Calcium is the main building block of our bones and teeth and is therefore particularly important during pregnancy. The developing baby obtains its calcium requirement from the mother's blood; if the mother does not have an adequate supply of calcium, it extracts the calcium from the mother's bones instead.


Therefore, the risk of developing osteoporosis is greatly increased for expectant mothers with a calcium deficiency. This disease usually only becomes noticeable years later, so there are no directly visible consequences. During pregnancy, it is recommended to increase the daily intake of calcium by 20 per cent.

Unlike with various other important nutrients, this can be achieved quite easily with food intake, as the recommended minimum of 1200mg per day can be achieved by slightly increasing the consumption of milk and dairy products such as yoghurt, cheese and various pulses, some vegetables such as broccoli, fennel or kale and also mineral water.

Just one litre of milk contains enough calcium to cover your needs during pregnancy. If you don't like milk in these quantities every day, you can reduce it by eating some of the other foods listed.

A positive side effect of calcium is that it dilates the blood vessels and thus counteracts high blood pressure. It also helps to relax the muscles and can even ensure that the cervix opens more easily during labour due to improved blood flow.