That's a 20 percent increase compared to the 1,000 mg of calcium recommended for non-pregnant women. Some emerging research suggests calcium also may play a role in maintaining normal blood pressure during pregnancy. This is important because about 9 percent of all pregnant women suffer from a potentially serious complication of pregnancy called preeclampsia, or pregnancy-induced hypertension. For pregnant women, maintaining an adequate calcium intake is particularly important because pregnancy is both a physically and nutritionally demanding time. Women cannot afford to deprive their bodies of this mineral, especially during a time when low calcium levels can have serious implications.
Calcium remains critically important for nursing mothers, as well.
The bone density loss, however, may be regained after cessation of breast-feeding if the woman's diet provides adequate calcium. McCarron advises that all women of child-bearing years who are thinking about having a baby pay extra attention to their calcium intake, as well as the overall quality of their eating plan, in order to prepare their bodies for pregnancy. Women can be well into their first trimester before they even know that they're pregnant. Most women fail to get enough of this bone-building mineral before they get pregnant, which makes it even more important to consume adequate calcium during and after your pregnancy. If you're like most women, you'll probably be well into your first month before you even know you're pregnant.