Iron while pregnant how much

Luckily, it's easy to prevent by filling your plate with plenty of iron-rich foods and, if your practitioner recommends one, with the help of a daily iron supplement. The most easily absorbed sources of dietary iron heme iron can be found in lean meat, poultry and fish.

Non-animal non-heme sources are still beneficial, however, and you can enhance their uptake by consuming them alongside vitamin C-rich foods. An iron-containing prenatal vitamin in combination with sufficient dietary sources of iron throughout the day can provide many pregnant women with adequate amounts of the mineral. But iron-deficiency anemia is common, particularly after week 20 of pregnancy, and some moms-to-be do need a daily iron supplement in addition to their prenatal. Anyone can develop anemia, but vegans and vegetarians have a higher risk, as do women carrying multiples, or those who have had back-to-back pregnancies or severe morning sickness.

If you fall into one of those categories and notice symptoms such as feeling fatigued, dizzy or breathless , ask your doctor if you might need an iron supplemen. Iron supplements typically contain 30 milligrams of the mineral. Because iron can cause nausea and constipation, your practitioner may suggest slow release capsules that are easier on the stomach. If your doctor has also recommended supplementary calcium, keep in mind that you shouldn't take more than milligrams at the same time as an iron supplement, since calcium can interfere with iron absorption you should also take these supplements two hours apart.

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This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy. Registry Builder New. But if you're vegan or vegetarian and don't eat animal protein, you can get iron from legumes, vegetables, and grains.

Note: Liver supplies a very high concentration of iron, but it also contains unsafe amounts of vitamin A , so it's best to limit how much liver you eat during pregnancy. If you have low iron or iron-deficiency anemia, some experts believe you shouldn't eat iron-inhibiting foods at the same time as iron-rich foods.

Others believe it's okay to eat these foods together as long as your overall diet includes plenty of iron-rich and vitamin C-rich foods. Your provider or a dietitian can work with you to create a prenatal nutrition plan that supports healthy iron levels.

You may. Many women start their pregnancy without enough iron to meet their body's increased demands and are unable to bring their levels up through diet alone. But you won't need to take additional supplements unless your provider advises you to. The iron in your prenatal vitamin will likely be all you need, unless you have or develop anemia. When taking an iron supplement, you may also have nausea or more rarely diarrhea.

If your supplement or prenatal vitamin makes you feel queasy, try taking it with a small snack or at bedtime. Talk to your provider if you're experiencing unpleasant side effects from iron supplements. You may be able to prevent stomach problems by starting with a supplement that has less iron and gradually building up to the dose you need.

You could also try taking the iron in smaller doses throughout the day. Your provider may suggest trying different iron supplements to find one that's easy on your stomach. For example, some moms-to-be have fewer side effects from a timed-release iron supplement, although the trade-off is that the iron isn't absorbed as well this way. Finally, don't worry if your stools look darker when you start taking iron.

That's a normal and harmless side effect. When you don't get enough iron, your stores become depleted over time. And if you no longer have enough iron to make the hemoglobin you need, you become anemic. Iron-deficiency anemia can sap your energy and cause many other symptoms, especially if you have a severe case.

It can also make it harder for your body to fight infection. It may even impact your pregnancy: Iron-deficiency anemia — especially in early or mid-pregnancy — has been linked to a greater risk of preterm birth, having a low-birth-weight baby, and other serious complications.

If you're anemic when you give birth, you're more likely to need a transfusion and have other problems if you lose a lot of blood at delivery. And some research suggests an association between maternal iron deficiency and postpartum depression. Aim to get no more than 45 milligrams of iron a day. If you take more than that either from an extra iron supplement or from your prenatal vitamin , it can cause your blood levels of iron to rise too high, possibly causing problems for you and your baby.

For example, some studies have found that too much iron may be associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. To avoid complications, take iron supplements during pregnancy only under the supervision of your healthcare provider.

BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.

Nutrition during pregnancy. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Eating right during pregnancy. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Anemia and pregnancy. American Society of Hematology. If the cause is iron deficiency, additional supplemental iron might be suggested. If you have a history of gastric bypass or small bowel surgery or are unable to tolerate oral iron, you might need intravenous iron administration.

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