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Calcium and Vitamin D Requirements During Pregnancy

Calcium and Vitamin D Go Together Like Bees and Honey.

How So? Calcium builds strong bones (and teeth) and vitamin D helps absorb calcium.

Why Is Getting Enough Calcium & Vitamin D During Pregnancy So Important?

  • Because, in addition to building strong fetal bones and teeth, calcium and vitamin D help guard against preterm labor (labor before 37 weeks) and preeclampsia (a condition characterized by pregnancy-induced hypertension and protein in the urine).
  • Doctors, therefore, recommend that pregnant women take 1,000 milligrams (mg) of calcium per day.
  • The jury is still out, though, on what the optimal daily dose of vitamin D should be for pregnant women. The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that pregnant women take at least 600 international units (IU) of supplemental vitamin D per day.1 However, some experts recommend taking higher daily doses of vitamin D (up to 4,000 IU) during pregnancy. Ask your doctor how much vitamin D they think you should take each day.

PediaTrivia: Roughly 40% of the U.S. population is deficient in vitamin D.2

PediaTips

1. If your prenatal vitamin doesn’t contain enough calcium or vitamin D to meet the daily requirements during pregnancy, don’t worry. Just take a combined calcium and vitamin D supplement in addition to your prenatal vitamin. Run this by your doctor, though, first.

2. To maximize the amount of calcium you absorb, do the following:

  • Take your prenatal vitamin and calcium supplement at different times.
  • Wash down your calcium supplement with orange juice. Why? Because the vitamin C in orange juice promotes calcium absorption.

The Bottom Line

Taking adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D during pregnancy will decrease your risk of preeclampsia & preterm labor and help your developing baby build strong bones & teeth.


Footnotes

1. ACOG. March 2021. “Nutrition During Pregnancy.” https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/nutrition-during-pregnancy [Accessed March 2021]

2. UpToDate. December 2020. “Vitamin D Deficiency in Adults: Definition, Clinical Manifestations, and Treatment.” https://www.uptodate.com/contents/vitamin-d-deficiency-in-adults-definition-clinical-manifestations-and-treatment?search=vitamin%20D%20defieicny&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=1#H24639310 [Accessed February 2021]  

Content
1. American Pregnancy Association. April 2012. “Nutrients and Vitamins for Pregnancy.” https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/pregnancy-health-wellness/pregnancy-vitamins-nutrients-975/ [Accessed February 2021]

2. ACOG. July 2011. “Vitamin D: Screening and Supplementation During Pregnancy.” https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2011/07/vitamin-d-screening-and-supplementation-during-pregnancy [Accessed February 2021]

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Dr. Blair Farr is a board-certified doctor and Mom of two. Her goal is to use her personal & professional experiences to help others find more support, peace, and joy on their own pregnancy & parenting journeys.