Calcium deficiency symptoms in pregnant women

Calcium builds and maintains bones and teeth, and it helps your muscles, nerves and heart work. During pregnancy your baby draws calcium through the placenta to build her own skeleton, mostly in the third trimester. Your body adapts by absorbing more calcium from food, so the amount you need does not actually go up. What matters is getting enough every day.

How much calcium do you need?

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) puts the requirement at about 1,000 mg a day for adult women, pregnant or not. Teenagers aged 18 and under need about 1,300 mg a day, because their own bones are still growing. Your klinik kesihatan or doctor will tell you if you need more.

What happens if you do not get enough?

Usually nothing you can feel, at first. Your body keeps the calcium level in your blood steady by drawing on your bones. Low intake over a long time shows up as weaker bones for you later in life, not as symptoms during pregnancy.

A truly low blood calcium level is different and uncommon. Its signs include:

• Tingling or numbness around the mouth or in the fingers
• Muscle cramps or spasms
• In severe cases, a fast or irregular heartbeat

These need a doctor, not a supplement from the shelf.

Leg cramps are very common in pregnancy, especially at night. They are not usually caused by low calcium, and calcium supplements have not been shown to help them. Stretching your calves before bed often does.

Calcium and pre-eclampsia

Pre-eclampsia is a condition of high blood pressure and protein in the urine that can affect the liver, kidneys and placenta. The WHO recommends calcium supplements in pregnancy for women whose diet is low in calcium, to help reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia. Whether that applies to you depends on what you eat, so ask your doctor. Signs of pre-eclampsia include a severe headache, blurred vision, pain under the ribs and sudden swelling of the face, hands or feet. If you notice them, see a doctor straight away.

Calcium-rich foods

You can meet your needs from food. Good sources include:

• Milk, yoghurt and cheese. A glass of milk gives roughly 250–300 mg. Lactose-free milk works if dairy upsets your stomach.
• Ikan bilis and canned sardines, eaten with their soft bones.
• Tofu and taukua made with calcium sulphate. Check the label.
• Calcium-fortified soy milk.
• Dark green vegetables such as kailan, sawi and broccoli.
• Sesame seeds, almonds and tempeh.

Spread calcium through the day, since your body absorbs smaller amounts better. Vitamin D, from sunlight and food such as eggs and oily fish, helps you absorb it. Strong tea and coffee with meals can reduce absorption a little, so keep them between meals.

If you find it hard to get enough from food, ask your doctor about a supplement and the right dose. Take calcium and iron tablets at different times of day, because calcium reduces iron absorption.

Do bleeding gums mean low calcium?

Usually not. Gums that bleed when you brush during pregnancy are most often pregnancy gingivitis. Hormone changes make the gums react more strongly to plaque. It is common and needs good brushing and a dental check-up, not extra calcium.

Brush twice a day, clean between your teeth, and see a dentist. Government dental clinics see pregnant mothers. If a strong toothpaste makes you gag, try a milder one. Our Non-Fluoride Toothpaste is formulated for pregnancy and breastfeeding, with miswak, allantoin and a gentle mint, and no SLS. In a Mama's Choice satisfaction survey of 62 mothers (2022), 93% felt comfortable using it with no nausea. It is halal certified by BPJPH, Indonesia. Read more in our guide to toothaches during pregnancy.