During pregnancy, good nutrition plays a key role in maintaining your health and energy and the health and development of your baby.

Getting adequate calcium is important for the growth and development of your baby. During the last trimester of pregnancy, the fetus accumulates 330 mg/day of calcium. In order to meet the needs of both you and your baby, you need to consume a minimum of 3 servings of calcium a day. If you are not consuming an adequate amount of calcium, your baby will absorb the calcium it needs from your reserves in your bones and teeth.

Making your Calories Count
Pregnant and breastfeeding women only need to eat 300 extra calories during pregnancy and 500 extra calories while breastfeeding. Therefore, it is more important than ever to make all your calories count. So remember your 3 servings of dairy a day when planning meals and snacks.  View our
calcium rich snack ideas.

Pregnancy and High Blood Pressure
Calcium can help regulate blood pressure during pregnancy in some women and may help reduce the risk of both pregnancy-induced high blood pressure and preclampsia. Studies show that increasing calcium to 1200-1500 mg/day reduces the risk of pregnancy induced hypertension by 70% and preclampsia by 62%.