during pregnancy it's important for a woman to get enough calcium for herself as well as her growing baby. most studies show that while some bone loss may occur during pregnancy a woman usually regains it after giving birth. in fact studies show that having children even as many as 10 does not increase a woman's chance of getting osteoporosis later in life. for women who have pregnancies in their teens the effects on bone health later in life are still not certain. teens have not yet reached peak bone mass. more studies are needed to learn if teen pregnancies can affect future bone health. some women develop a temporary type of osteoporosis during pregnancy. while we do not fully understand what causes this type of osteoporosis it is extremely rare and usually goes away shortly after a woman gives birth. breastfeeding for the recommended 6-12 months has many health benefits for mother and baby. like pregnancy breastfeeding may cause some temporary bone loss. however bone density appears to recover over time and should not cause long-term harm to a woman's bone health.
what happens to your bones during pregnancy and breastfeeding?