Calcium intake is very important for babies. It is important for them to have healthy bones and teeth and normal muscle and nerve function. If a baby has a low level of calcium in the blood, it is called hypocalcemia. Symptoms include irritability, muscle twitches, jitteriness, tremors, poor feeding, and seizures. Here are some ways to prevent hypocalcemia in an infant.
Instructions
1. During pregnancy, the mother must get an adequate amount of vitamin D in her diet to prevent hypocalcemia in her infant. Foods that are rich in vitamin D are greens (collard and kale), red beans, and sardines and salmon (with bones). Dairy products contain the most calcium. These products include milk, cheese and yogurt. Future mothers should make sure these foods and drinks are a regular part of their diets.
2. If a pregnant woman does not have a lot of calcium in her diet, she should take vitamin supplements of calcium. This will ensure that there is an adequate calcium intake.
3. If a woman is drinking alcohol while pregnant, she should stop immediately. Alcoholism can cause low plasma magnesium levels in the body or hypomagnesia. Hypomagnesemia can result in hypocalcemia because magnesium plays a role in the body's ability to maintain calcium levels. Chronic alcoholics must stop drinking alcohol to prevent this magnesium deficiency.
4. When the baby is born, avoid feeding the baby a high-phosphate diet. Another cause of hypocalcemia is the consumption of toxic levels of phosphate. Phospate is an ingredient in regular cow's milk. A baby should be fed a low-phosphate diet such as human milk or Similac PM 60/40 formula.
5. If a baby is at risk for hypocalcemia or has low levels of calcium in the blood, ask the doctor if the baby needs intravenous (IV) calcium gluconate. The IV will help to maintain levels of calcium in the baby's blood.
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