SAEDNEWS: Healthy Lifestyle During Pregnancy Depends on Four Key Factors: Balanced Diet, Regular Exercise, Appropriate Weight Gain, and Essential Mineral Intake
According to Saed News Family Magazine, a growing fetus receives the iron it needs for up to six months after birth from the mother’s body. This means your iron requirements increase during pregnancy. While menstruation does not occur during this period—so your body loses less iron—the amount of iron in your body may still be insufficient to meet both your needs and your baby’s. Therefore, it’s important to consume iron-rich foods every day, such as meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, beans, lentils, and leafy green vegetables.
Currently, daily iron supplementation is recommended as part of prenatal care to reduce the risk of low birth weight and maternal anemia. In general, pregnant women are advised to consume 27 milligrams of iron per day—9 milligrams more than the non-pregnancy requirement.
Iron from animal sources is easily absorbed by the body. However, iron from plant sources is not absorbed as efficiently. If consumed alongside foods rich in vitamin C, such as oranges, plant-based iron can be better absorbed. This is particularly important for women following a vegetarian diet.
