Iron is an important nutrient during pregnancy. The baby needs iron to develop muscles, red blood cells and blood vessels. Many women have a diet that is lacking in iron. Iron deficiency anemia is a common complication among pregnant women.
Include iron rich foods in your diet to help be sure you are getting enough of this critical nutrient. Meats such as beef and lamb contain the highest amount of iron. It is found in smaller amounts in other meats, such as chicken. Vegetarian mothers should include non meat sources of food that are high in iron, such as green leafy vegetables, tofu and dried beans. Include several sources of iron in your diet.
The need for iron increases in the third trimester of pregnancy. The baby needs more iron because he is storing it in his body for the early days after he is born. Low iron is very common in the third trimester. For this reason, some doctors instruct all their patients to take a 30 mg iron supplement each day beginning in the second trimester of the pregnancy.
Your iron level will likely be tested either late in the second trimester or early in the third. If your iron level is low, you will be instructed to take iron supplements each day. The amount of iron you need to take will depend on the level in your blood. Your doctor or midwife will tell you how much to take.
If you are given an iron supplement, it’s important to take it correctly. You should not take iron with calcium. This will slow the absorption of the iron. If you are taking iron and calcium supplements, they should not be taken together. Take one in the morning and the other in the evening for maximum absorption. Orange juice helps the body absorb iron. Take your supplements with a big glass of orange juice to get the greatest benefit.
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