Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body. The most important function of calcium is bone growth. This essential nutrient is in stored in bones and teeth as a deposit that serves to make them strong and healthy. Other important functions include constriction and relaxation of blood vessels and stabilizing enzymes and proteins within the body. There are many myths and assumptions about calcium during lactation. Because of this, nursing mothers often have questions and concerns about calcium levels, supplements, bone loss and calcium in foods.
Nursing Women Do Not Need Extra Calcium
Contrary to popular belief, a lactating mother does not need any more calcium than she would when she is not lactating. This myth is widely accepted since it is a logical thought -- making milk should require calcium. While this is true, nursing moms do not need to provide additional calcium through supplements or food. The recommended dosage is 1,000 mg per day, which is the same dosage for non-lactating women. A nursing mother's body makes breast milk regardless of calcium intake.
There are a few exceptions, such as breastfeeding teenagers, who need more calcium for growth and development, and women who have trouble meeting their regular minimum dosage of 1,000 mg a day. These women can take calcium supplements or choose healthy dairy options, such as milk and cheese to get their required daily dosages.
Lactation Does Leach Calcium From Your Bones
The biological process of making milk includes taking calcium that is stored in the mother's bones and putting that calcium into breast milk for the infant. There is nothing that can stop this process; while this may sound alarming, it is normal and natural. Once a child weans, the calcium is restored. In healthy women who ingest the recommended dosage of calcium, bones are not weaker during lactation even though some calcium is removed.
Lactation Makes Bones Stronger Later in Life
Although calcium is taken from a mother's bones during lactation, it serves to make bones stronger when that calcium is put back into the bones. A study published in 1993 in "Osteoporosis International" showed that breastfeeding decreases a mother's risk of developing osteoporosis later in life. Osteoporosis is a disorder that decreases bone mass. Since breastfeeding mothers re-establish a calcium supply after every nursing infant weans, she forms harder, denser bones that decrease the risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures.
Increasing Dietary Calcium Does Not Increase Breastmilk Calcium
A mother's milk is a complex substance that, in some cases, cannot be altered by supplements. Ingesting extra calcium does not increase the amount of calcium in breast milk. The mother's body provides the perfect amount of calcium for the infant's milk, even if the mother does not take in calcium or diary products. While it is recommended that a mother take the recommended dosage of calcium either through supplements or diet, increasing or decreasing that dosage will not change the calcium levels in the breastmilk.
References
- Kelly Mom: Calcium
- Breastfeeding; Calcium Needs During Lactation; Judith B. Roepke, Ph.D., R.D.
- Baylor College of Medicine: Do I Need Extra Calcium While Breastfeeding My Baby
- Medline Plus: Calcium
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University: Calcium
- "Osteoporosis International"; Influence of Breastfeeding and Other Reproductive Factors on Bone Mass Later in Life; Melton et al.; March 2003
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