Side Effects of Iron Supplements During Pregnancy: How to Avoid Them
Have you been experiencing dizziness, nausea, or constipation since you started taking iron tablets during pregnancy? You are not alone; most expecting moms-to-be go through the same. However, does “it happens to everyone” make it alright? No, right!
Several studies show that oral consumption of iron supplements in pregnancy affects up to 60% of pregnant women with constipation, nausea, dizziness, and bloating. Traditional iron pregnancy supplements are leading to uncomfortable digestive complications, and it is high time to opt for a smarter alternative: Time-Release Iron tablets during pregnancy.
Let's explore more about it.
Why Is Iron Essential During Pregnancy?
Did you know that during pregnancy, your body’s demand for iron skyrockets? That is because during pregnancy, your body’s total blood volume doubles to provide oxygen for the baby. Iron deficiency is the most common deficiency in the world, and it affects pregnant mamas and young children.
Fun Fact: Iron absorption rate changes throughout your pregnancy.
Various studies show that iron absorption increases by around 7% at 12 weeks, 9% at 24 weeks, and 14% at 35 weeks of pregnancy. However, around 1.5% of elemental iron is absorbed in the 1st trimester and increases to 15% in the third. This explains why most expectant mothers need iron tablets during pregnancy.
Traditional Iron Pregnancy Supplements: Yay or Nay!
Most iron vitamins for pregnancy contain ferrous sulfate, which causes digestive stress, such as nausea, constipation, and diarrhea. It happens because iron is infamous for causing intestinal inflammation via the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). When someone takes a large dosage of ferrous sulfate at once, it overwhelms the digestive system and causes oxidative stress and inflammation in the gut.
Why Poor Compliance Is an Issue?
Research shows that around 25 to 50% of expectant mothers fail to receive proper IFC during pregnancy. This creates inadequate pill distribution of iron into the body and causes side effects, which leads to serious health conditions for the mother and the baby.
Smarter Alternatives
Modern nutrition science has developed several iron pregnancy supplements that are significantly easier on your system while being more effective at raising your iron levels. These alternatives focus on better absorption and reduced side effects.
Chelated Iron: The Gold Standard
Chelated iron, particularly iron BI glycinate, is bound to amino acids that help transport it directly to your cells. This form of iron vitamin for pregnancy is absorbed up to 4 times better than ferrous sulfate, meaning you need smaller doses to achieve the same results. The chelation process also protects the iron from interacting with other compounds in your digestive tract that typically cause side effects.
Heme Iron: Nature's Design
Heme iron, derived from animal sources, is the same type of iron found in red meat. Your body recognizes and absorbs this form naturally, with absorption rates of 15-35% compared to just 2-10% for traditional iron tablets. Many women find that heme iron supplements cause virtually no digestive upset.
Time-Release Iron Technology
Time-release iron technology addresses the core issue of traditional iron tablets during pregnancy by delivering iron throughout the day and not all at once. This time-release technology mimics the way your body naturally absorbs iron from food, reducing the chances of digestive issues.
Optimize Iron Absorption
- Even with a better formulation, you need to eat food at proper timings, as iron is not properly absorbed by the body on an empty stomach.
- Take the best iron tablet for pregnancy with a small amount of food to avoid stomach cramps, nausea, and diarrhea.
- Avoid certain foods and substances that interfere with absorption.
- Never take milk, calcium, and antacids at the same time with an iron pregnancy supplement.
- Coffee, tea, and whole grains can also inhibit iron absorption, so do not consume your iron pregnancy supplement with them.
The Smart Alternative: Trimacare, The Best Iron Supplement for Pregnancy
Trimacare 2 and Trimacare 3 are clinically formulated iron pregnancy supplements that contain time-release iron technology in their composition. With time-release tech, Trimacare 2 and 3 address the digestive issues caused by the traditional iron supplements.
With time-release technology, Trimacare 2 and 3 gradually release iron throughout the day instead of releasing it all at once. It reduces the chances of nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, and constipation. It also doesn’t lead to digestive issues, such as an upset stomach, that almost 50-60% of expectant mothers experience with traditional iron supplements.
Trimacare 2 and 3 are not just packed with time-release iron technology, but they contain 20+ multi-micronutrients, such as calcium, omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, zinc, iodine, vitamin B complex, vitamin D, vitamin K, etc. making them an excellent choice for women who have struggled with traditional iron supplements or want to avoid those unpleasant side effects from the start.
Real Mom Story
“I used to feel constipated and bloated all the time, then my OBGYN prescribed me Trimacare 2 for my 2nd trimester and Trimacare 3 for my third trimester. Now, nausea, dizziness, or even constipation is a thing of the past. Just loving Trimacare.” – Saanvi, an expectant housewife, Pune.
Final Words
Being pregnant doesn’t mean you have to feel sick from your supplements. With the best iron tablets for pregnancy, you can nourish your body, support your baby, and feel like yourself again.
Say goodbye to harsh pills and hello to a smarter, side-effect-free iron routine with Trimacare. Buy Now!
Pallavi Aggarwal
A Certified Nutritionist with a rich healthcare background in health journalism, the author has immense experience in curating reader-friendly, engaging, and informative healthcare blogs to empower readers to make informed pregnancy-related decisions.
- Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
- Opens in a new window.