Can Too Much Iron Hurt My Unborn Baby

Iron supplements are particularly important for pregnant women who have anemia. In women who have normal iron levels, taking atomic number 26 supplements as a precautionary measure probably doesn't take whatsoever wellness benefits. They can become enough iron in their diet.

Iron is a mineral that is constitute in many proteins and enzymes that the body needs in order to stay healthy. About of the iron in our bodies is found inside hemoglobin, the pigment in scarlet claret cells. Hemoglobin transports oxygen to all of the tissues and organs in the torso. If in that location isn't enough fe in the blood, the amount of hemoglobin in the blood decreases likewise. This can reduce the oxygen supply to cells and organs.

Low levels of hemoglobin are as well known as anemia. At the start and towards the end of pregnancy, hemoglobin levels above 11 grams per deciliter are considered to be normal. Between three and half-dozen months of pregnancy, a pocket-size drop to 10.v grams per deciliter is also considered to be normal.

If someone's hemoglobin levels are lower than this, the iron levels in their blood are measured too. This can assist to decide whether their depression hemoglobin levels are due to a lack of atomic number 26 (iron deficiency). Because the torso can store a certain amount of iron, another blood value is too measured to find out how full the body's iron stores are. If someone'due south fe stores are empty but their hemoglobin levels are normal, they are said to have latent (hidden) or not-bloodless fe deficiency.

Women have several blood tests during pregnancy. I thing that is tested is their iron levels, and so iron deficiency anemia can exist detected early on and treated using iron supplements.

Which foods have iron in them?

We commonly get iron in the food we eat. Meat has a lot of iron in it, from hemoglobin in the animal'due south body. Liver is particularly high in iron.

Information technology's harder for the body to blot atomic number 26 from establish-based foods. Simply some plants are skilful sources of fe too. These include cereals, for instance in the course of whole grain flakes (breakfast cereals), and legumes such as lentils and beans. Green leafy vegetables similar lamb's lettuce and spinach, and herbs like parsley and cress, also take some iron in them.

Iron-rich foods

Iron can be taken as dietary supplements too. These are bachelor without a prescription in the class of tablets and drops.

What are the consequences of atomic number 26 deficiency in pregnancy?

Iron deficiency anemia tin can make y'all feel tired and exhausted. Severe anemia can also lead to complications in pregnancy. For instance, it can weaken the mother's immune arrangement and make infections more likely. It as well increases the chance of the babe weighing besides footling at birth (low birth weight).

Astringent anemia is rare in salubrious pregnant women who eat a balanced diet. But anemia can cause serious wellness problems in women who don't, or tin can't, swallow a balanced diet.

When does information technology make sense to have iron supplements?

A lot of pregnant women take atomic number 26 supplements because they call back their bodies demand more fe during pregnancy. Pregnant women with normal iron levels in their blood are also oft brash to accept iron supplements in social club to forestall anemia. Balmy anemia doesn't affect the kid, though.

Anemia is only a problem if it is more severe and lasts a long fourth dimension. If someone is diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia, they are unremarkably prescribed high-dose iron supplements.

Co-ordinate to German health authorities, pregnant or breastfeeding women need 20 to 30 mg of iron per 24-hour interval. Information technology can be especially difficult for vegetarians to go that amount of iron in their diet alone. Only iron deficiency bug would be detected in the standard blood tests.

Practise women with normal fe levels do good from taking iron supplements?

There are more than lx studies on the use of iron supplements in pregnancy. A full of more than 40,000 women took part in the studies. The results show that, if women accept normal fe levels, taking xxx mg of iron per day as a precautionary measure doesn't have whatever noticeable health benefits for them or for their children. Although iron supplements were found to lower the risk of anemia, they didn't influence the number of preterm births, the number of babies with a low birth weight (under 2,500 grams) or infections in pregnant women.

Side effects and dose

When it comes to iron intake, finding the right balance is fundamental. Information technology's not but as well trivial iron that can crusade issues – too much iron tin can be unhealthy also. Although our bodies tin can shop a certain amount of actress iron, higher-dose fe supplements may crusade side effects. These include, in particular, gastrointestinal (breadbasket and bowel) problems like constipation, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. When taken on an empty stomach, they can impairment the lining of the stomach.

Some experts recommend only taking iron supplements once or twice a calendar week rather than every day – but at a higher dose (such as 120 mg). Research has found that iron supplements tin even prevent anemia when taken only once a week. The idea is that taking fe supplements less often will enable women to accept them for longer, and lower the likelihood of side furnishings. Only it's not clear whether that is really the example.

Go on atomic number 26 supplements out of children's reach

Like all medications, iron tablets should be kept out of children'south reach. Fifty-fifty if iron is "just" a natural mineral, an accidental overdose can be life-threatening for children.

Sources

• IQWiG health information is written with the aim of helping people understand the advantages and disadvantages of the main treatment options and health care services.

  Because IQWiG is a German language institute, some of the information provided here is specific to the German health intendance system. The suitability of whatever of the described options in an individual example can be determined by talking to a dr.. We do non offer individual consultations.

  Our information is based on the results of good-quality studies. Information technology is written by a team of health care professionals, scientists and editors, and reviewed past external experts. You can find a detailed description of how our health information is produced and updated in our methods.

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Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279574/

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