Healthy Pregnancy: Getting Enough Iron

Having inadequate iron is also referred to as anemia. Low iron can cause fatigue, bruising, low immune function, and foggy thinking. Many pregnant women suffer from pregnancy-induced anemia due to the new demand for iron in their bodies. Anemia in pregnant woman is easily treatable, if treated early.

During pregnancy, women need more iron in their diets because the amount of blood in their bodies actually doubles! This means they will need 100% more iron than when in their pre-pregnancy state. Some women compensate for the need for this need by taking prenatal vitamins that contain iron. While taking prenatal vitamins is an adequate way to get the extra iron a pregnant woman needs, they can cause unpleasant side effects such as constipation, diarrhea, upset stomach, nausea, and dizziness. In addition, iron pills are not as easily absorbed as iron through other sources.

The best way for pregnant women to increase iron and avoid anemia is through diet. There are many foods a woman can eat which will provide her and her growing baby with the iron they need to be healthy through pregnancy and the post partum period. Some foods containing the most iron are: red meat, beans, lentils, blackstrap molasses, green leafy vegetables, and foods fortified with iron such as whole grain bread, brown rice, pasta, or oatmeal. Cooking with cast iron can increase iron by 50%, as it leeches elemental iron into foods. It is an excellent way for pregnant women to eat the foods they love, enriching them with iron from their cookware. Also very important, is to combine iron with vitamin C at every meal. Vitamin C aids in the absorption of iron. Pairing iron rich foods with a glass of orange juice is perfect, as orange juice contains folic acid, vital in for pregnancy health.

If a pregnant woman is concerned about anemia and desires iron supplementation, Flora Brand Floradix Iron + Herbs liquid supplement has been a trusted name in providing people with easily absorbable iron combined with vitamin C to aid in absorption. It also contains digestive herbs, which help reduce stomach upset which sometimes accompanies iron supplementation.

Pregnant women need not be too concerned with anemia in pregnancy. It is a very common issue for many women, especially those who have had heavy periods in the past, closely-spaced children, or a history of prior anemia. However, it is something that needs to be closely monitored and remedied to ensure the health of both mom and baby. Women should work closely with their OBGYN or midwife to come up with the best course of action for their pregnancy anemia.

source: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/iron.asp