When should pregnant women start taking iron supplements?

Because most pregnant women are experiencing pregnancy for the first time, they are not particularly clear about many things during pregnancy. For pregnant women, trace elements in the body are very important, because if there is a lack of trace elements, it will hinder the healthy growth of the fetus. Therefore, after being pregnant for a period of time, pregnant women need to use special methods to supplement iron. So when should pregnant women start supplementing iron?

When should pregnant women take iron supplements?

Many expectant mothers have no idea about iron supplementation. It is not until they discover that some of their symptoms or test results are related to anemia during a prenatal checkup that they begin to regret it and then wonder: I eat a lot of high-nutrition foods such as meat and fish every day, so why am I still anemic?

Many urban women have been picky eaters for a long time, with a small but fine diet, which results in insufficient total iron intake; long-term use of inferior beauty and hair care products will also increase women's blood lead levels, inhibit the activity of iron-containing enzymes, and hinder the production of hemoglobin; in addition, those who suffer from chronic hemorrhagic diseases before pregnancy, such as excessive menstrual flow, should pay special attention to whether they suffer from iron deficiency anemia.

Anemia is actually not far away. For the healthy development of the fetus, we should pay attention to supplementing iron from an iron-rich diet starting in the early stages of pregnancy. In the second and third trimesters, not only does the pregnant woman's own demand for iron increase greatly, but the developing baby and placenta also need more iron supplementation.

The specific form and timing of iron supplementation in these two stages depends on the individual's iron deficiency situation. During the prenatal check-up, if the doctor recommends iron supplementation, you can take it in moderation, but you should not take iron supplements for too long. Generally, you should go to the hospital to check your iron supplementation status after taking it for about half a month. Once it returns to normal levels, you should stop taking it.

How to supplement iron during pregnancy

Starting from the early stages of pregnancy, you should pay attention to supplementing iron from an iron-rich diet. In the second and third trimesters, not only does the pregnant woman's own demand for iron increase greatly, but the developing baby and placenta also have a greatly increased demand for iron. So how do pregnant women supplement iron?

1. Eat more iron-rich foods

During the preparation period and during pregnancy, you should pay attention to eating more iron-containing foods, because pregnancy reactions in the early stages of pregnancy will affect the absorption of iron. Pregnant mothers can eat more lean meat, animal liver and blood to supplement iron. Of course, soy products are also high in iron. You can eat more pasta as your staple food. The iron content in pasta is higher than that in rice.

2. Eat more foods that help iron absorption

No matter how much iron-rich food you eat, it is meaningless if the body does not absorb it. This requires pregnant mothers to pair it with some foods that help iron absorption, including some vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin C. For example, eating eggs with meat, or eating eggs with tomatoes, can increase the absorption rate of iron.

3. Eat more dishes cooked in iron pots

Pregnant mothers can prepare iron pots at home and use them to cook food daily. This will increase the iron content in food during the cooking process.

4. Eat more foods containing folic acid

Start taking folic acid supplements from 3 months before pregnancy until 3 months after pregnancy. In terms of diet, you should eat more green leafy vegetables, nuts, etc., and when cooking food, the temperature should not be too high and the time should not be too long.

How much iron do pregnant women need?

Early pregnancy: From the sixth week of pregnancy, the amount of plasma in the body's blood increases more than red blood cells, causing the blood to be diluted and prone to "physiological anemia." The daily iron intake during this stage is 15 mg/day. You should eat more animal foods such as fish, lean meat, liver, eggs, dried shrimp and fresh vegetables. Pay attention to the combination of meat and vegetables, and eat more citrus fruits.

Second trimester: From the 13th to the 28th week, the daily iron intake for pregnant women is 25 mg. Since the main component of red blood cells is iron, in order to make up for the insufficient red blood cell content, additional iron is needed to produce more red blood cells. Expectant mothers should eat more meat, liver and other foods rich in hemoglobin and iron, and supplement with vitamin C to increase iron absorption.

Late pregnancy: From the 29th to the 40th week, it is more important for pregnant women to supplement iron, and the daily iron intake should reach 28 mg. During this stage, the fetus's liver stores iron at a rate of 5 mg per day until it reaches 300-400 mg of iron at birth. Pregnant women also need to prepare iron for blood loss during childbirth and breastfeeding. During this period, continue to eat more iron-rich foods and consume hemoglobin-type iron from animal foods. In addition, iron supplements can be taken under the guidance of a doctor. Dayin's dextrose iron oral liquid tastes good and is currently the best iron supplement.