How Long Should Pregnant Women Continue to Supplement Calcium?
Pregnant women should only supplement calcium up to the ninth month to avoid premature calcification of the fetal skull, which can lead to an excessively hard skull and prolonged labor during natural childbirth, potentially threatening the baby's health. Therefore, pregnant women should supplement calcium scientifically and avoid excessive or blind supplementation. Here are some points to consider:
1. Concurrent calcium and iron supplementation: If you have anemia symptoms and are consuming iron-rich foods or taking iron supplements, do not take calcium supplements or calcium-containing antacids at the same time. Calcium can interfere with iron absorption. Additionally, since milk is rich in calcium, do not take iron supplements with milk. Instead, choose to drink milk between meals.
2. Taking calcium tablets on an empty stomach: Avoid taking calcium tablets on an empty stomach. They can be taken with meals, after meals, between meals, or before bedtime. Ideally, take them half an hour after dinner as the presence of food can interfere with oxalic acid and promote calcium absorption. Additionally, blood calcium levels are lower at night, so taking calcium before bedtime can also aid in absorption.
3. Avoid taking calcium with multivitamins: It is generally recommended not to take calcium supplements simultaneously with other multivitamins during pregnancy. Multivitamins often contain other inorganic salts, and there are interactions between calcium and other minerals like iron, zinc, magnesium, and phosphorus. For instance, calcium can inhibit the absorption of iron and zinc. Therefore, it is best to avoid taking calcium supplements and other multivitamins at the same time.
Calcium supplementation for pregnant women should generally continue until a few weeks before the expected delivery date. It is not recommended to continue calcium supplementation in the final few weeks as it can accelerate the nutritional aging of the placenta, potentially having a significant impact on the baby's nutritional supply.
