Bringing a new baby into the world is one of life’s greatest gifts. That’s why creating a safe, healthy home for your new bundle of joy to grow in is vital.
Our bodies gift us a powerhouse to care for our offspring by giving them all that they need to grow. During pregnancy, your baby gets all his or her essential nutrients from you so you must be getting your daily dose of vitamins and minerals.
To build strong teeth and bones, growing babies need calcium. As the most abundant mineral in the body, Calcium also keeps your blood and muscles moving, helps your nerves send messages from your brain to the rest of your body, and promotes hormone functioning. It’s an essential mineral that we all require daily.
When we are pregnant, our bodies naturally take calcium from our bones and teeth to deliver to our little one. That’s why during pregnancy you must be getting your daily quota of calcium and a little extra to maintain strong teeth and bones. After all, you’re providing for two now.
Calcium During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, women should get at least 1,000 mg of calcium daily and those under 18 should get at least 1,300 mg of calcium every day. Towards the end of your pregnancy, during your last trimester, your baby is growing rapidly and requires even more calcium to develop. If you don’t get enough calcium during pregnancy, your baby will take what you have stored in your bones and leave you with a deficit which can result in osteoporosis.
Not only do you need to up your calcium game while pregnant, but it is also just as important to ensure you are getting enough calcium after giving birth. Breastfeeding also takes calcium from the mother and delivers it to the baby through feeding. Studies have shown that women lose 3% to 5% of bone mass when they nurse so it’s vital to restore this through a calcium-rich diet and supplements.
Your body can't make calcium on its own so we must honor it through our diet and supplements.