Pregnancy changes a woman’s body in many different ways. Not only do women experiences changes in their hormonal balance, but they also find that things like pelvic pain urine leakage etc., may become permanent as well. It is also not new information how a mother’s body prioritizes the health of the baby, over its own sustenance, however, does that mean this could cause the mother’s health to suffer permanently? A few studies have suggested that women who breastfeed often lose their bone density, causing them issues like osteoporosis. Osteoporosis, a condition that makes bones weak and brittle, is a big health concern, especially for women after menopause. Doctors and researchers have long wondered if pregnancy and breastfeeding could play a role in this later in life. The main idea is that during pregnancy and breastfeeding, a woman's body needs a lot of calcium for the baby. This high demand, along with low estrogen levels, might affect the mother's bone health. Does Breastmilk Draw Nutrient From Women’s Bones? According to National Institute of Arthritis And Musculoskeletal And Skin Diseases during both pregnancy and breastfeeding, a mother's body needs a lot of calcium to help her baby grow. Some of this calcium comes from the mother's bones, which naturally causes a temporary decrease in her bone density. This is a normal part of pregnancy and breastfeeding and usually happens most during the third trimester and while she is nursing. While a temporary decrease in bone density is normal during pregnancy and breastfeeding, your bone density usually returns to normal after you give birth and during or after you stop breastfeeding. However, in very rare cases, some pregnant or nursing women might develop osteoporosis. This can lead to fractures, especially in the spine, that can happen without much stress or injury. Does Breastfeeding Increase Risk of Osteoporosis? Many studies have looked into this issue, but there is still no clear answer. Some research suggests a link, while other studies don't. Because there's no agreement among experts, a 2024 study was done to get a better understanding. Researchers reviewed all the available information on osteoporosis, pregnancy, and breastfeeding to see what the facts currently show. However, what researchers found was much different than they anticipated. Researchers at UC San Francisco and UC Davis solved the mystery of how breastfeeding women's bones stay strong even when calcium is taken from them to make milk. They discovered a new hormone called Maternal Brain Hormone (MBH), also known as CCN3, that makes bones stronger and denser. This finding, published in Nature, could one day help people with broken bones and diseases like osteoporosis. Could This Research Lead To Better Bone Health Care? The researchers found that when they gave MBH to young and old mice, both male and female, their bones became much stronger. In some very old female mice that had no estrogen (which normally helps build bones), the hormone was able to more than double their bone mass. To see if MBH could help with healing, the scientists created a special gel patch that slowly released the hormone onto a broken bone. In older mice, whose bones normally don't heal well, the patch helped new bone form and heal the fracture. This successful outcome has never been seen before with other treatments. The researchers are excited about the potential of MBH to help people with various bone conditions, including: Women after menopause who are at high risk for osteoporosis, a disease that causes bones to become weak and break easily.Breast cancer survivors who lose bone mass from their treatment.Elite female athletes.Older men who have suffered a hip fracture.How Much Calcium Do Women Need? The amount of calcium a woman needs each day doesn't change when she is pregnant or breastfeeding. Ages 14-18: 1,300 mg per day.Ages 19 and older: 1,000 mg per day. Getting more calcium than these recommended amounts from food or supplements won't stop the temporary bone loss that happens during this time. For this reason, extra calcium doesn't have a big impact on how much bone a woman loses. If you're pregnant or nursing and are thinking about taking a calcium supplement, you should always talk to your doctor first.
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