Co-administration of Calcium and Multiple Micronutrient Supplements for Maternal and Newborn Hemoglobin and Iron Status

The World Health Organization (WHO) currently recommends the pregnant women receive iron-containing supplements and, in settings where calcium intake is low, calcium supplements. Supplements are to be taken at two separate times of the day as calcium may interfere with iron absorption. The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether taking daily calcium supplements and iron-containing multiple micronutrient supplements together, at the same time, has any negative impact on the hemoglobin or iron status of pregnant women or the woman's infants. Participants will be randomly assigned and counseled to either take the supplements together every morning or to take the multiple micronutrient supplement in the morning and the calcium supplement in the evening. Participants will visit the antenatal clinic monthly and be asked to provide a blood sample in early, mid, and late pregnancy. Researchers will also take blood samples from infants at the time of birth.