The importance of iron during pregnancy

Hemoglobin becomes very critical at the time of your pregnancy. Since your baby is also the recipient, you require extra iron to fulfill the requirements of your body along with the baby. Generally, the average woman requires 15mg, but now that she is pregnant, the iron necessity increases to 30-50mg, particularly from about the 20th week on. Iron facts:

• Many women have an insufficient iron level in their system to commence with, and the lack becomes more prominent at the time of pregnancy
• Iron is very crucial for the growth of fetus; it is the only nutrition which the fetus depends on entirely on the mother for the supply.
• Iron is required for the creation of red blood cells; enough stores of iron from the start of the pregnancy to the end are important.
• The average woman cannot depend on diet itself. The demand doubles at the time of pregnancy and thus iron supplements are added to balance for the deficiency.

Deficiency of iron may lead to:

• Insufficient store of this mineral is the probable cause of never-ending exhaustion;
• increases the occurrence of sicknesses and fainting spells
• Lack of iron will put a tension on the maternal heart
• Lack of iron will also cause danger to the mother as she might face extreme bleeding at the time of delivery

Advantages of iron supplements:

• Iron supplements are helpful; they help in manufacturing hemoglobin, which will in turn aids you to keep up with the required energy during pregnancy.
• Iron tablets come in various kinds and under several trade names: ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate and ferrous fumarate
• Absorption of iron is improved by vitamin C. Ideally supplements should be taken along with fruit juices

• Certain foods and medications that include high calcium foods, caffeinated drinks and antacids slow down the process of iron absorption. So, avoid taking your supplements with these items at the same sitting.
• In the later months of pregnancy, when the blood volume has extended, women may also have to take additional supplements separately from their prenatal vitamins as the iron dose won't be sufficient then.