Like all nutrients, iron plays a vital role during pregnancy. A baby’s growth requires iron, and it is an essential nutrient for normal cognitive (brain) development. As pregnancy progresses, your blood volume will gradually increase and so will your iron needs. A healthy balanced diet, with iron-rich foods should provide most of the iron you need during pregnancy and to allow your baby to build its iron stores which should last the first six months of his or her life. In some cases where diet alone is insufficient, an iron supplement can be taken to help meet daily iron needs.

How much iron do pregnant women need?

Adult women from ages 19 to 50 need to intake approximately 18 mg of iron per day, but for a pregnant woman this can increase to 27 mg.

With higher demand for iron during pregnancy, pregnant women need to give more attention to their daily iron intake. The absorption of iron is a complex process, and a large percentage of the iron in food sources is excreted. During pregnancy, your levels may can be screened by your doctor to ensure your body has enough for you and your developing baby. If you are concerned about your iron levels, you should speak to your healthcare professional.

Click here to find out how to take Spatone® .