- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- moms today articles
- moms today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Pumping Iron
Reduce Your Risk of Iron Deficiency Anemia
By Carma Haley Shoemaker
However, there are times when changing the diet to include iron rich foods is not enough to effectively treat anemia during pregnancy. In these cases, it's common for iron supplements to be prescribed by a doctor.
"Again, for prevention and treatment of mild anemia, a physician will recommend iron supplementation in a once-a-day pill form," says Dr. Michael. "A sufficient amount is usually contained in the typical prenatal vitamin, but if a more significant anemia is present, a physician may recommend additional iron supplements to be taken with the prenatal pill. This combination is quite effective in treating pregnancy-related anemia."
According to Dr. Michael, perfectly healthy women may develop anemia during pregnancy due to no fault of their own. With proper assessment, diagnosis and treatment, pregnancy-related anemia is easily controlled.
"Due to the increased metabolic demands of the fetus, pregnancy causes varying degrees of anemia, even in those who were not anemic prior," says Dr. Michael. "Unless there is underlying disease processes, proper diet and iron supplementation will gradually raise the red blood cell count into the normal range. Generally, a woman should not become alarmed when told she is anemic no more than she should become alarmed being told she's pregnant."
|