Question

Doctors generally encourage pregnant women to get plenty of calcium in their diets for themselves and their developing fetus. Why is this important advice?

The fetus will take calcium from the mother’s bones if the mother does not have enough in her diet.

Having plenty of calcium available will ensure that the muscles of the fetus will develop properly without taking calcium from the mother's muscles.

If the mother does not take in enough calcium during pregnancy the fetus will not be able to form its own bones.

Calcium is necessary in large quantities during pregnancy to a

Answer 1

Bones need far more calcium than muscles (which, common to all cells, need it for intracellular signalling and electric purposes) and are where the body stores its excess calcium. So chronic calcium deficiency will have a far more pronounced effect on bones than on muscles, which should narrow your choice of options considerably...

Answer 2

Calcium is needed by both pregnant woman and its developing embryo. Shortage of calcium will have far consequences on both mom and embryo, BECAUSE calcium is necessary for the muscle development of the embryo. Therefore, Having plenty of calcium available will ensure that the muscles of the fetus will develop properly without taking calcium from the mother's muscles should be the answer.

Answer 3

The answer is C

Answer 4

From what i can remember from the Maternal-medicine course (very brief) that i had, the fetus will most likely develop normally, the body is programmed to prioritize the offspring more than itself. Therefore the mother will most likely develop Osteoporosis and lose her teeth at a very young age. (Along with some 20 secondary effects i can't remember right now).

So summary the risk is far greater for the mother than the fetus if there is a lack of Calcium in the diet.