Pregnancy: Increased iron requirement
Every day, we absorb the vital trace element iron through our food, which performs a variety of functions in the body. For example, iron – bound to haemoglobin (red blood pigment) – is needed to transport oxygen in the blood. Iron is also needed for the formation of red blood cells.
The body can initially compensate for an iron deficiency by drawing on its iron reserves. If these are running low, you will suffer from the most severe form of iron deficiency, known as iron deficiency anemia (iron deficiency anemia).
How much iron per day?
Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia. It occurs more frequently in women than in men due to the monthly period. In addition, the need for iron also depends on age and – in women – on pregnancy and breastfeeding.
For example, women between the ages of 25 and 51 should generally consume around 15 milligrams of iron per day. During pregnancy, this requirement increases to around 30 milligrams per day. This is the only way to prevent iron deficiency during pregnancy. A daily intake of around 20 milligrams of iron is recommended for breastfeeding mothers.
Why does the iron requirement increase during pregnancy?
However, pregnancy is not associated with a constant increase in iron consumption from conception to birth: in fact, the iron requirement of mother and child is hardly increased in the first half of pregnancy. The iron intake from a balanced diet should generally cover the requirement sufficiently during this phase.
In the second half of pregnancy, however, the pregnant woman needs significantly more iron. This may make it necessary to take additional iron supplements.
Iron levels: Pregnancy
The gynecologist treating the pregnant woman regularly checks her iron levels by measuring the iron value in her blood – the so-called Hb (hemoglobin) value. If this falls below 11 grams per deciliter of blood, iron deficiency anemia is present.
The red blood cell count also provides information about possible anemia. Less than 3.9 million erythrocytes in one microliter of blood indicates an iron deficiency. There are also other helpful parameters (such as ferritin, transferrin receptor) in the diagnosis of iron deficiency.
Symptoms of iron deficiency
Iron deficiency usually goes unnoticed as long as the body can still draw on its iron reserves. Once these are depleted, the following symptoms appear:
- Pallor of the skin and mucous membranes
- Lack of concentration
- Reduced performance
- tiredness
- Increased susceptibility to infections
- hair loss
- Brittle fingernails or fingernails with ridges
- Headache
What to do if you have an iron deficiency?
Pregnancy with a persistent iron deficiency poses risks for mother and child. Premature birth and a lower birth weight are associated with the deficiency.
To prevent iron deficiency during pregnancy, women should compensate for an existing deficiency before pregnancy. This reduces the risk of iron deficiency later in pregnancy.
If such a deficiency does develop, it should be recognized and treated as early as possible. After three to six weeks of taking iron supplements, the values improve significantly. In order to replenish the body’s own reserves, the preparation should be taken for a further six months.
It may be advisable to give iron supplements to premature babies. However, this should only be done from the 8th week of life and only under medical supervision. Doctors do not recommend additional iron supplementation for children born at term due to adverse effects on growth.