Anemia is one of the leading problems in women who are pregnant. It is a common saying that a pregnant woman has to eat for two. Nothing could be more correct. Since the mother’s body is also providing for the nutrition and the development of the baby, the nutritional requirements of the mother doubles.
For a lot of women, iron supplements are necessary during pregnancy. There is no fixed amount of iron that you may require when you are pregnant. The amount of iron you need is directly related to the amount of iron you have stored in your body and the amount that your bone marrows are capable of producing.
For those women, who are non-vegetarian, iron supplements are not required in the first trimester. Your doctor will recommend a blood test to see your blood count during the early period of your pregnancy. If your blood count is normal, you may not need any supplements till your seventh month.
Good sources of iron include pulses, green vegetables, dried fruit and fortifies breakfast cereals. Avoid drinking tea with iron-rich food as this contains tannin, which reduces absorption.
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Read about our top picks on prenatal vitamins here.