Why do pregnant mothers and babies need iron supplements?

After pregnancy, the amount of blood in pregnant women will increase by nearly 50% compared to usual . Iron supplements need to produce more hemoglobin, and iron supplementation is even more needed to supply the developing baby and placenta. If the pregnant mother does not take in enough iron, the baby is prone to iron deficiency anemia after birth.

As infants and young children gain weight , their blood volume increases accordingly. The faster they grow, the greater their need for iron, and the more likely they are to suffer from iron deficiency. By the age of one, an infant’s weight increases to three times that of a newborn, and for premature infants it can increase to five to six times. Therefore , iron deficiency anemia is most likely to occur in infants, especially premature infants.

Iron deficiency in infants can lead to slow development and affect the intellectual development of infants. If we cannot determine whether the above symptoms are caused by iron deficiency anemia, we can go to the hospital to check whether indicators such as hemoglobin, serum ferritin , serum iron, and serum transferrin have decreased.

The following is an excerpt from the internationally authoritative NIH Consumer Guide to Iron Supplementation, combined with China’s official iron supplementation nutrition standards. I hope that after reading this, you will have a scientific and objective understanding of iron supplementation for yourself or your baby:

What is iron and what does it do?

Iron is a mineral that your body needs for growth and development. Your body uses iron to make hemoglobin (a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to all parts of your body) and myoglobin (a protein that stores and delivers oxygen to your muscles). Remember your body needs iron to make some hormones.

Who is most at risk for iron deficiency?

Some groups of people have a harder time getting enough iron than others, including infants (including premature or low-birth-weight babies) and pregnant women. How much iron do pregnant women and babies need each day? The amount of iron you need each day depends on your age, gender, and whether you eat a primarily plant-based diet. Below is a list of international standards
for the average daily recommended amount of vitamin D for children and pregnant women of different ages – in milligrams (mg):

What foods provide iron (iron supplements)?

Iron is found naturally in many foods and is added to some fortified foods . You can get the recommended amount of iron by eating a variety of foods, including:

• lean meats, seafood, and poultry;
• iron-fortified breakfast cereals and breads;
• white beans, lentils, spinach, kidney beans and peas;
• Nuts and some dried fruits, such as raisins;

Iron in food is in two forms: heme iron and non-heme iron .
Non-heme iron is found in plant foods and iron-fortified foods.
Meat, seafood, and poultry both contain heme and non-heme iron.

The body absorbs plant-based iron better when it is eaten with meat, poultry, seafood, and foods containing vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, strawberries, bell peppers, tomatoes, and broccoli.

What are some iron supplements?

Multivitamin-mineral supplements and dietary supplements that contain only iron . Iron in dietary supplements is usually in the form of ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate, ferrous citrate , or ferrous sulfate (including plant-derived iron). 

What if I don’t have enough iron?

In the short term, too little iron causes no noticeable symptoms. The body uses its stored iron in the muscles, liver, spleen, and bone marrow. However, when the level of stored iron in the body decreases, iron deficiency anemia occurs, and the red blood cells become smaller and have less hemoglobin. As you know, the blood carries less oxygen by lungs.

Symptoms of iron deficiency anemia include

• Gastrointestinal discomfort, weakness, tiredness;
• low energy and problems with concentration and memory;
• People with iron deficiency anemia have a weaker ability to fight bacteria and infection and control body temperature;
• Infants and young children with iron deficiency anemia may experience learning difficulties;

Iron deficiency occurs more often in young children, women under 50, and pregnant women; it can also occur in people who do not eat meat, poultry, or seafood; and in people who have lost blood, have gastrointestinal disorders that affect nutrient absorption , or have a poor diet.

What effects does iron have on health?

Scientists are studying iron to understand how it affects health. The most important contribution of iron to health is the prevention of iron-deficiency anemia and the problems that it causes.

Pregnant Women

During pregnancy, the amount of blood in a woman’s body increases, so she and her growing baby need more iron. Low iron levels during pregnancy increase a woman’s risk of iron-deficiency anemia, as well as the risk of low birth weight , premature birth, and low iron levels in her baby. Too little iron may also harm the baby’s brain development.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women should take iron supplements as recommended by their obstetrician or other health care provider.

Infants and young children Iron deficiency anemia can lead to delayed mental development, social withdrawal, and poor attention span. From 6 to 9 months old, infants may be iron deficient unless they eat iron-enriched solid foods or drink iron-containing formula and nutritional supplements.

Specific signs of iron deficiency in infants and young children

• Progressive paleness of the skin and mucous membranes , most obvious in the lips, oral mucosa, eyelids, nail beds
, and palms; • Accompanied by lack of energy , poor response to the surrounding environment, and bad temper;
• Severe cases may cause loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal distension, and constipation. Some patients have pica (eating paper scraps, coal slag, etc.), dizziness, tinnitus, and blackness in front of their eyes;

• Due to lack of oxygen , the heart rate increases, which is obvious after activities or crying , and the immune function is reduced, which makes it easy to get infected;
• People with iron deficiency anemia have thin and fragile nails , and in severe cases, they are flat or even spoon-shaped; people with megaloblastic anemia have yellow, dry, thin and dull hair ;
• Medical examination shows that hemoglobin is less than 110g/L. 

Is iron harmful (iron supplements)?

Yes, too much iron is harmful. In healthy people, taking high doses of iron supplements (especially on an empty stomach) can cause stomach discomfort, constipation, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and fainting. High doses of iron can also reduce zinc absorption.

The following lists the upper daily limits for iron from foods and dietary supplements. Doctors may prescribe more than the upper limit for people who need to take higher doses for a period of time to treat iron deficiency .

Spinach Iron-Rich Nutrient Supplement Drops from Australia are a safer and easier to absorb iron supplement for babies!

• Plant-derived, constant temperature extraction technology is used to ensure the purity of ingredients. It is processed through molecular refinement technology, green and natural, and easier to absorb.
• Imported from Australia, produced in accordance with cGMP/GMP and TGA ( Australian Food and Drug Administration) standards, quality guaranteed;
• Scientifically formulated, no irritation to the baby’s stomach, suitable for newborns as young as 0 years old;
• The absorption rate is high and it will not prevent the absorption of other nutrients in the baby’s body. It is safe to take at any time.