Calcium requirement per day during 3rd trimester of pregnancy is

UPPSC 2022

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Easy

Appeared in: UPPSC 2022

Explanation

The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for calcium during pregnancy is 1000 mg per day, with some guidelines (like ICMR) suggesting up to 1200 mg.
This requirement is especially critical during the third trimester due to accelerated fetal skeletal mineralization, where the majority of the total 30g of fetal calcium is deposited.
Adequate intake is necessary to support the developing fetus without mobilizing calcium from the mother's bones, which could increase her risk for future osteoporosis.
Meeting this requirement supports both fetal bone development and protects maternal bone density.

Option A: A daily intake of 20 mg is critically insufficient and would lead to severe calcium deficiency, negatively impacting both maternal bone health and fetal skeletal formation.
Option B: An intake of 100 mg is far below the daily requirement for any adult, and it is grossly inadequate to meet the significantly increased demands of pregnancy.
Option C: While closer to the correct amount, 750 mg is still insufficient to meet the peak fetal demand for bone mineralization in the third trimester and fully protect the mother's calcium stores.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Nutritional requirements during pregnancy as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a vital role in antenatal nutritional counseling, educating expectant mothers on the importance of a calcium-rich diet and the potential need for supplements.
Inadequate calcium intake during pregnancy is linked to an increased risk of hypertensive disorders, including pre-eclampsia, and can compromise fetal growth.
What if the patient is lactose intolerant? The nurse should advise on non-dairy calcium sources like ragi, sesame seeds, fortified soy/almond milk, tofu, almonds, and green leafy vegetables. A discussion with the healthcare provider about calcium supplementation would also be necessary.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key components of the question: 'Calcium requirement', 'per day', and '3rd trimester of pregnancy'.
Recognize that the third trimester is a period of maximum fetal growth, implying that nutrient requirements will be at their peak.
Recall the standard Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for essential minerals during pregnancy. For calcium, the standard is around 1000-1200 mg.
Evaluate the given options against this standard recommendation.
Eliminate options that are clearly too low (20 mg, 100 mg) or insufficient (750 mg).
Select the option that aligns with the established guidelines, which is 1000 mg.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Nutritional requirements during pregnancy
Stem keywords: Calcium requirement, per day, 3rd trimester, pregnancy
Lead-in keywords: is
Clinical cues: 3rd trimester: This period is significant as it marks the peak of fetal skeletal mineralization, thus maximizing calcium demand.

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E6 Obstetrics Williams p. 80-94

E6 Nutrition Kumud Khanna 2e p. 88-90