Calcium supplement

[Jolinkomo]

I am lactose intolerance and took calcium in previous pregnancies. This resulted in lower Blood pressure.

Bp has been edging up. The top number and I have just checked my prenatal (garden of Life) and found that it dies not contain calcium. Wonder why...

Any of you ladies taking extra calcium?

[kittie2]

Calcium interferes with the absorption of iron, so prenatals that have iron usually don’t have much if any calcium in them. I take a separate calcium & magnesium supplement (2 pills per day) because I despise drinking milk and do not consume much other dairy. My doctor told me to take it at least 2-3 hours apart from the prenatal, so I take one calcium pill in the morning, prenatal in the afternoon and the other calcium pill in the evening. I did not know calcium impacted blood pressure though. Mine has typically been normal, and this is my first pregnancy that has progressed this far (currently 10.5 weeks). Doc didn’t mention anything, so I’ll make a note to ask about that at my next appointment.

[Jolinkomo in reply to kittie2]

Thank you dear for your response.

Yes I noticed that in all my pregnancies taking calcium reduced my blood pressure.

I found below while I was Search Ng for answers.

cochrane.org/CD001059/PREG_...

I have taken the calcium since yesterday and no gradually crawling down. I think it makes a difference cos I don't take milk or milk product.

Your doctor must be one of the few good ones left. Often times doctors do not consider nutritional deficiencies as root cause of problems. I am hoping that by the next time I go to the clinic or midwife, BP would have normalise. Otherwise they will pull out all the bp meds that scare the living hell of me

[Jolinkomo in reply to kittie2]

My prenatal is one of those you have to take 3x a day. Will switch to another that is at mostv2x so I can manage the gap between each effectively.

Congrats in your pregnancy.

[Purpledoggy]

I take extra calcium because I don't eat any dairy (intolerant to cows milk in any form). I drink almost a litre of fortified almond milk a day and also take 2-3 Rennie (I struggle to swallow calcium supplements and good old Rennie contain a decent amount plus help my indigestion!). I don't take Rennie with my prenatal but do drink some almond milk, so it is possible I do inhibit a bit of iron absorption from the pre-natal; however, I eat meat (including red meat a couple of times a week) so not overly worried about it. I do also take a high dose of vitamin D due to lack of sunlight exposure and previous deficiency. xx

[Jolinkomo in reply to Purpledoggy]

So relieved to read others are taking calcium. It's really important nutrient especially in pregnancy. Now I understand why it has s not in the prenatal.

The one I bought from pure encapsulations is only 450mg and 100 mg needed. I believe broccoli and and almond milk will provide more but 450mg better than nothing.

[Purpledoggy in reply to Jolinkomo]

I calculated the amount I was getting from the almond milk (120mg per 100mL in Almond Breeze) and then take usually 2 Rennie to top up to 1200mg a day (RDA for pregnant women seems to vary from 1000-1400 so I aim for 1200 due to struggling with my vitamin D). I also get calcium from our tap water as the lime is really high (114mg calcium per litre). If you don't consume milk I do recommend working out how much you are actually getting just to make sure it is at least 1000mg xx