Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Why Is Iron Important During Pregnancy?

During pregnancy one of the major changes that happen in a woman’s body is an increase in the volume of blood. Blood volume increases progressively from the 1st trimester and reaches a maximum during the 3rd trimester. This increase in blood volume, however, does not affect circulation or cause an overload in a healthy pregnant woman. The increased blood volume is accounted for by an increased demand from uterine, breast, renal, striated muscle and cutaneous vascular systems.

The increase in blood volume over the course of a pregnancy can be as much as 50%. The composition of the blood is however different in the additional volume. The increase in the number of red blood cells is not proportional to the overall increase in blood volume and this causes hemodilution and a decrease in hemoglobin concentration. This is why pregnant women need to take iron and folic acid supplements for the duration of their pregnancy

Iron is important because it is involved in the manufacture of hemoglobin which in turn functions in the transport of oxygen in our bodies. Iron is also necessary to produce myoglobin, which like hemoglobin is a protein which transports oxygen to our muscles. Low supplies of iron therefore affect hemoglobin which means that oxygen does not get transported as efficiently as it should be. This is why iron is a very important component of our overall health and wellbeing, especially during pregnancy.

A blood test during the 1st trimester of pregnancy gives an accurate hemoglobin count and determines how much iron is required to correct the deficiency. Iron deficiency can go undetected because only until it gets severe do symptoms begin to show. Some of the symptoms include headaches, nausea, dizziness and loss of appetite; all of which can be attributed to the pregnancy itself. A blood test is therefore imperative during the 1st trimester, in order to ensure the health of both the pregnant woman and her unborn child. A woman who does not have enough iron risks having a pre-mature baby or a baby with very low birth weight. In severe instances, lack of sufficient iron can result in fetal or infant mortality.

In addition to taking supplements, we can ensure that we maintain a normal level of iron by incorporating iron rich foods in our daily diet. Animal sources of iron and more readily absorbed by our bodies than plant sources. Good animal sources of iron include liver, beef, chicken, egg yolks etc. Good plan sources of iron include lentils, beans, firm tofu, and spinach, just to name a few. To improve the absorption of iron from plant sources, you can add a source of vitamin C to your meal, either as a complimentary juice or as part of the meal e.g. adding red bell peppers to a lentil soup.

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http://pregnancyready.com/why-is-iron-important-during-pregnancy/

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