I don't recommend Tums as a calcium supplement for two reasons. The regular Tums is an antacid interfering with absorption of the calcium, as calcium requires an acid environment (lactic acid, oxacalic acid, etc.) This was the first ca. supplement physicians recommended because of a reluctance to "get into" vitamin/mineral supplements, which they knew little about. I am told that now Tums has a ca. tablet that is not accompanied by antacid properties. The second reason that I don't recommend this product is that calcium needs to be balanced with magnesium in a 2/1 ratio for optimal utilization. With the connection between magnesium deficiency and depression, I always recommend a ca/mag combination if a mother needs supplementation. Actually my favorite is ca/mag/zinc, as dairy products are a major source of zinc in the American diet. I also look at her meat consumption, as greater meat consumption (phosphorus) increases calcium needs. The "studies" that showed poor disolving of many ca. supplements was inspired by Tums in an effort to show the superiority of their product over those in health food stores. There were the stories of ca. pills found in sewers. Everyone seemed to suddenly know someone who worked in the sewer. Most Americans do injest too much phosphorus and need to pay attention to their ca/mag intake. We definitely need better nutrition education--and not all of it from the meat and dairy industry. And our medical schools teach nutrition about as thoroughly as they do breastfeeding management. Therefore any study of the relationship between health and nutrition is relegated to the realm of "alternative" medicine. I believe that nutrition is in our field because we deal with "food" for the baby and we know that a well nourished mother can best meet the many needs of her children. And we are dealing with a generation of women many of whom didn't have optimal nutrition as infants and who are still suffering from it. Pat Gima, IBCLC Milwaukee