Iron pills for pregnant women: Use how to supplement?

Iron supplement for pregnant women with iron pills for pregnant women is essential because at this stage you will need iron to make blood for yourself and your baby.

Iron drugs for pregnant women are often recommended by doctors during pregnancy, because this is the stage when the body needs more blood to feed the fetus. However, not everyone is known about the timing of taking iron pills as well as the side effects of the drug in pregnant women.

During pregnancy, if you do not get an adequate amount of essential iron every day, you will easily feel tired, and your risk of infection increases. Iron deficiency anemia in the first trimester of pregnancy doubles the risk of preterm birth and triples the risk of a low birth weight baby.

Why is iron medicine for pregnant women important for pregnant women?

The body uses iron to make hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells, that helps carry oxygen to tissues and organs. During pregnancy, the body must produce more blood to feed the fetus as well as the mother's body. During this stage, the body needs additional iron to create blood to support the rapid growth of the fetus.

In the event that you do not get enough iron from your diet, your body will use the stored iron, leading to the risk of anemia . Iron deficiency is very common in pregnant women. It is estimated that about half of all pregnant women worldwide have iron deficiency.

Anemia due to iron deficiency in the first trimester the most and secondly increases the risk of premature birth more than double the risk of low birth weight children tripled.

The reality is that iron deficiency is easily preventable and treatable. During the first and third trimesters, your doctor will give you tests to see if you have iron deficiency. If your red blood cell count is low, your doctor will prescribe an iron-fortified vitamin.

Note that during pregnancy, you should consult your doctor before taking any medications or herbs. This helps ensure the health of you and your baby.

How much iron supplement during pregnancy is reasonable?

Iron pills for pregnant women are often recommended by doctors during pregnancy. Experts recommend pregnant mothers should take about 27mg iron / day during pregnancy. There are 3 types of iron supplements: iron gluconate, iron fumarate , and iron sulfate . All three are good as long as they contain the right amount of elemental iron.

Iron pills for pregnant women should take when? Did you know your body absorbs iron best on an empty stomach. So you should take iron supplements for pregnant women before going to bed or when waking up in the morning. You can also avoid certain foods that reduce the absorption of iron in your body, like foods rich in calcium and caffeine. Be sure to take them at least a few hours before or after taking iron supplements. In addition, you should pay attention to consuming calcium-rich food sources during pregnancy. Other nutrients can promote iron absorption in the body, like vitamin C, so you can take an iron supplement with a cup of vitamin C-rich juice.

Also during breastfeeding, you should get at least 9mg iron / day.

How much iron is enough for pregnant women?

 Pregnant Women Target Group

Dosage  30–60 mg of elemental iron

Frequency  Per Day

Timing  During pregnancy, start as early as possible

People living in areas where pregnancy anemia is a major problem will be advised to take 60mg of elemental iron per day. If the clinical diagnosis shows that you have anemia, your doctor may recommend 120mg of elemental iron / day plus 0.4mg of folic acid until hemoglobin levels return to normal.

After that, your doctor will probably order you to go back to the standard dose of 30–60mg of elemental iron per day. Taking iron supplements can decrease the absorption of zinc from your diet so your doctor can monitor the zinc level in your blood. Most vitamins for pregnant women contain zinc. Therefore, the risk of zinc deficiency is not a concern.

Side effects of iron pills for pregnant women

Taking iron supplements during pregnancy can cause you to experience the following conditions:

1. Constipation

One of the most common side effects of taking iron pills during pregnancy or even in people who aren't pregnant is constipation . In fact, more than 10% of people taking iron tablets suffer from constipation. You can prevent this by eating plenty of fiber-rich foods and drinking plenty of water. Take steps for a balanced meal and exercise regularly. Persistent constipation or worsening of the symptoms may require a doctor's visit in hospital.

2. Stimulating digestion

You may also experience stomach cramps or cramps while taking iron supplements. This happens in about 10% of people who take iron tablets. If you notice this, start taking iron tablets with meals to relieve your symptoms.

3. Nausea and vomiting

Iron pills can contribute to worse morning sickness. Due to stomach problems, these symptoms are usually milder if you take iron tablets with a meal instead of when you are hungry. You can also alleviate this side effect by sucking on hard candies or chewing gum. If vomiting and nausea are more severe or are accompanied by fever, contact your doctor immediately.

4. Dark stools and urine

More than 10% of those taking iron supplements during pregnancy notice dark stools. Green or black stools are normal. About 5% of cases have dark urine. This effect is normal and goes away when you stop taking the iron pills.

Iron supplements for pregnant women

In addition to using iron supplements for pregnant women, you can increase your dietary iron supply. There are two types of iron: heme-iron and heme-free iron.

Heme-free iron is found in spinach, tofu, beans and some grains ...

Heme iron is found in animal products such as red meat, poultry, and fish.

The body absorbs heme iron more easily than non-heme iron. To make sure you get enough iron, eat a variety of foods rich in these minerals every day.

Here is a table of foods containing heme iron and iron content per 85g of some meats:

NO FOOD TYPES

AMOUNT OF IRON (mg)

1 Lean beef 3,2

2 Beef tenderloin 3

3 Roasted turkey thigh 2

4 Roasted turkey 1.4

5 Grilled chicken drumstick 1.1

6 Grilled turkey 1.1

7 White tuna meat, canned 1.3

Pork tenderloin 1,2

Food sources of heme-free iron and the amount of iron per 1 cup:

NO FOOD TYPES

AMOUNT OF IRON (mg)

1Inseal cups with added iron 24

2Eatmeal fortified with iron 10

3 Boiled soybeans 8,8

4 Boiled lentils 6.6

Cooked kidney beans 5.2

6 Chicken peas4.8

7 Cooked lima beans 4.5

8 Roasted pumpkin seeds 4.2

Cooked black beans or pinto beans 3.6

10 Boiled duck feet 6.2

11 Plum juice 3

12 Dried grapes 2.8

Additionally, 1 tablespoon of molasses provides 3.5mg of iron, and 1 slice of whole grain bread or rich white bread provides 0.9mg of iron.

You can get optimal iron from food by:

Cook foods in iron pots / pans: Acidic foods like ketchup are especially good with this type of utensil.

Avoid drinking coffee and tea at the same time with food: They contain compounds called phenols that interfere with iron absorption. If possible, stop consuming caffeine during pregnancy.

Eat foods rich in vitamin C: like orange juice, strawberries, and broccoli, especially if you are vegetarian, as your iron source is mainly from whole grains. Vitamin C can increase iron's absorption by up to six times.

Many foods contain "iron inhibitors" that can decrease the amount of iron the body absorbs in foods eaten at the same time. Phytates in grains and nuts, oxalates in soybeans and spinach, and calcium in dairy products are good examples of iron inhibitors. However, you should not eliminate these foods from your diet, just eat the same foods that contain vitamin C or some meat, poultry, and fish.

Calcium and dairy products will impair iron absorption. Therefore, if your doctor recommends iron and calcium supplements (or antacids that contain calcium), talk to your doctor about how to use them correctly.

Note to not overdose iron pills for pregnant women

It is entirely possible that pregnant women add more iron than the body needs. You should not exceed 45 mg of iron / day. If your body is too intolerant of iron (from foods, iron supplements or prenatal iron-fortified multivitamins) will cause blood iron levels to rise too high, possibly causing problems you and your baby.

Too much iron can increase your risk of developing  gestational diabetes  or oxidative stress. An imbalance in the body is thought to contribute to infertility ,  preeclampsia ,  miscarriage,  heart disease and high blood pressure . Therefore, you should only take iron supplement during pregnancy under the direction of a specialist.