Getting enough iron in your diet during pregnancy is very important but can also be challenging. While pregnant you are at increased risk of iron deficiency anemia which is a condition where your red blood cells do not have enough hemoglobin. Iron is a major building block of hemoglobin which is a protein that carries oxygen to all the tissues in your body.
During pregnancy iron needs nearly double from 18 mg/d in healthy adult women ages 19-50 years old to 27 mg/d when pregnant. Iron needs increase to support the increase in blood supply needed to support the delivery of oxygen to new maternal and fetal tissues.
Iron deficiency during pregnancy increases risk for premature birth or low birth weight. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that all pregnant women begin taking 30 mg daily of supplemental iron. Iron is often included in prenatal vitamins.
To learn more about iron needs during pregnancy, click on this link or on the picture below.
