Fighting Iron Deficiency During Pregnancy with Proferrin® ES and Forte Iron Supplements
Taking good care of your health and the health of your baby is crucial during pregnancy. One condition that affects some women is low iron during pregnancy; iron deficiency occurs when there is not enough iron in your blood. Without adequate iron supplementation, iron deficiency anemia can be the result.
Anemia is simply a lack of healthy red blood cells, the cells that circulate in the blood plasma and give blood its red color. Red blood cells obtain oxygen in the lungs and distribute it to all the cells in the body in a process called oxygenation. While the actual statistics regarding how many women suffer from iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy vary, it is quite common.
If your doctor tells you that you have low iron during pregnancy, he may have you take an iron supplement such as Proferrin® ES Iron Supplements or Proferrin® Forte, made with Heme Iron Polypeptide (HIP), a naturally-occurring source of iron.
What Causes Iron Deficiency During Pregnancy?
In order to keep you and your baby well nourished, the amount of blood in the body must increase by 50% during pregnancy [1]. As the mother’s body makes blood more quickly, the need for iron is often greater than the amount the expectant mother has stored in her body. The result is iron deficiency.
There are certain factors that will increase the likelihood that you will become iron deficient during pregnancy [2]:
- Severe morning sickness with frequent vomiting
- Insufficient intake of iron in your daily diet
- Heavy menstrual flow prior to the pregnancy
- Multiple pregnancies
- Two or more successive pregnancies
Avoiding Iron Deficiency During Pregnancy
The good news is that you can take steps to reduce your chances of becoming iron deficient during pregnancy. Because iron deficiency during pregnancy is so very common, your blood will be checked during your first prenatal visit. Some doctors will repeat the test at about 28 weeks or whenever they are concerned you may be iron deficient [1]. Eating food high in iron and Vitamin C is the best way to keep your blood healthy during pregnancy:
- Liver
- Red meats
- Eggs
- Dried fruit
- Green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli, kale, and swiss chard
- Tofu
- Pasta
- Cereal
- Oatmeal
- Whole grains
- Good sources of Vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, tomatoes and grapefruit.
Iron Supplementation During Pregnancy
Use of Heme Iron supplements in pregnant women is acceptable [3]. For iron deficiency in pregnancy, your doctor may recommend using Proferrin® ES in addition to your prenatal vitamins, especially during second and third trimesters. Proferrin® ES Heme Iron supplements for women can help keep iron stores from dropping during pregnancy [5]. An added benefit is that you will be less likely to experience the gastrointestinal distress that can occur with other iron supplements [4].
If you know your diet lacks iron or if you know you are iron deficient, please see our Buy Now page, or you can inquire about Proferrin® ES at your local pharmacy. Please consult your doctor before taking any supplements and to get specific serving instructions for Proferrin® ES or Proferrin® Forte.
REFERENCES
- Utah Department of Health. Maternal and Infant Health Program. “Anemia During Pregnancy.”
- The Pregnancy Zone. “How to Prevent Anemia During Pregnancy?” [sic]www.thepregnancyzone.com
- Suzuki, S., et. al., Effect of Bioion 150 – Enriched Heme Iron Food – on Pregnant Woman and Anemic Women with Iron Deficiency, Obstetrics and Gynecology World, Volume 10, pg. 32-43.
- Ghaddar, abstract presented at NKF April 7, 2003, Dallas, TX.
- Abdelazim IA, Abu-Faza M, Elbiaa AA, Othman HS, Alsharif DA, Elsawah WF. Heme iron polypeptide (proferrin®-ES) versus iron saccharate complex (ferrosac) for treatment of iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy. Acta Med Int 2017;4:56-61
