The Risks and Benefits of Taking Iron Supplements During Pregnancy

Your body’s nutritional requirements increase during pregnancy to support you and your developing baby. Thus, proper prenatal care and prenatal nutrition are essential. This is where iron plays a crucial role in the overall well-being of both you and your tiny one. You can consume iron via natural sources or opt for iron supplements to support your pregnancy.

This blog will explore the risks and benefits of taking iron supplements during pregnancy. We will also explore the best iron tablet to support prenatal nutrition.

Iron Deficiency During Pregnancy

Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies worldwide, but it imposes a greater threat on an expectant mother and her baby. Did you know your body requires extra blood volume during pregnancy to support you and your growing baby? Well, yeah. During pregnancy, your body demands extra blood to support your fetus. Iron helps boost blood volumes that carry oxygen from your blood to your baby’s blood to prevent complications. An iron deficiency may interfere with acceptable hemoglobin availability, thereby causing anemia. 

Anemia manifests as fatigue, weakness, problems in breathing, and dizziness. Anemia also poses a risk of pregnancy complications, such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and postpartum depression. Taking an iron supplement during pregnancy helps prevent such complications in the body because the body is assured of maintaining adequate iron supplies.

Benefits of Iron Supplements During Pregnancy

For expectant mothers, taking iron supplements during pregnancy comes with a host of health benefits. It helps prevent and treat iron deficiency anemia and boosts your energy to support the demands of pregnancy. A good iron supplement for pregnancy also enhances the immune system to reduce the chances of infections during pregnancy. Maintaining adequate levels of iron can improve cognitive functions and ward off the risk of developing postpartum depression. Iron tablets help expectant mothers fight anemia if they have a history of anemia because their iron requirements increase during pregnancy. 

For the baby, iron tablets are essential for the growth of healthy red blood cells and the developing brain. A good supplement of iron during pregnancy ensures that enough oxygen is provided to the baby, which is very important for growth and development.

Benefits of Iron Supplements During Pregnancy for Baby

Pregnancy "Iron vitamins" iron is essential for the growth and development of the baby, it helps grow healthy red blood cells and aids a developing brain.

A good supplement of iron during pregnancy ensures that enough oxygen is provided to the baby, which is very important for growth and development.

These help develop the right immune response in a baby, reducing the chances of infection after birth. More importantly, studies show that infants whose mothers are kept with sufficient iron levels have higher birth weights and are likely to be born at term. Therefore, iron supplementation in pregnancy means that all the necessary nutrients will have reached the fetus for proper growth and development.

When to Take Prenatal Vitamins?

As per recent studies, doctors suggest that you should start taking iron tablets at the 12th week of pregnancy when the baby starts to grow and iron requirements increase. However, if you have anemia, then there are chances that your healthcare provider might suggest you take some light iron tablets before the second trimester. Follow your healthcare provider’s suggestion on when to start taking iron prenatal vitamins while steering clear of getting over-supplementations.

In Which Trimester Is Iron Most Important?

Iron is required at every stage of pregnancy but is most crucial during the second and third trimester of pregnancy. In the second trimester, the fetus develops significantly while on the mother's side, her blood volume increases rapidly to accommodate this growth. Hence, demand for iron will be at a high, and this is the time when the most vital absorption of iron must take place through some good pregnancy iron supplement.

In the third trimester, iron is still required because the baby's brain is growing at that stage, and the mother must prepare her body for delivery. Adequate levels of iron in that period can decrease the risk of severe bleeding during delivery and work towards providing the best outcome both for the mother and the baby.

Intake of Iron Supplements during Pregnancy

If you are prescribed an iron supplement during pregnancy, always follow the given dosage advised by your doctor. Take iron on an empty stomach, one hour before or two hours after a meal, to maximize absorption. If you become nauseated or experience stomach upset, take the iron with as little food as possible. Do not take iron supplements concurrently with your consumption of foods or dietary supplements that contain calcium, since this will lead to reduced iron absorption. Combine your iron vitamin while pregnant with another substance that contains vitamin C, like orange juice, to help maximize its absorption.

Can iron supplements cause bloating or gas during pregnancy?

Sometimes, iron supplements can cause bloating or gas during pregnancy because of the heaviness of the mineral. While your body is digesting an iron pregnancy supplement, sometimes it may slow down your digestive tract, causing discomfort in the form of bloating or gas, relatively common and depends on the type of iron vitamin for pregnancy. To minimize these side effects, it is advisable to settle on a good supplement for iron for pregnant women that is not harsh on the stomach or is taken with food, as this might reduce the occurrence of gastrointestinal problems.

Trimacare: Best iron pregnancy supplement for pregnancy

Trimacare Prenatal tablets are clinically formulated specially for Indian pregnant women to cater to their unique trimester-wise needs. It contains 20+ essential Multi Micro Nutrients (MMNs), such as time-release iron, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, L-methyl folate, zinc, vitamin K, etc. The prenatal vitamin is formulated by following the guidelines of the World Health Organization and the Indian Council of Medical Research.

Trimacare pregnancy supplement contains time-release iron technology to provide you with iron at short intervals to maintain adequate levels of iron in the body and avoid over-supplementation. Iron helps boost your blood volume, deliver oxygen to your baby, and boost hemoglobin in the body. The prenatal supplement also helps prevent anemia, fatigue, weakness, and other symptoms in the mother. While enhancing your energy levels, the pregnancy supplement helps keep you and your baby healthy.

Conclusion

Maternal and fetal health require pregnancy supplements of iron, which plays an essential role in the prevention of anemia, apart from ensuring that the baby grows correctly. For this reason, you shall be required to adhere to the prescription provided by your doctor to avoid risks. The right iron supplement will make all the difference in the baby's growth for most pregnant women, though balance is required since insufficient or excessive levels of iron cause problems. By providing the intake for the prescribed amount, pregnant women can, therefore, contribute to a healthy and successful pregnancy.

FAQs

1. Can iron supplements cause constipation during pregnancy?

Yes, constipation is a common concern during pregnancy. Pregnancy-related constipation is usually caused by iron supplements. Staying hydrated, increasing fiber intake in the pregnancy diet, and taking iron supplements that contain time-release iron to reduce constipation during pregnancy.

2. Do vegetarian pregnant women need to take iron supplements?

Heme iron found in animal-based foods such as poultry, red meat, and fish is the most bioabsorbable form of iron, which is easily digested. However, vegetarian pregnant women may lack heme iron. Thus, they may need iron supplements to fulfill their iron requirements during pregnancy.

3. What are the risks of iron deficiency during pregnancy?

Iron is an essential nutrient during pregnancy. Iron deficiency during pregnancy may lead to anemia, causing fatigue, weakness, and dizziness. It may increase the risk of preterm delivery, postpartum depression, and low birth weight.

4. When should a pregnant woman start taking iron supplements during pregnancy?

Doctors recommend that a pregnant woman start taking iron supplements in the second trimester of pregnancy (12th week). However, if diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia, you can start taking iron supplements under the supervision of a doctor.