What Every Woman Needs to Know About Osteoporosis and Pregnancy

The literal translation of osteoporosis means “porous bones.” You’ve probably heard of it but figured it was something that happened to old people. Not so fast though. There’s a certain type of osteoporosis you need to be aware of if you are thinking of becoming or already are pregnant. It’s called osteoporosis associated with pregnancy and while it isn’t too common, it is still something you need to protect yourself against.

During this unusual situation, bones can very suddenly break or severe pain happens during pregnancy in a normally healthy woman. Osteoporosis associated with pregnancy is a rare condition when bones most commonly in the spine or hip area fracture easily close to the time a woman gives birth. The result is unfathomable pain and a complete lack of mobility.

The good news with this type of osteoporosis is that after pregnancy, it usually goes away although no one is sure of what causes it. The best thing that pregnant women can do is to ensure they’re getting proper nutrition to help keep something like this from happening. Getting enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet is essential, not just for keeping your chances of getting pregnancy-related osteoporosis down but also for your baby’s growing ones.

Interestingly enough, most studies show that while a little bone loss can potentially happen during pregnancy, women typically regain what they’ve lost after having the baby. Studies also show that no matter how many children a woman has in her lifetime, it doesn’t increase her chances for developing osteoporosis later on in life. What’s more is that research even points to additional pregnancies being responsible for providing some protection from osteoporosis.

Additionally, women should take care after giving birth to keep their bone density high. Breastfeeding can also cause bone loss, but like pregnancy osteoporosis, it is only temporary.

So what can you take away from all this? Know that taking care of your bone health throughout your whole life – young, old, pregnant or nursing – is the best thing you can do to prevent osteoporosis. Drink milk and eat plenty of healthy dairy items. Get lots of exercise too. And make sure you take a good multi-vitamin. If you’re pregnant or nursing, use a prenatal vitamin. Ask your doctor for recommendations and whether or not you might need an additional supplement to make sure you’re getting all the nutrients you and your baby need.

 

 

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