Becoming the IRON lady

Now that your baby is forthcoming, your iron requirements are on higher demand than ever before. This is because your blood volume has expanded to accommodate your baby’s needs. That is why you need almost one and a halftimes more of the iron you took before you got pregnant.

Why iron?
Iron makes haemoglobin, the component in the red blood cells that carries oxygen in the blood to the muscles. It forms new red blood cells and haemoglobin in your unborn baby and the placenta. Iron helps the cells to breathe and operate as required. Therefore, having an iron-rich diet is very important/for the baby’s steady and healthy growth and development.

When it’s absent
Our blood is the body’s fuel. We have noted that iron is a key part when it comes to blood synthesis and functioning. It works to ensure that a healthy immune system is maintained, and. like mentioned: iron makes haemoglobin which ensures energy for the body and carries oxygen to all parts of the body.

When you do not take enough iron, you are likely to get anaemia, which is decrease in the quantity of haemoglobin or a number of red blood cells. Anaemia is also caused by lack of enough folic acid and vitamin B12 or by certain diseases such as sickle cell. Therefore, you need to check regularly with a doctor for proper diagnosis.

Anaemia makes you dizzy, have pale skin and be fatigued even when little or no task is done. You also get headaches, shortness of breath and slow healing of wounds.

Where to get it
The excellent sources of iron are animal products because they contain easily absorbed iron. However, vegetables and fruits have iron too. A diet containing either of the following components could be helpful in boosting your iron needs:

o Meats: Fish, poultry, red meat, liver and lean pork
o Eggs
o Green leafy vegetables: These include spinach. kales (sukuma wiki) and lettuce,
o Nuts and seeds: Such as sesame seeds, almonds and walnuts,
o Grains: These include oats, millet and wheat

NOTE: Though liver is an excellent source of iron, it is best avoided during pregnancy as it has high amounts of Vitamin A. which is linked to birth defects.

If your body is very low in iron, which happens a lot when one is expectant, then a doctor should recommend iron supplements.

To enhance the absorption of iron, accompany foods that provide iron with the following:
o Grapefruit, strawberries and tomato juice
o Citrus fruits such as oranges and lime

Avoid caffeinated drinks such as coffee and tea and high amounts of calcium because these limit the body’s capacity to absorb iron.

So if you are taking the iron tablets, avoid downing them with milk, which has lots of calcium.

END: PG22/44-45