What is the use of iron supplementation for pregnant women
Release time : 09/05/2025 09:30:04
According to customs, a pregnant woman's hemoglobin below 100 grams per liter is considered anemia in pregnancy. In China, nearly one-third of pregnant women suffer from iron deficiency anemia.
Anemia in pregnant women increases the risk of postpartum hemorrhage, which is a major cause of death among pregnant and postpartum women.
However, symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia in early pregnancy often go unnoticed because they are not very noticeable.
What are the symptoms of anemia in pregnant women? What is the importance and significance of iron supplementation for pregnant women? Iron is a vital element for the production of red blood cells, which are essential for oxygen transportation to other parts of the body. Even before pregnancy, your body needs iron because: 1) Iron is a basic ingredient in the synthesis of hemoglobin, the protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen to the rest of the body's cells.
2. Iron is an essential element for the formation of myoglobin (a protein that aids in the transportation of oxygen to muscles), collagen (a protein found in bones, cartilage, and other connective tissues), and a variety of enzymes.
3. Iron helps you maintain a healthy immune system.
Pregnant women need iron because their iron requirements increase during pregnancy.
1. After pregnancy, the blood volume in your body increases by nearly 50% compared to normal.
Therefore, pregnant women need to take iron supplements so that they can produce more hemoglobin.
2. Pregnant women need iron to supply the developing baby and placenta, especially in the mid-to late stages of pregnancy.
3. Many pregnant women take iron supplements because they are deficient in iron before pregnancy.
Pregnant women experience increased blood volume due to physiological changes, but the rate at which red blood cells increase is slower. This means that the blood is diluted in pregnant women to some extent, resulting in a common phenomenon of anemia in pregnant women to varying degrees.
Amenorrhea in women of childbearing age, especially during pregnancy and lactation, affects fetal development, leading to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, underweight neonates, and newborn diseases. It can also induce hypertension in pregnant women, severely affecting the cardiac function of both mother and baby in extreme cases, posing a life-threatening risk to both.
If the pregnant woman is anemic due to iron deficiency, it may lead to insufficient iron storage in the fetal liver, which can affect the synthesis of early-stage hemoglobin in the infant and result in anemia.
Pregnant women need to consume an adequate amount of iron for their own and fetal erythropoiesis during pregnancy, so it is very important to supplement iron.
However, how much iron should pregnant women consume? Let's take a look at this together.
Throughout pregnancy, the average pregnant woman needs about 1000 milligrams of iron (an increase of 15% to 20% compared to nonpregnant women), with the fetus requiring 400 to 500 milligrams, the placenta requiring 60 to 100 milligrams, the uterus requiring 40 to 50 milligrams, and the mother's hemoglobin increasing requires 400 to 500 milligrams. In addition, the amount of iron needed for childbirth blood loss is 100 to 200 milligrams.
Methods of iron supplementation for pregnant women: Iron is one of the main raw materials for the production of red blood cells. Pregnancy-induced anemia can cause symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, and fatigue in pregnant women. It can also adversely affect the fetus.
To rescue pregnant women from the turbulence, here are four ways to supplement iron for expectant mothers.
1. Eat iron-rich foods: Women planning to conceive should start eating a moderate amount of iron-rich foods before pregnancy.
Common iron-rich foods include: animal liver, lean meat, animal blood, egg yolk, soy products, red dates, black fungus, etc.
2. Consumption of foods that aid in iron absorption can be enhanced by consuming a variety of fruits and vegetables, which not only provide nutritional balance but also have significant iron-enhancing effects.
Although fruits and vegetables have a low iron content, they contain Vitamin C which can promote the absorption of iron in the intestines.
3. When using cast iron pots and pans to stir-fry, small pieces of iron can be produced. These iron particles dissolve into the food, forming soluble iron salts that can be easily absorbed by the intestines.
Additionally, use aluminum pots for stir-frying less often, as aluminum can inhibit the absorption of iron.
4. To prevent iron loss in daily life, avoid excessive drinking of tea and coffee as the tannins and polyphenols in these beverages can form insoluble salts with iron, inhibiting its absorption.
Iron deficiency is a common nutritional problem in pregnant women and threatens the health of the mother and the fetus.
Therefore, it is important to pay more attention to the supplementation of iron during pregnancy.
Below, the Ma Family Dictionary will introduce the food that can supplement iron, and pregnant mothers can choose to eat it.
1. Liver of animals: The internal organs of animals are the preferred food for iron supplementation, and pregnant women with anemia symptoms can drink pork liver soup twice a week to promote the production of red blood cells.
2. Various lean meats: The lean meat from various animals contains a rich amount of iron, which can be beneficial in replenishing and enriching the body with iron.
Pregnant women who do not like to eat organ meat can choose the meat of their favorite animals for consumption to supplement iron.
3. Egg Yolks: Every 100 grams of egg yolks contains 7 milligrams of iron, and the protein and trace elements in eggs are very rich, making them an excellent choice for pregnant women to supplement their nutrition.
4. Soybeans and Edamame: One hundred grams of soybeans or soybean flour contains as much iron as 11 milligrams. Studies in traditional Chinese medicine have found that consuming soybeans regularly can be effective in iron supplementation.
5. Fruits: Research has found that cherries have a high iron content and are an excellent source of iron for supplementation.
Moreover, grapes, peaches, pineapples, kiwifruits, longans, and bananas are also fruits rich in iron.
Pregnant women should pay attention to iron supplementation for anemia, especially in cases of iron deficiency anemia.
However, pregnant women must supplement iron scientifically and avoid blindly.
Let's take a look together at the precautions regarding iron supplementation for pregnant women.
1. Drinking soy milk can hinder the absorption of iron by the human body, so pregnant women should drink less soy milk when supplementing iron.
Because the protein in soybeans will inhibit the absorption of iron in the human body.
That is, if you are consuming iron-rich foods while drinking soy milk, the absorption rate of iron will be greatly reduced.
Therefore, while consuming iron-rich foods such as red meat, animal liver, and duck blood, or taking iron supplements, it is best to avoid drinking soy milk and ideally wait several hours between the two.
2. It is best to take iron supplements with vitamin C after meals.
Iron supplements for blood replenishment can stimulate the gastric mucosa, so it is best to take them after meals.
Additionally, it's beneficial to supplement with Vitamin C, which can aid in iron absorption.
3. Iron supplementation for pregnant women should be moderate.
During pregnancy, it is appropriate to increase nutrition and consume foods rich in iron. It is important to ensure adequate intake of proteins, vitamins B1, B2, and other vitamin classes.
For pregnant women with anemia, it is important to determine the cause of the anemia and rule out diseases such as thalassemia to avoid unwarranted iron supplementation.
If the pregnant mother has severe anemia, the treatment plan should be determined based on the severity of the anemia. The treatment method is mainly oral iron supplementation, such as Dain's right-handed sugar iron oral solution, which is currently the best medication for iron supplementation.
Mild anemia should be treated with diet. Foods rich in iron include animal liver, heart, kidney (testicle) etc.
*The medical content mentioned in this text is for reference only.
If you experience discomfort, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately. The diagnosis and treatment should be based on clinical examinations conducted in person.