When is the best time to start calcium supplementation during pregnancy?

If pregnant women want their babies to develop better, they need to eat more nutritious foods, especially foods high in calcium. Therefore, once women find out they are pregnant, they will start to actively supplement calcium. However, pregnant women must master the time of calcium supplementation, otherwise it will directly affect the effect of calcium supplementation, and even excessive calcium supplementation is not conducive to childbirth. So when is the best time to start calcium supplementation during pregnancy?

First, when is the best time to start calcium supplementation during pregnancy? The early stages of pregnancy are the period when the embryo’s tissues and organs are formed. The nutritional status of the pregnant mother is crucial to the continued growth and normal development of the fetus. At this time, the calcium requirement of pregnant women is roughly the same as that of normal people, so there is no need for special calcium supplementation. Calcium supplementation starts in the second trimester. At this time, pregnant mothers can eat some easily digestible foods, such as biscuits, steamed buns, toast, cakes, etc., and eat more water-rich vegetables and fruits to replenish water, vitamin C, B vitamins and inorganic salts such as calcium and potassium, which can reduce the feeling of discomfort during pregnancy.

Second, in the second trimester, starting around the fourth month of pregnancy, the pregnant mother's daily calcium requirement gradually increases to 1000-1200 mg. At this time, the amount of calcium contained in the daily diet can no longer meet the baby's growth needs, so the remaining calcium required must be obtained from calcium-containing foods or high-quality calcium supplements. The late pregnancy is the period of fastest fetal growth and development. Calcium intake should be increased by 700 mg per day, and pregnant mothers should eat more calcium-rich foods. At this time, the growth rate of the fetus begins to accelerate, and he needs calcium. However, the calcium content in the pregnant mother's daily diet cannot meet his requirements, so he "steals" it from the pregnant mother's body. During this period, pregnant women should match their nutrition according to their own physical conditions.

When should pregnant women take calcium supplements? Pregnant mothers can start taking calcium supplements after three months of pregnancy, because the fetus's bones begin to grow at this time and the amount of calcium needed increases. During the 3rd to 7th month of pregnancy, the reference value for calcium supplementation is 1000 mg per day, including various foods; after the 7th month of pregnancy, it is recommended to supplement 1500 mg of calcium per day. But consuming too much calcium is not always beneficial to the body. If pregnant mothers take excessive calcium supplements, calcium will be deposited in the walls of the placenta blood vessels, causing placental aging and calcification, reduced amniotic fluid secretion, and a hard fetal head. In this way, the baby cannot get sufficient nutrition and oxygen provided by the mother. The hard head will also prolong the delivery process and threaten the baby's health. Therefore, calcium supplementation should be scientific, and you should never supplement calcium blindly or excessively. Calcium supplements are no longer needed after 36 weeks of gestation to avoid premature calcification of the fetal skull.