Why do pregnant women need iron? What is a safe and effective iron supplement?

Food iron supplementation for pregnant women is needed in the months of pregnancy. During the months of pregnancy, you need to maintain hemoglobin hemoglobin. To do this, pregnant mothers need to focus on dietary sources of iron.

The role of iron for pregnant women

Hemoglobin hemoglobin is a type of protein located in red blood cells. It is responsible for carrying oxygen in the blood. For the normal person, if the hemoglobin (Hb) in the blood is below 13g / dl (male) or below 12g / dl (female), it will be considered anemia.

 

Iron plays an important role for pregnant mothers

However, for pregnant women, the demand for Hb is very high. Therefore, the diagnosis of anemia when Hb drops below 11g / dl. The main cause of anemia in this group is iron deficiency. This is the result of the body not providing enough iron needed to make hemoglobin.

The effects of iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women

Anemia in pregnant women not only affects the mother but also affects the fetus such as:

In the first trimester, easy to miscarriage, stillbirth

Premature rupture of membranes, premature placenta or premature birth in the last trimester

During pregnancy, there is a high risk of developing gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, infection of amniotic fluid

During labor, it is susceptible to prolonged labor, postpartum haemorrhage and postpartum infection

When the baby is born, the mother is at risk of lack of milk

The baby was born at a low weight, with jaundice after birth

Babies have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease than other children

Pregnant mothers need to supplement how much iron is enough?

During pregnancy, pregnant mothers need to consume at least 27 milligrams (mg) of iron per day. By the time you breastfeed, you can take at least 9 mg if you are 19 or older. If you have a baby around 18 years old, just get 10 mg of iron per day.

Note that too much iron increases your risk of gestational diabetes or oxidative stress. The imbalance of the body also affects fertility, pre-eclampsia symptoms. Ideally, pregnant mothers should supplement iron according to the instructions of your doctor.

Iron supplements for pregnant women

Red meat is an iron-rich food

In red meat contains a large amount of iron . Specifically, pork, beef, lamb ... According to research, the darker the meat, the more iron it contains.

 

Red meat is a great source of iron

Supplement iron with molluscs

These are aquatic mollusks and have hard shells. Popularity can be mentioned as clams, oysters, snails, mussels ... They are often processed into delicious, nutritious dishes. For example, 100 grams of clams contain up to 28 mg of iron .

Animal organs

Besides red meat, animal organs are also high in iron. The types of organs that are most easy to prepare meals are liver, heart, kidney ... In addition, organ meats are rich in protein, vitamins A, B and choline. They are especially good for the formation and brain development of the fetus.

Kinds of bean

Soybeans, green beans, peas ... are excellent sources of iron . With these beans, pregnant mothers can easily add them to the main meal as well as process them into snacks. Both nutritious and low in calories, this is the perfect choice for women.

Spinach

This is a great source of iron. Spinach is low in calories. So, they are suitable for pregnant mothers afraid of gaining too much weight during pregnancy. However, compared to animals, iron from plants is more difficult to absorb.

 

Spinach is a good source of plant iron for pregnant women

Broccoli

Besides spinach, broccoli is also an extremely nutritious food for pregnant women. In addition to iron, broccoli is also rich in fiber, folate, and vitamin K.

Pumpkin seeds

This series of iron-rich seeds is often used as a snack that is both delicious and easy to prepare. Moreover, pumpkin seeds also provide vitamin K, zinc, manganese and magnesium to help reduce the risk of gestational diabetes.

How pregnant women absorb iron effectively?

To absorb iron effectively, pregnant mothers need to note the following:

Iron from animal sources is more easily absorbed than iron from plants

Pregnant mothers should at the same time consume foods rich in vitamin C for more effective iron absorption

The absorption will be limited if pregnant women use iron absorption inhibitors. Some good examples are tea tanning, raw grain phytates, coffee caffeine and carbonated soft drinks.

Particularly for women with small red blood cell anemia problem due to outstanding iron deficiency, if the diet simply cannot be improved, they should use iron supplements.

Conclusion

Iron is an important ingredient for pregnant women. To ensure the health of mother and baby, women should follow the nutritional guidelines directed by their doctor.

See more:

What nutrients should pregnant women pay attention to?

Nutrition every month for a healthy pregnancy

Answering the nutritional question: Can pregnant women eat olives?