When a woman is pregnant, her baby gets calcium from her body as well as the food she consumes. Because of this, women who are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant need to take in more calcium than the average adult.
What Are the Benefits of Calcium?
Calcium has many benefits to the human body, including maintaining bone strength, proper muscle contraction, and healthy teeth. Calcium also helps the heart and other body systems work properly.1
Calcium supplementation appears to be beneficial for pregnant women who are at high risk of gestational hypertension.3 In addition, calcium supplementation during pregnancy may lead to a reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and preeclampsia.4
How Do I Ensure I’m Getting Enough Calcium?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that women who are pregnant or lactating obtain 1,300 mg of calcium each day.2 If a growing baby’s daily calcium needs are not met, he or she will draw calcium from the bones of the mother.1
A prolonged calcium deficiency can result in a number of issues for both mother and child, including osteoporosis, a disease that causes bones and teeth to weaken and become brittle. A well-balanced diet is a great way to ensure you’re meeting your daily calcium intake.
Below are some foods high in calcium and the amount you’d need to consume each day to reach the daily recommended intake.
While eating a balanced diet is always recommended, one good way to ensure that you and your baby are getting enough calcium is by supplementing with a vitamin from the Prenate® Vitamin Family. Prenate® vitamins are specifically formulated to meet the nutritional needs of women who are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant.
Prenate® vitamins contain two different forms of calcium to help in supplementing your calcium intake during pregnancy:
Calcium Carbonate: Tried and True Form of Calcium
Calcium carbonate is a common form of calcium that’s found in many supplements and prenatal vitamins. Because of its heartburn-reducing benefits, it’s also used in many over-the-counter antacid medications, such as Tums® or Rolaids®.3
FormiCal®: Absorbable and Bioavailable Calcium Supplement
In addition to calcium carbonate, several Prenate® vitamins contain calcium formate in the form of FormiCal®. FormiCal® is gentle on the gastrointestinal tract. It does not cause gas, bloating, or constipation.4 It may be taken with or without food, and is 100% water soluble.4 But perhaps just as importantly, FormiCal® is more efficiently absorbed than calcium citrate or calcium carbonate.5 This means that the calcium consumed in the form of FormiCal® is processed by the body more rapidly and to a greater extent than other forms of calcium supplements.
All calcium supplements are not created equal. The calcium that you take is only as effective as the calcium that the body absorbs. If your body does not absorb the calcium you consume, you won’t get the health benefits it provides, and neither will your baby.
Below are links to learn more about the prenatal vitamins with calcium that the Prenate® Vitamin Family offers:
- Prenate® Enhance
- Prenate® Restore
- Prenate Chewable®
- Prenate Mini®
- Prenate DHA®
- Prenate Elite®
- Prenate Essential®
Ask your doctor if a Prenate® Vitamin is right for you.