After delivery, what is the dose of Tab calcium carbonate with vitamin D3?

NHM MP Staff Nurse-2019

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Easy

Appeared in: NHM MP Staff Nurse-2019

Explanation

Lactating women require approximately 1000 mg of elemental calcium daily to support their own bone health and provide for the infant's needs.
A standard calcium supplement tablet often contains 500 mg of elemental calcium.
Taking two tablets per day (500 mg x 2 = 1000 mg) effectively meets the recommended daily allowance for calcium during the postpartum period.
Vitamin D3 is included in the formulation to enhance the absorption of calcium from the gastrointestinal tract.
The recommended duration of six months corresponds to the typical period of exclusive breastfeeding and helps to adequately replenish maternal calcium stores depleted during pregnancy and lactation.

Option A: Taking only one tablet provides just 500 mg of elemental calcium, which is insufficient to meet the daily requirement of 1000-1200 mg for a lactating mother.
Option C: While the daily dosage of two tablets is correct, the standard recommended duration for routine postpartum supplementation is six months, not nine.
Option D: Taking three tablets provides 1500 mg of elemental calcium, which is generally excessive and increases the risk of adverse effects like constipation and hypercalciuria without significant additional benefit for most women.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Safe nursing care depends on performing Postpartum nutritional supplementation, specifically the dosage of calcium and vitamin D for lactating mothers in the correct sequence, documenting the action clearly, and monitoring for the expected response.
Nurses play a vital role in educating postpartum mothers on the importance of adhering to their supplementation schedule to prevent maternal bone density loss, muscle cramps, and fatigue.
A critical nursing instruction is to advise patients to take calcium supplements at least 2 hours apart from iron supplements, as they compete for absorption in the gut.
Patients should be monitored for side effects of calcium supplementation, primarily constipation, and advised to increase fluid and fiber intake.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key elements of the question: the patient population (post-delivery/lactating mother) and the medication (calcium carbonate with vitamin D3).
Recall the physiological changes and increased nutritional demands during lactation. Specifically, remember the recommended daily intake (RDI) for elemental calcium, which is about 1000 mg.
Consider the standard strength of a calcium supplement tablet, which is commonly 500 mg of elemental calcium.
Calculate the number of tablets required to meet the daily RDI (1000 mg RDI / 500 mg per tablet = 2 tablets).
Recall the standard duration for postpartum supplementation, which is typically 6 months.
Compare your calculated dose and duration (2 tablets/day for 6 months) with the given options to find the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Postpartum nutritional supplementation, specifically the dosage of calcium and vitamin D for lactating mothers.
Stem keywords: after delivery, dose, Tab calcium carbonate, vitamin D3
Lead-in keywords: what is

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