Pregnancy Calcium & Vitamin D

Calcium is an essential mineral most commonly known for its role in building and maintaining healthy bones, after all, about 99% of all calcium in the body is stored here. Calcium also plays an important role in muscle and heart function.

Around 70% of Australian women of reproductive age are not meeting their calcium requirements from diet alone according to the latest health data (Australia Bureau of Statistics, 2015). We require 1000 mg of calcium every day, and the best sources are dairy foods such as milk, yoghurt and cheese, bony fish and calcium-fortified tofu.

Many women are moving away from dairy foods in favour of non- dairy alternatives that are not calcium-fortified. Some women simple are not eating enough foods from this food group and that leaves a significant gap in calcium intake which may compromise bone health in the long-term

Yes, calcium supplements including Perdays Pregnancy Calcium & Vitamin D are considered safe to take during pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding. Speak to your health care provider about your individual health needs before starting any supplement.

No, not necessarily. If your health care provider has identified you could benefit from a calcium supplement, Perdays Pregnancy Calcium & Vitamin D can support you in improving your calcium status. In fact, if you are planning a pregnancy, it is a good idea to ensure your calcium intake is meeting the 1000 mg per day requirements, as calcium status has been shown to potentially reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia and associated complications with hypertensive conditions during pregnancy (RANZCOG ,2014). We love to see women being proactive about their health, so speak with your health care provider about your calcium levels and discuss if you require a calcium supplement.

Unfortunately, there is no accurate blood test to assess calcium status, as the body will sacrifice bone to maintain calcium levels in the blood so that you maintain a normal range which ensures muscle and heart function continue at optimal function. Inadequate calcium intake is best determined by an experienced prenatal dietitian & nutritionist who can calculate your current intake and the gap between this and your target. Alternatively, chronic poor calcium and/or vitamin D status can impact bone mineral density, which can be detected via a bone mineral density or DEXA scan (these are not conducted during pregnancy due to the use of X-rays).

Yes, some women are more at risk of inadequate calcium intake including;
– Those with a diagnosed cow’s milk allergy or intolerance
– Breastfeeding mothers with an infant with a diagnosed cow’s milk allergy or intolerance
– Those who follow a vegan diet
-Those who are in a malabsorptive state e.g. Coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, weight loss surgery
– Those who decide not to consume dairy foods or other calcium-rich foods due to preference or other reasons
– Post-menopausal women who are not meeting dietary requirements for calcium & vitamin D
– Pregnant women with a risk of developing pre-eclampsia or experiencing a hypertensive pregnancy
– Pregnant women who are unable to meet dietary calcium needs due to food aversions, nausea or other dietary preferences/restrictions
– Those who have confirmed low bone mineral density (osteopaenia) or osteoporosis

Perdays Pregnancy Calcium & Vitamin D uses calcium citrate tetrahydrate. Calcium citrate is known to be more easily absorbed compared to calcium carbonate. Another benefit of using calcium citrate, is that if you’re taking acid-reducing medications for reflux, a common symptom in pregnancy, it will still be well absorbed.

There are a few key benefits to supplementing with calcium, particularly during pregnancy:
– You are able to meet your daily calcium requirements with ease, even if your dietary intake of calcium is sub-optimal, especially when calcium-rich foods might be particularly nauseating in early pregnancy.
-Enhancing calcium status supports the health of your bones whilst you’re growing your baby.
– Improving calcium status through diet and/or supplementation may help reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, a condition characterised by high blood pressure and may increase the risk of early/pre-term delivery (Hofmeyr et al., 2019).

Interestingly, there is some data to suggest that calcium status of mothers whilst breastfeeding plays a role in the development of your newborn baby’s bones (Australia and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society, Osteoporosis Australia and the Endocrine Society of Australia (2009).

Interestingly, you don’t need more calcium during pregnancy or whilst breastfeeding compared to pre-conception. This means the requirements of 1000 mg per day stays the same from pre-conception through to post-partum. This is because it is understood that absorption of calcium from foods during pregnancy is enhanced compared to when you are not pregnant.

Requirements may be higher for some individuals, speak to your health care provider about your calcium needs.

Calcium and vitamin D work hand in hand to support optimal absorption. Perdays Pregnancy Calcium & Vitamin D contains 399.6 IU of vitamin D per serve to help support the absorption of calcium.

The mini-capsule are small and easy to swallow. Compared to a regular calcium supplement, Perdays Pregnancy Calcium has been designed be more compact, making it easier for anyone that has difficulty swallowing large pills.

Yes, Perdays Pregnancy Calcium is vegetarian and vegan friendly.