Essential Nutrients in Pregnancy Diet: Calcium

In my previous post, I mentioned there about the new sets of vitamins and minerals that my obgyn prescribed to me and calcium is one of them. So, as a continuation of my post regarding essential nutrients in pregnancy diet, I will give you some insights about calcium.   

image source: eatrundoyoga.com

Why is calcium so important during pregnancy? This is probably the same question that runs in your mind. Well, it is known to many that this particular mineral aids in building strong bones and teeth. As early as the developing period of the baby, it is very essential that he or she is able to get the right amount of calcium. This can only be achieved if the mother is taking calcium supplements during her pregnancy.

Calcium also has other important roles played. It keeps the heart, nerves, and muscles grow healthy. It helps develop a normal heart rhythm and prevents blood clotting. A pregnant woman with sufficient amount of calcium in the body does not only help in the development of the baby inside her womb. She too can avoid that bone loss or osteoporosis, which is a common disorder experienced by women as they get older.

How much calcium does a pregnant women need? Well, this will depend on her age. According to BabyCenter.com, women who are above 18 years old are recommended to have 1,000 milligrams of calcium every day while women below 18 years of age need a much higher dose – 1,300 milligrams a day. This amount of calcium is needed before, during, and after pregnancy.

There are so many sources of calcium however; among its top sources are milk and dairy products. Supplemental forms of calcium are also available in the market these days and one of them is Calciday, which my obgyn prescribed to me.

Good News on My 2nd Prenatal Checkup

Yesterday, I just had my 2^nd prenatal check-up. As usual, my obgyn had a hard time searching for the heart beat of the developing baby inside my womb using her Doppler. But after so many re-try, still she was able to find it. On my 13th week of gestation, the heart seems to be working normal and beating 140-150 beats per minute. Of course I am very glad with this current result and hoping that these signs of good gestation will last until delivery.

Another reason why I am so glad with my yesterday’s prenatal checkup is that my blood pressure is getting normal too. Compared to my previous BP which is 140/80 mmHg, it is now 120/70 mmHg. I am hoping that I will be able to maintain my BP at normal level to prevent possible complications. Though I have a normal BP reading, one thing that makes me worry a little is that my current weight is just the same as the previous – 52 kilos. Maybe  it is because I did some dieting when I learned that I have a little bit higher BP in the previous month.  Aside from that, I also vomit once in a while.

Since my body weight didn’t change, my obgyn recommends me to drink milk “Mom & Me” in particular. This is one of the milks specially formulated for pregnant women as it contains enough amount of vitamins and mineral needed during pregnancy. But aside from the milk, she also prescribed me other essential nutrients which come in a form of food supplement. These vitamins and minerals include folic acid, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and iron; which all come in a capsule of Eurroferon. And for calcium, she prescribed Calciday, which is also compact with vitamin D3. She too added Obimin in  my daily medicines.