The Importance of Calcium for Pregnant Women: Symptoms and Risks of Deficiency

January 19, 2024

Pregnant Women need to pay extra attention to various indicators of their body during pregnancy. Here are several symptoms of calcium deficiency in pregnant women that need to be taken seriously. Let's take a look with the editor!
 


 

What are the dangers of calcium deficiency in expectant mothers?

    During pregnancy, calcium deficiency in expectant mothers can lead to ten risks for the fetus, including susceptibility to rickets, muscle cramps, eczema, wheezing, night crying, night terrors, abdominal pain, delayed teething, hyperactivity disorder, and hindered brain development.

What are the symptoms of calcium deficiency in pregnant women?

1. Joint and pelvic pain

    If a pregnant woman's body lacks calcium, the body will release calcium from the bones and skeleton to maintain the normal calcium concentration in the blood. This can easily lead to joint pain and pelvic pain.

2. Leg cramps

    Leg cramps are a common symptom for pregnant women, usually occurring more frequently at night starting from the fifth month of pregnancy.
 


 

3. Loose teeth

    Both bone and teeth in the human body are composed of a large amount of calcium. If the body lacks calcium, there may be abnormal development of tooth enamel, which can lead to tooth decay and loosening of the tooth's hard structure.

4. Gestational hypertension

    There is a close relationship between gestational hypertension and calcium deficiency in pregnant women. To prevent gestational hypertension, pregnant women should follow the principle of high protein, high calcium, high potassium, and low sodium in their diet. During pregnancy, pregnant women should eat more fish, meat, eggs, dairy products, and fruits and vegetables, and avoid excessive salt intake. If gestational hypertension occurs, timely treatment and care are necessary.

    How can expectant mothers supplement calcium?

    Calcium supplementation for pregnant women can be divided into dietary supplementation and medication. Here, the editor recommends using dietary therapy to supplement calcium.
 


 

Recommended Calcium-Rich Foods for Pregnant Women

1. Dairy products

    Milk, powdered milk, cheese, yogurt, condensed milk, etc.

    Milk is the best source of calcium for pregnant women. Half a pound of milk contains nearly 300mg of calcium, in addition to various amino acids, lactic acid, minerals, and vitamins that help the body fully absorb and digest calcium.

2. Seafood

    Kelp, dried shrimp, crucian carp, carp, grass carp, loach, etc.

    Almost all seafood contains abundant calcium, among which kelp and dried shrimp have the highest calcium content.

3. Soy products

    Tofu, soy milk, dried tofu, tofu skin, fermented tofu, etc. Soy and various soy products that we often consume contain abundant calcium, and soy is also a high-protein food.

    500g of soy milk contains 120mg of calcium, and 150g of dried tofu contains as much as 500mg of calcium.

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