The pregnancy period is full of mixed emotions. On one side, you are happy to be a mother, and on the other side, your mind is surrounded by a plethora of health-related worries. Apart from this, mood swings are also very common in pregnancy. However, a healthy diet, work out and prenatal vitamins can make the conception period a breeze. Multivitamins, calcium, folic acid, and iron are among the most important nutrients that need to be taken during childbearing days. In this article, we will discuss the importance of iron for a healthy pregnancy and key tips for taking proper supplementation.
Adequate iron consumption helps to increase blood which is vital during conception. As per the experts, pregnant females need around 30 milligrams of iron per day to stay healthy as well as for appropriate fetus growth. And it is pretty difficult to accomplish such a high iron demand solely with natural food sources. Iron supplements are necessary to keep the hemoglobin levels up. Iron pills and capsules result in successful child delivery and keep you fit during post-pregnancy. Moreover, physicians also recommended liquid iron supplements for adults or pregnant women who are victims of anemia.
You may be surprised to know that nearly half of the iron intake of pregnant ladies is used in developing placenta. Also, you lose a lot of blood during normal delivery. Therefore, it is crucial to pay attention to iron intake to restore strength after giving birth. Here are some amazing ways to take proper iron in conception.
- Take Iron Supplements Early In The Morning
As per the experts, the best time to take iron is early in the morning. The reason is that your stomach is empty at this time, and iron is best absorbed in the empty tummy. By doing this, you will get more iron and reduce the chances of anemia. However, if you suffer from morning sickness and are not able to digest iron without eating food, it would be better to devour iron in the daytime after having a meal.
- Don’t Eat & Drink Anything At Least 2 Hours After Consuming Iron.
Avoid eating food or consuming coffee, milk, or tea at least 2 hours after taking iron supplements because they interfere with iron absorption. Try to eat something light instead of raw veggies, milk, chocolate, coffee, and whole-grain cereals. If possible, try to take vitamin C tablets or orange juice with liquid iron supplements to get the best results.
- Carefully Read Labels On Supplements
The next most important thing to optimize the iron consumption for maximum absorption is by carefully reading the labels of the pack. Labels on every box of iron supplements tell about the quantity of iron in every dose. However, it is not written as “iron” on the pacK. You have to look for ferrous gluconate, ferrous sulfate, or ferrous fumarate. These all are different forms of iron, which are equally effective. We recommend you try different formulations of iron and identity which one suits you best. However, it is vital to take physician advice as too much iron intake can harm your embryo growth.
- Take Your Time
It has been noticed that many females face difficulty absorbing iron, such as nausea, vomiting, morning sickness. If this is your case, you should wait for a few days in the first trimester. The iron substitutes work effectively in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters also.
- Include Fiber In Your Diet
Constipation is the most common problem that arises from iron pills. If you also experience constipation, include fiber-rich foods like spinach, whole grain bread, and a lot of fruits in your diet plan. If still, you don’t see positive outcomes, it would be best to use stool softener and fiber supplements. Also, many iron alternatives come with stool softer formula; you can pick them to get relief.
- Select Formulation As Per Your Comfort
From pills to tablets to liquids, iron supplements are available in different forms. You can easily find them in e-Market and physical medical stores also. It is suggested to choose any one of them that suits you the best.
The Bottom Line-:
By considering the above tips, you can overcome severe iron deficiency and improve your as well as your baby’s health during pregnancy.
