Dealing With Pregnancy Anemia: How Can I Get More Iron In My Diet?

I have been having problems with my iron or cbc count the doctor said it can cause problems. I stay dizzy and nausated and I feel weak all the time. I want to know your opinion on this matter and if you have any ideas of things I can do?”

Anemia is really common during pregnancy, affecting about 1 in 5 women. When you’re pregnant, your body needs twice as much iron as it usually does. Too little iron in your diet can cause fatigue and dizziness and increase your risk of giving birth to a premature baby. (And too much iron can be poisonous, or cause constipation.)

While you’re pregnant, aim for 27-30 mg and no more than 45 mg per day. The National Academy of Science recommends that expectant moms in their second and third trimesters take a daily iron supplement containing 30 mg of iron. If you’re very constipated it’s okay to skip the supplement, just do your best to get the equivalent amount from iron-rich foods: fortified cereals, blackstrap molasses (check your local health-food store), beans and meats. Some formulations of iron pills are also more constipating than others.

Also note that caffeine inhibits iron absorption, so eliminate coffee, black tea and caffeinated sodas from your diet. Calcium also inhibits iron absorption, so if you take iron supplements, don’t take your calcium supplements at the same time. Vitamin C helps encourage iron absorption, so try taking your supplement with a glass of non-calcium-fortified orange juice.

Food sources of iron