more.

The growth and development of a child requires a huge amount of calcium from the mother, and if it is not enough, then the body begins to draw this trace element from its own resources, namely from bones and teeth (after all, it contains 98% of free calcium). This, in turn, leads to sad consequences. The expectant mother begins to develop osteoporosis, teeth crumble, hair falls out. In our article, we will tell you all about calcium deficiency during pregnancy, the diagnosis of hypocalcemia, as well as calcium preparations during pregnancy.

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Risk group for people with calcium deficiency during pregnancy

All of us (or almost all) consume dairy products and therefore we rightly believe that everything is in order with the presence of calcium in the body. In fact, things are a little more complicated. There is a certain circle of people who are predisposed to calcium deficiency during pregnancy. These include:

• thin women with light hair color (according to research, it is they who often always suffer from a lack of calcium during pregnancy);
• women who are on a diet for a long time (lack of consumption of foods containing calcium negatively affects its level);
• women who consume a lot of flour products, bran, carbonated drinks, coffee, cocoa, as well as fatty and salty foods (all of the above contribute to reduced absorption of calcium by the body);
• women suffering from lactose intolerance (milk sugar) - as a result, the lack of consumption of dairy products, and, accordingly, calcium;
• women who use some hormonal contraceptives (they reduce the absorption of this trace element into the blood);
• women with thyroid diseases, namely with increased function of the production of thyroid-stimulating hormones;
• women with a sedentary lifestyle (physical activity is needed for good absorption of calcium);
• women working in offices (this microelement is better absorbed when exposed to ultraviolet radiation);
• women suffering bad habits(Smoking and alcohol adversely affect not only health in general, but also disrupt metabolism).

It also contributes to the "washout" of calcium heat body (for colds) and strong physical exertion.

Signs of deficiency and excess of calcium during pregnancy

Often, all pregnant women complain of the same symptoms that cause them a lot of inconvenience. But not all women associate this with a lack of calcium in the body. Most often, everything is written off to the position and excuse "All pregnant women do this." A sufficient amount of calcium in the mother is very important, which is why we will give below the most common signs of calcium deficiency during pregnancy:

• muscle cramps;
• bone pain, osteoporosis;
• general weakness, fatigue;
• blood clotting disorders, bleeding gums;
• urolithiasis disease;
• sensitivity of tooth enamel;
• hair loss, brittle nails, teeth;
• insomnia, nervousness.

If you have at least two signs of calcium deficiency during pregnancy, then this is already a signal that you need to tell your doctor about your concerns.

It must also be remembered that not only calcium deficiency during pregnancy is dangerous, but also its overabundance. Excess calcium can lead to premature closure of the fontanel in the fetus, excessive hardness of the skull bones, which can lead to birth trauma. There is also an assumption that an excess of this trace element can lead to its deposition in the placenta, and this, in turn, will impair the flow of nutrients to the child.

Calcium supplements during pregnancy

To treat hypocalcemia and osteoporosis, the doctor prescribes calcium intake during pregnancy. There are an incredible number of drugs on the market containing this microelement, but the most common are the appointment of calcium gluconate and the drug Calcium D3. What is the difference between these drugs?

Calcium gluconate contains only a trace element, while Calcium D3 contains a trace element + vitamin D, which actively participates in the absorption of calcium.

A feature of the use of calcium gluconate during pregnancy is its use strictly before meals or after 1.5-2 hours after ingestion with a glass of milk, since this drug acts aggressively on the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract. The dosage is usually 2-3 tablets per day (one tablet contains 500 mg of calcium).

Calcium D3 during pregnancy can be taken regardless of food intake. It can be both chewed and swallowed, and it is completely safe for the gastrointestinal tract, has a pleasant taste. The dosage is also 2-3 tablets per day (one tablet contains 500 mg of calcium).

Another popular drug is calcemin. Its peculiarity lies in the presence in the composition of not only free calcium, but also substances that contribute to its successful absorption, namely cholecalciferol (50 IU), copper (0.5 mg), zinc (2 mg), manganese (5 mg) and boron (50 mcg). The recommended dose of use is 2-3 tablets per day (one tablet contains 250 mg of calcium).

You can also take complex vitamins for pregnant women, which include calcium, in order to prevent the development of hypocalcemia. But at the same time, strictly ensure that the daily dose of calcium consumed does not exceed the recommended rate (1200-1500 mg). Examples of such drugs can be:

• Elevit Pronatal (contains 125 mg of calcium), appoint one capsule per day 15 minutes after eating;
• Vitrum Pronatal (contains 200 mg of calcium), appoint one capsule per day after meals;
• Multitabs Prenatal (contains 160 mg of calcium), one capsule per day is prescribed during or after meals;
• Materna (contains 250 mg of calcium), appoint one tablet per day after meals.

Calcium preparations during pregnancy should be prescribed only by a doctor! Self-medication can lead to negative consequences not only for you, but also for your child.

Diagnosis of calcium deficiency during pregnancy

After reading all of the above, most likely you will ask yourself the question: “If calcium is so important for our body, why is its level not controlled throughout pregnancy?”. The answer to this question is very simple. In fact, the diagnosis of hypo- or hypercalcemia comes down to the usual biochemical blood test, which is done by all pregnant women. If the doctor sees deviations from the norm, he prescribes calcium supplements.

If the patient is concerned about bone pain, the doctor may prescribe an ultrasound (densitometry). Using this method, it is possible to diagnose the development of osteoporosis earlier, long before irreversible processes in the bone tissue begin.

During pregnancy future mom gives a lot of body resources to the development of the baby. And if you do not replenish the reserves in the body of a woman, then her condition noticeably worsens: the condition of the teeth and bone tissue deteriorates. Therefore, the correct balance of minerals and vitamins is the key to the health of the newborn and mother. One of the main building blocks of the fetus is calcium during pregnancy.

Calcium for pregnant women is an essential element. It creates the musculoskeletal system and helps in the continuous work of the nervous system of a pregnant woman.

The lack of this mineral in the body of pregnant women will make itself felt. Basically, the problem is acutely expressed in the last weeks before childbirth. The following factors are identified:

• the mother's immunity drops;
• the condition of the teeth worsens, including caries;
• increased sensitivity;
• allergic reactions appear;
• the skin becomes dry and flaky;
• jumps in blood pressure;
• there are pain in the bones;
• chills and weakness occur;
• poor blood clotting is diagnosed;
• the condition of the hair worsens, up to loss;
• worried about leg cramps;
• numb limbs;
• the condition of the nails worsens;
• there is no mood, there is irritability;
• the work of sweat and sebaceous glands in the hair is enhanced.

All the minerals needed to create a person pass from mother to child, so if a pregnant woman does not replenish her mineral reserves, pregnancy can lead to osteoporosis (a disease involving brittle bones). In case of shortage, the child also suffers. The baby will have problems with the skull, bones, blood circulation, nervous system, rickets may follow. After birth, the baby will not gain weight well.

What is the role of calcium

The role of minerals in life is great. The mass of trace elements is 2% of the total mass of a person. Calcium is everywhere: in teeth, bones, hair, nails, cartilage. It helps the mother during pregnancy, because the larger the belly, the greater the load on the spine. This macronutrient performs a huge number of functions, including:

• management of all metabolic processes;
• blood clotting (this important point, because during childbirth a pregnant woman will not lose a lot of blood);
• optimization of muscle work;
• help in metabolism;
• conduction of signals through nerve cells.