Iron Pills During Pregnancy

The element iron plays an important role in several vital functions in the body and scarcity of iron in the body can lead to serious health complications, especially in pregnant women. Most women suffer from iron deficiency anemia. Poor diet, strict vegetarian diet, heavy menstruation and pregnancy are the common causes of developing anemia. During pregnancy, more iron is required to ensure healthy growth of the fetus. Iron is also necessary to maintain the mother's health. It promotes fast recovery after delivery. The recommended intake of iron for a pregnant woman is 30 mg/day. Taking iron pills during pregnancy helps avoid premature birth, still birth and low birth weight.

Low Iron during Pregnancy

You may not be anemic at the beginning of the pregnancy but you may develop anemia as your pregnancy progresses. A blood test helps detect anemia in pregnant women. Most women do not experience any symptoms at all when they have mild anemia. Pale lips, fingernails and undersides of the eyelids, increased tiredness, weakness, dizziness are common symptoms of low iron levels during pregnancy. Anemic women may also experience a rapid heartbeat, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, headache, irritability, and trouble concentrating. Cravings for non-food items such as ice, paper, or clay also indicate symptoms of iron deficiency. After examining the symptoms and blood test results, doctors normally prescribe iron pills or iron supplements. Do you know that iron overdose can be life-threatening?

Side Effects of Iron Pills

• Gastrointestinal Disorders: Iron pills can lead to stomach upset and darker stools. Main side effects of these pills are constipation, abdominal discomfort, heartburn, nausea and vomiting.
• Iron Poisoning: Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and blood in the stool are commonly noticed symptoms of iron poisoning. Children whose mothers have had excessive iron supplements are more likely to have iron poisoning.
• Rare Side Effects: Tingling or numbness in hands or feet, weakness and double vision are some of the other side effects of overdose of these pills. It is true that these are rare side effects but it is better to take necessary precautions.
• Weight Gain: More research is needed to establish the relationship between iron pills and weight gain. It is believed that increased inactivity during pregnancy is responsible for weight gain and not these pills.
• Skin Problems: Taking liquid iron supplements during pregnancy can result in bluish color of lips, palms of hands and fingernails. Iron supplement side effects also include itching and/or developing skin rashes or hives all over the body. Excessive intake of iron can cause swelling of mouth or throat and discoloration of teeth.

Taking into consideration the possible side effects of these pills during pregnancy, it is good to start with half the recommended dose. Let your body get accustomed to the supplement and then you may gradually increase the dose. Experts state that the quantity of iron in the body for an adult should not exceed 45 mg/day. You should drink plenty of water and increase the consumption of other fluids to avoid constipation. You should also include lots of vegetables and fruits in your diet to avoid constipation. You may consult your doctor if you wish to opt for stool softeners.

Increasing the intake of foods rich in iron can solve all your problems. It should be borne in mind that beverages like tea, coffee and cold drinks affect the iron absorption process, so excessive consumption of these drinks should be avoided. Similarly, vitamin C enhances the process of absorption of iron. Hence, proper intake of foods high in vitamin C is also necessary. Following a healthy diet is the best way of preventing iron deficiency during pregnancy.