What if I told you that Iron deficiency affects 9% of women aged 12 to 49. Premature labour and low birth weight are also risks of iron shortage during pregnancy. During pregnancy, women require more iron to maintain the increased blood volume needed to care for the baby and prepare for labour.

The necessity of iron during pregnancy, the benefits of iron supplements, and the risks of excessive iron intake during pregnancy are all covered in detail by bump2baby scans.

Why Is Iron Important During Pregnancy?
Iron is required by your body for a variety of activities even if you are not pregnant.

[*]It is responsible for the synthesis of haemoglobin, an oxygen-carrying protein found in red blood cells.
[*]Myoglobin, a protein that delivers oxygen to the muscles, and collagen, which helps make bone, cartilage, and other connective tissues, both require iron.
[*]It also aids in the strengthening of your immune system and is required for the creation of several vital enzymes.

You should increase your iron intake during pregnancy for the following reasons:

1. To make extra haemoglobin:
Your body produces nearly 50% more blood during pregnancy than it normally does, which is why you require more haemoglobin and hence more iron.

2. Iron deficit before pregnancy:
Many women are iron deficient even before they get pregnant. An insufficient amount of iron causes fatigue. As a result, they require additional iron throughout pregnancy.

3. Increased iron demand for baby's growth:
The need for iron increases as the baby grows, especially in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

4. To prevent pregnancy difficulties:
A lack of iron during pregnancy has been connected to several pregnancy complications, including premature delivery, low birth weight, infant death, and so on. All of them can be avoided if you get enough iron.

Now that you know how important iron is, you should check to see if you're receiving enough of it. What amount of money do you require? Is it possible to obtain it solely through food or with the use of a supplement?

Continue reading to figure out all of the above.

Are You Getting Enough Iron?
During pregnancy, your body uses more iron to produce the extra blood required for you and your fetus. It also aids in the delivery of oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body, as well as to the infant. As a result, if you don't get enough iron, you'll get weary soon.

To figure out if you're getting enough iron, you'll need to know how much you should be taking.

How Much Iron Should You Take While Pregnant?

During pregnancy, you'll need a total of 800 milligrams (mg). The fetus and placenta require 300 milligrams, while maternal haemoglobin requires 500 milligrams.

During the second half of pregnancy, your body consumes a lot of iron. As a result, demand rises from 0.8mg per day in the first trimester to 6-7mg in the second and third trimesters.

Every day, you need between 2 and 4.8 milligrams of iron. For the body to absorb the appropriate quantity of iron, you must consume 2 to 4.8 milligrams of dietary iron. The remainder will be expelled by the skin, urine, and intestines.

According to the CDC, at the time of your first prenatal appointment, the recommended iron intake during pregnancy should be 27 to 30 mg of iron supplement per day.

What Iron-Rich Foods Are There?
In addition to the supplements, your doctor may suggest iron-rich foods to include in your daily diet throughout pregnancy.

Heme and non-heme iron are the two forms of iron.

Animal sources of heme iron include red meat, cattle, turkey, chicken, pork, and fish. This form of iron is better absorbed by your body than the other. As a result, eating more heme-rich foods is beneficial.

Plant sources of non-heme iron include spinach, beans, dried fruits, tofu, whole grains, and iron-fortified meals.

Some of the foods containing heme iron (per three-ounce serving) are:
[*]Lean beef chuck steak – 3.2mg
[*]Beef liver – 5.2mg
[*]Lean beef tenderloin – 3mg
[*]Chicken breast meat – 1.1mg
[*]Chicken liver – 11mg
[*]Chicken dark meat – 1.1mg
[*]Turkey dark meat (roasted) – 2mg
[*]Turkey breast meat (roasted) – 1.4mg
[*]Light tuna, canned – 1.3mg
[*]Canned oysters – 5.7mg
[*]Pork loin chop – 1.2mg

Foods containing non-heme iron:
[*]One cup instant oatmeal (iron-fortified) – 10mg
[*]One cup soybeans, boiled – 8.8mg
[*]One cup ready-to-eat cereal fortified – 24mg
[*]One cup cooked lentils – 6.6mg
[*]One cup pinto or black beans, cooked – 3.6mg
[*]One ounce pumpkin seeds, roasted – 4.2mg
[*]One tablespoon blackstrap molasses – 3.5mg
[*]One cup chickpeas – 4.8mg
[*]One cup lima beans, cooked – 4.5mg
[*]One cup kidney beans, cooked – 5.2mg
[*]Half cup boiled spinach – 3.2mg
[*]Half cup raw tofu, firm – 3.4mg
[*]One cup prune juice – 3mg
[*]One slice of enriched white or brown bread: 5.7 mg
[*]One-fourth cup raisins – 0.75mg

During pregnancy, these were the iron sources. However, getting enough iron from food might be difficult, especially if you follow a vegan or vegetarian diet. Tell your healthcare practitioner about your eating choices so she can keep a close eye on your iron levels.

