Iron Deficiency & Anemia in Pregnancy
During pregnancy, the amount of blood in a woman’s body increases by almost 50%. As the volume of blood increases, so does the need for iron. Iron is needed to form the red
blood cells, which move oxygen from the lung to the rest of the body.
Symptoms of low iron or anemia are feeling faint, dizzy, light-headed, fatigued or weak. You may also appear pale, feel cold, have headaches, shortness of breath, or heart
palpitations.
Anemia is diagnosed by checking the hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. Hematocrit is a measurement of the amount of the blood is made up of hemoglobin. These levels are
checked at the beginning or pregnancy and again in the third trimester.
If you are diagnosed with anemia, you may need to take a separate supplement of iron every day. Sometimes these iron supplements can cause constipation so it is important to
drink plenty of fluid and eat foods high in fiber. Iron can be absorbed better when taken with vitamin C. You should take supplements on an empty stomach with a glass of water or
orange juice for the best absorption. Since calcium decreased your ability to absorb iron, you should avoid having milk or other dairy products at the same time as your iron.
Sometimes, just increasing the amount of iron in your diet may be enough to prevent or treat very mild anemia
Sources of Iron in Foods
Lean red meats: beef, pork, lamb
Egg yolks
Greens: collard greens, kale, mustard greens, spinach & turnip greens
Veggies: broccoli, asparagus, parsley, artichokes & brussel spouts
Dried fruit: raisins, prunes & apricots
Liver
Turkey or chicken giblets
Mollusks: clams, scallops, & oysters
Beans, lentils, chick peas, & soybeans
Iron fortified cereals & breads, rice or pasta