Why do I need calcium?
Your developing baby needs the mineral to grow strong bones and teeth, healthy nerves, heart, and muscles, and to develop normal heart rhythm and blood clotting.

Research shows that during pregnancy, 13 milligrams (mg) of calcium an hour or 250 to 300 mg a day pass through the placenta to the baby. (At birth, the baby will have accumulated about 25,000 mg of calcium in his body.) If you don't get enough calcium in your diet, the fetus will leach it from your bones, which may impair your own health later on.

How much do I need?

All adults male and female need 1,000 mg of calcium daily, while those over 50 should boost their daily intake to 1,200 mg. Pregnant and nursing women also need 1,000 mg daily.

FYI Even when you're done with pregnancy and nursing, keep up the calcium it can ward off osteoporosis (bone loss) later in life.

What are the best food sources of calcium?
Milk, especially skim, and other dairy products are top sources, as are calcium-fortified foods and canned fish.

 1 cup low-fat yogurt: 414 mg

 8 oz. skim milk: 302 mg

 2 cups cottage cheese: 300 mg

 8 oz. calcium-fortified orange juice: 300 mg

 2 slices calcium-fortified bread: 300 mg

 3 oz. sardines: 300 mg

 1 oz. Gruyere cheese: 283 mg

 3 oz. canned salmon: 211 mg

 1 oz. cheddar cheese: 202 mg

 4 oz. firm tofu: 166 mg

 3 corn tortillas: 150 mg

 1/2 cup boiled turnip greens: 98 mg

Should I take a supplement?

A good multivitamin or prenatal vitamin should include at least 150 to 200 mg of calcium. You can also try a calcium supplement. Look on the label for calcium carbonate, the type most easily absorbed by the body. Or do this test: Place the supplement in a glass of vinegar and time how quickly it dissolves. If 10 minutes pass and it hasn't dissolved, try another brand.