Iron in pregnancy

17-Mar-2008

Tags: Parenting , Iron , Pregnancy , Mom , Mum Parenting , Iron , Pregnancy , Mom , Mum , Mother , Foods , Diet , Parenting more less

Everybody pregnant or not needs a regular intake of iron. Most of it is used to make haemoglobin, the oxygen carrying pigment in the blood. Anaemia is when the body has a iron deficiency, and you may feel tired with poor resistance to infections.

Iron requirements in pregnancy are greater due to the need to produce extra blood cells. Increasing the iron in your diet will help provide the extra iron your body requires.

Which foods contain iron?

There are 2 different type of iron in foods and they are:

Haem iron- present in red meat, fish and chicken and they are more readily absorbed and a richer iron source. Non-haem iron- present in legumes, eggs, vegetables, fruit, cereals.

Best sources of iron

How to maximise iron absorption?

Add a food rich in Vitamin C to your meal, such as fruit juice, cauliflower, cabbage, tomatoe, rockmelon.

Avoid tea, coffee and high calcium foods.

Iron supplements

Iron tablets- FGF, Fefol and Floradix

Multivitamins

Elevit and Fabfol

Side effects of iron supplements

Constipation- take Metamucil

Feeling sick- try taking it at night

Diarrhoea- try to increase iron through your diet.

Always remember to check with your heath care proffesional before commencing any new supplements or diet.

 

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