Tips for Fulfilling Your Iron Needs During Pregnancy:
Here are some easy strategies to keep iron in your diet when preparing your daily meals:

[*]Whenever feasible, cook with a cast iron pan (while using tomato sauces and other acidic and moist foods). They absorb iron and assist you in obtaining some.
[*]Caffeine should not be consumed with meals. Caffeine products contain phenols, which obstruct iron absorption.
[*]Vitamin C-rich foods include oranges, broccoli, strawberries, and other citrus fruits. Vitamin C has been shown to boost iron absorption by up to six times.
[*]Reduce or replace iron inhibitors (substances that limit iron absorption) in meals like legumes, whole grains, soy foods, and spinach with iron-boosting foods like meat, fish, and chicken.
[*]Iron absorption is hampered by calcium. If you're taking calcium supplements, make sure you take them at least once a day.
[*]Heme foods aid in the absorption of non-heme nutrients, therefore including fish or meat in your daily diet.

What Happens During Pregnancy If You Don't Get Enough Iron?
The most common dietary shortfall during pregnancy is iron insufficiency. It commonly appears in the third trimester of pregnancy. Low iron levels can lead to the following symptoms:

[*]Lowered work capacity
[*]Tiredness
[*]Decreased resistance to infections
[*]Iron deficiency anaemia
[*]Cardiovascular stress

Low iron levels during pregnancy can cause a variety of problems for the infant, including:

[*]Low birth weight
[*]Infant mortality
[*]Preterm baby

Even if you were anaemic before becoming pregnant, you should notify your doctor. The amount of iron you need from supplements will be determined by your OBS-GYN.

Should You Take An Iron Supplement When Pregnant?
Your gynaecologist will prescribe iron tablets as the pregnancy continues. It does not, however, imply that you are iron deficient. Supplements are frequently recommended as a preventative measure because the iron needs during pregnancy increase in the months afterwards. Furthermore, your daily diet may not provide enough iron.

Your doctor will examine your iron levels during your first prenatal visit and, depending on the results, may recommend prenatal supplements. However, you should only take them if your doctor has prescribed them.

Remember:
When using iron supplements during pregnancy, you may need to pay attention to certain details.

[*]Take the vitamins at the recommended dosage. Don't take two the next day if you didn't take it the day before.
[*]When taking iron supplements, eat fibre-rich foods to keep your stool from hardening and making it harder to pass.
[*]Make sure the supplements you're taking are current and haven't expired.
[*]Before taking iron supplements, see your doctor to rule out any potential drug interactions or adverse reactions.

Is Too Much Iron Bad During Pregnancy?
Each day, you can consume up to 45 milligrams of iron. If you take more than this, your blood iron levels may rise, posing a risk to both the mother and the fetus.

[*]Excess iron can cause the following problems:
[*]Nausea and constipation are common gastrointestinal problems.
[*]Gestational diabetes or oxidative stress.
[*]In the body, there is an imbalance that may play a role in fertility.
[*]Preeclampsia is linked to miscarriage.

Supplements can sometimes induce negative effects, especially if the dosages are higher than the recommended daily value.

What Are The Side Effects Of Iron Supplements During Pregnancy?
You must maintain a healthy iron balance in your body during pregnancy to avoid the following supplement negative effects:

[*]Gastrointestinal tract upset: One of the most common problems you may encounter is constipation. The juice of a prune will bring immediate comfort.
[*]Darker stools: Iron alters the colour of your stools. However, there is no need to worry.
[*]Nausea and diarrhoea: Supplementation can sometimes make you feel sick. As a result, you can take it with a snack or before going to bed.

Best Time to Take Iron Tablets During Pregnancy
Because iron pills are better absorbed on an empty stomach, it is advisable to take them one or two hours before or after meals.

Iron supplements can be depleted if consumed with other meals such as milk, tea, coffee, cheese, eggs, spinach, whole grains, and yoghurt.

Iron Injection is safe during Pregnancy?
Iron injections are only given to people who have failed to get enough iron through oral supplementation. This means that patients who cannot absorb oral iron or who have severe anaemia despite taking adequate iron dosages are given injections.

[*]This is a costly treatment.
[*]Iron injections can cause hypersensitivity, fever, vomiting, nausea, joint pains, wheezing, and dyspnea, among other things.
[*]Furthermore, injected iron causes teratogenic effects (disturbs fetal development and might result in congenital disabilities).

The greatest approach to ensure that your body receives adequate iron throughout pregnancy is to do so naturally. Consume iron-rich foods as well as foods that aid in the absorption of iron from other foods. Your body should be able to get enough iron from a balanced and nutritious diet for both you and your baby.

Read more pregnancy article at bump2baby scans blogs.