The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Iron Supplements during Pregnancy

The most recommended solution to treat and prevent iron-deficiency anemia is ferrous sulphate. These iron supplements are available over-the-counter (OTC) in generic form. Ironically, there are several iron supplement side effects which, instead of curing the condition, tend to cause further complications. 

Benefits of iron during pregnancy

When you are expecting, your body readily demands for more amount of iron (nearly twice the regular amount) to make the extra blood supplied to your baby. Eating iron-rich foods and taking extra iron as supplements, as per the doctor’s recommendation, can help keep your iron level in check.

Your body intakes iron to make haemoglobin for you and your baby during pregnancy. The mineral also helps move oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body as well as to your baby's. Receiving enough iron can prevent a condition where too low red blood cells are produced and leads to a situation where you feel tired and fatigue. This condition is called iron deficiency anemia. This condition is dangerous for your baby who can be born premature, small, and can suffer from malnutrition.

Dosage of iron on a regular diet during pregnancy

As a pregnant woman, you will require at least 27 milligrams (mg) of iron on a daily basis during your entire pregnancy. After giving birth, and while you are breastfeeding, you need to get at least 9 mg of iron every day.

Finding iron in regular food and supplements

You can get iron in meat, poultry, and plant-based foods. You can also take in iron supplements to balance your diet. There are two types of iron in foods.

1. Heme iron: The type your body aborbs best , and found in beef, chicken, turkey, and pork.
2. Nonheme iron: Found in beans, spinach, tofu, and ready-to-eat-cereals that have added iron.

Iron rich foods include:

• Chicken liver (3 ounces) - 11 mg
• Beef liver (3 ounces) - 5.2 mg
• Oysters (3 ounces, canned) - 5.7 mg
• Soybeans (1 cup) - 8.8 mg
• Lentils (1 cup) - 6.6 mg
• Kidney beans (1 cup) - 5.2 mg
• Lima beans (1 cup) - 4.5 mg
• Iron-fortified instant oatmeal - 11 mg
• Iron-fortified ready-to-eat cereal - 18 mg
• Raisins (half a cup) - 1.6 mg

Need to take iron supplements

While it is always advisable to eat food rich in iron content, it is suggested to have them with foods that contain vitamin C, such as tomatoes and oranges. Vitamin C acts as a catalyst by regulating your body absorb nonheme iron better when you eat both at the same meal.

At the same time, few products like coffee, tea, milk, whole grains, and dairy products prevent your body from absorbing iron.

This complication often give rise to take iron supplements that ensure you get enough iron every day. You will get enough iron in your prenatal vitamin as prescribed by your doctor who will check your iron levels periodically depending on your test results. In case it is found that your iron level is low, you may need to take an extra iron supplement.

Are iron supplements safe?

Your body normally needs at least 27 mg of iron. But during pregnancy or during breastfeeding, it must never exceed more than 45 mg each day. Iron supplements are not always safe and are reportedly found to have multiple side effects like nausea, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea.

Other iron supplement side effects can cause discoloration in urine, stomach pain, dark stool, heartburn, etc.

Is there a safer option available?

Iron Catch can be a safer alternative to take during pregnancy. The food supplement doesn’t have any adverse effects, and starts acting fast and effective within 30 days.  It enhances the absorption of iron from regular food by speeding up the process by three to five times.

Place your order from https://www.iron-catch.com/ or call up at 833.550.6660 to know more about the product.