A developing child depends on his mother to provide all the nutrients necessary to build a strong, healthy body. Particularly important during the third trimester is calcium, which the baby needs to form bones. Pregnant women need to consume almost four times the calcium of non-gestating women to keep up with the needs of their child. Sometimes, a supplement like calcium gluconate may be necessary to ensure the health of mother and child. Always speak with your health care provider before beginning any new medication.
Calcium During Pregnancy
Pregnant women should consume between 1,200 and 1,500mg of calcium per day either from food or in the form of a supplement for the duration of their pregnancy. A developing baby needs plenty of calcium to build his bone structure, and without adequate maternal nutritional intake, he will begin to leach calcium from the mother's bones. Consequently, inadequate calcium intake during your pregnancy can put you at risk for brittle bones or osteoporosis later in life.
Forms of Calcium
You may have noticed as you perused the pharmacy aisles that several different types of calcium are available. Calcium salts like calcium gluconate and carbonate contain calcium combined with another ingredient in different concentrations. For instance, calcium gluconate contains a less concentrated dose of elemental calcium than does the carbonate form. This means that you would need to take more frequent doses of calcium gluconate for the same effect. Calcium gluconate tabs should be taken with a meal, but not with foods that are high in fiber.
Calcium Gluconate
Speak with your physician before adding a calcium gluconate supplement to your diet. Calcium gluconate has been assigned a class C categorization by the FDA. This means that the safety of the supplement is questionable for pregnant women and should only be taken if there is a serious need for non-dietary calcium. Additionally, your physician will need to help you determine an appropriate dose. If you are already consuming plenty of calcium-rich foods, the calcium supplement in your prenatal vitamin may be enough. If you are lactose intolerant, your health care provider may recommend additional supplementation. Finally, calcium gluconate may interact adversely with other drugs you are taking.
Other Considerations
Although calcium gluconate and other calcium salts may be helpful in some pregnancies, it is always healthier and safer to get calcium from dietary sources. Obvious calcium-rich foods belong to the dairy family and include milk, cheese, yogurt and creamed soups. If you are lactose intolerant, there are many non-dairy options including broccoli, legumes, almonds, dark greens, salmon and shrimp. Talk with your health care provider about healthy ways to incorporate calcium into your diet.
References
- Cleveland Clinic: Increasing Calcium in Your Diet During Pregnancy
- Drugs.com: Calcium Gluconate
- Drugs.com: Calcium gluconate Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Warnings
- BreastCancer.org; What does calcium gluconate do?; Ronda Gates, M.S., R.Ph. and Marissa Weiss, M.D.; 2008
- Providence Health and Services; What's Safe to Take During Pregnancy?; 2005
- MayoClinic.com; Calcium Supplement; November 2010
