Why You Need Calcium While Pregnant

Why do you need calcium?

  • Your baby needs it to:
    • Grow strong bones, teeth, nerves, heart and muscles
    • Have a normal heart rhythm
  • Avoid blood clotting
  • If you don't get the right amount of calcium you could lose it from your bones

How much calcium do I need?

  • Pregnant and nursing women need at least 1,000 milligrams (mg) of calcium a day
  • Pregnant women under the age of 18 need 1,300 mg a day

Foods with calcium

  • Dairy products (yogurt is good with 415 mg per eight-ounce serving)
  • Tofu products
  • Nuts
  • Beans
  • Some greens (turnip greens and kale)
  • Broccoli
  • Canned salmon
  • Some foods have calcium added to them, such as vegetable juice, orange juice, soy milk, some cereals, cereal bars and frozen waffles

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