Breastfeeding and pregnancy do place extra demand on the body and causes changes and some may affect the bones. The truth is that pregnant women absorb calcium from supplements and food better than non pregnant females. During pregnancy a woman produces more estrogen that protects bones. Any bone loss experienced during pregnancy and breastfeeding, is restored a few months after pregnancy or after breastfeeding has stopped. Studies have shown that women do lose 3 to 5% of bone mass during breastfeeding, but it is recovered within 6 months after weaning. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should consume 1000 mg of calcium every day as well as at least 400 IU vitamin D to help with calcium absorption. Load bearing exercises are also good to builld bone mass and increase bone density. This includes activities like walking, climbing stairs, dancing and weight training. Another study concluded that women who breastfeed in fact increase their bone mass above their baseline level after weaning.
