Guidelines for iron supplementation for pregnant women during pregnancy

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Trinh Thi Thanh Huyen - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.
In the process of forming red blood cells and forming immune system enzymes, helping to strengthen the body's resistance, iron plays an extremely important role. Iron deficiency can lead to anemia as well as fatigue, especially for pregnant women, iron deficiency can also affect the development of the fetus.

1. What is the effect of taking iron during pregnancy?

In the process of forming red blood cells and forming immune system enzymes, helping to strengthen the body's resistance, iron plays an extremely important role. Iron deficiency can lead to anemia as well as fatigue, especially for pregnant women, iron deficiency can also affect the development of the fetus.
The transport of oxygen to the mother's body and the fetus will be severely affected if iron deficiency,.
Usually a woman during pregnancy needs more blood than usual, this helps to enhance the health and development needs of the fetus.
Besides, iron also has the effect of increasing appetite. For pregnant women who suffer from anemia (due to iron deficiency) will have anorexia, difficulty sleeping, fatigue because the amount of oxygen to the brain as well as the cells in the body is very little. Iron deficiency is also the cause of decreased maternal resistance leading to infection. This more or less affects babies born at high risk of anemia, leading to poor health.
For mothers with iron deficiency, it will increase the risk of premature birth, postpartum infections, postpartum haemorrhage, body weakness... This is also a factor leading to fetal malnutrition, preterm, mild weight, affecting the physical and mental development of children in the future.

2. How do pregnant women take iron?

2.1 How much iron do pregnant women need each day?

Normally before becoming pregnant a woman needs at least 15mg/day.
Until pregnancy, the body will need a double amount of iron ie about 30mg / day. In case of insufficient supply, pregnant women will develop anemia, affecting the health of the fetus.
As recommended by the World Health Organization, women who first find out that they are pregnant should take iron tablets every day, taking them until one month after giving birth. The supplement dose is 60mg of iron plus 400mcg folic acid per day. In addition, pregnant women should also use foods fortified with iron and folic acid.

2.2 What foods should pregnant women choose to supplement iron?

The safest and richest source of iron for pregnant women are the foods we eat every day. Iron is abundant in red meats such as heart, liver, poultry, fish, clams, oysters, egg yolks; legumes, whole grains, dark green leafy vegetables, broccoli, pumpkin, and dried fruit. In which, animal origin is considered to be a better source of iron absorption than plant origin. In a normal person can absorb 10-15% of iron from animals, this figure is only 5-10% of iron in plants.
In addition to iron supplementation, mothers should also pay attention to add other substances such as Folate and its synthetic form of folic acid, Vitamin B-12, ... because these substances are also involved in the process. In fact, it is quite difficult to supplement iron with iron, so in addition to supplementing iron through daily foods, pregnant women should also use iron supplements.

2.3 Notes for pregnant women when using iron-containing drugs

Iron supplements for pregnant women usually come in 2 forms: inorganic iron (Iron sulfate) and organic iron (Iron fumarate and ferrous gluconate). In which, organic iron is easier to absorb and less constipating than inorganic iron. On the market today, iron pills are prepared in two forms: liquid iron and iron tablets. Water iron has the advantage of being easily absorbed, causing less constipation, less heat, but difficult to drink and easy to cause nausea. Iron tablets have the advantage of being easy to take, does not cause nausea, but is less absorbed than water iron and causes more heat. When adding iron tablets, pregnant women should pay attention to the following:
Should take iron tablets at on an empty stomach and drink with water rich in vitamin C such as orange juice, lemon juice... Drink iron 1-2 hours after eating for the best absorption of iron by the body. Do not take iron pills for pregnant women at the same time as milk, calcium supplements or calcium-rich foods because calcium interferes with iron absorption. When taking iron supplements, drink plenty of water and eat foods rich in fiber to prevent constipation. Especially only take the medicine with boiled water to cool, avoid using tea or coffee because it will reduce the absorption of iron. Before using iron supplements should consult a specialist. When using the drug, you must follow the doctor's instructions to avoid excessive iron supplementation, which can cause the risk of cirrhosis, cardiomyopathy, diabetes. Vinmec International General Hospital offers a Package Maternity Care Program for pregnant women right from the first months of pregnancy with a full range of antenatal check-ups, periodical 3D and 4D ultrasounds and other routine tests to ensure that the mother is healthy and the fetus is developing comprehensively. Pregnant women will no longer be alone when entering labor because having a loved one to help them during childbirth always brings peace of mind and happiness. In addition to regular checkups, pregnant women will also be advised on nutrition, multivitamins, and iron tablets at the right dose to avoid excess or deficiency of iron, which is not good for both mother and fetus. .
To alleviate the pain of childbirth, in the Maternity Package program with a complete "painless delivery" service during and after birth using non-morphine epidural and neuro-anesthetic techniques shy. During the birth process, the mother will be guided by the midwives on how to push and breathe properly, the baby will be born in just 10-15 minutes. After birth, the baby will be cared for in a sterile room before being returned to the mother.
Pregnant women will rest in a high-class hospital room, designed according to international hotel standards, 1 mother 1 room with full facilities and modern equipment. Mothers will be consulted by nutritionists on how to feed the baby before being discharged from the hospital. Postpartum follow-up with both mother and baby with leading Obstetricians and Paediatricians.

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