Managing Iron Deficiency Anemia During Pregnancy and Lactation

Iron deficiency anemia is a type of anemia caused by an insufficient amount of iron in the body. During pregnancy, your body’s iron needs increase greatly, especially starting in the second trimester. In India, over 50% of all pregnant women have anemia, the majority of which is due to lack of iron. (WHO/NHD/01.3).

Some of the main tips to manage iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy are:

1. Incorporate iron rich foods in your diet: Sources of iron can be classified into Heme & Non-heme sources.

           Heme sources include :

• ​Red Meat
• Poultry
• Seafood
• Eggs
  
  Non-heme sources include :
• Fruits (e.g., figs, dates)
• Dried seeds and nuts
• Whole grains
• Fortified cereals
• Pulses & beans (e.g., lentils, peas, soy, kidney beans)
• Green leafy vegetables (e.g., spinach)
• Dried fruit (e.g., raisins)
  
  

2.  Add Vit. C to your diet: Vitamin C increases the absorption of Iron. (Hallberg L, Brune M)

 Some sources of Vitamin C include :

• Fruit juices (e.g., lime, orange, amla)
• Vegetable juices (e.g., tomato, carrot)
• Whole fruits (e.g., orange, kiwi, mango,  berries)
• Whole vegetables (e.g., capsicum, tomato)
  
  

3. Have your iron supplements regularly. Nutritional supplements are very essential during pregnancy. Iron supplements like iron pills, iron injections (for severely anemic patients) and MamaBix!

4. Never have your iron supplements with any calcium products. (Also read: Calcium inhibits the absorption of iron). Combine your iron supplements, including MamaBix with citrus juices like orange juice, amla juice, etc. instead of milk, tea & coffee.

5. Monitor your Hb levels routinely. Patients with a good level of Hb also have a risk of developing anemia eventually along pregnancy due to a process called hemodilution during pregnancy. In such cases, a maintenance dose of 1-2 MamaBix special iron biscuits can be consumed to prevent anemia. Remember to maintain your iron levels at all times since it’s very essential during pregnancy.

(Also read : Why is iron so important during pregnancy?)

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​More than 70% of pregnant women prefer eating MamaBix over iron pills.

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