Iron requirements in pregnancy are increased greatly, especially after the first trimester
The body's iron absorption ability greatly increases as pregnancy progresses
There is a significant association between poor perinatal outcomes and moderate anemia
Iron supplementation alone may not correct anemia if other nutrient deficiencies exist as well and are not corrected
Severe anemia (mostly in the developing world) may result in death from hypoxia (lack of oxygen) and heart failure
Iron supplementation does not increase hemoglobin higher than the optimal amount needed for oxygen delivery
Current practices of iron supplementation are note based on improved outcomes, but simply on elevating hemoglobin to its supposed 'optimal' level
Chronic inflammation may contribute to anemia, since in one study, up to 73% of anemic women had elevated levels of C-reactive protein
Folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin A deficiencies, in addition to iron, are common in anemic women.
Although elevated hemoglobin is often viewed as a good sign, this is not necessarily the case:
High hemoglobin concentration may erroneously be mistaken as signifying adequate iron status
High hemoglobin is actually associated with poor pregnancy outcomes, possibly due to increased blood viscosity, which impedes proper oxygen delivery
High hemoglobin should be regarded as signal of a possible pregnancy complication
According to one published estimate, the iron requirements during pregnancy are as follows:
1st Trimester - 0.8mg daily
2nd Trimester - 4 to 5mg daily
3rd Trimester - 6mg daily
During the 3rd trimester it is almost impossible to get enough iron from the diet, which means that the mother's iron stores will be drawn upon to meet the demand.
The total iron requirement for a normal pregnancy in an average size woman is approximately 1,000mg
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition July, 2000 supplement
Iron is an important nutrient. However, if you have enough it can be quite toxic. Excess iron is a potent oxidant stress that can cause serious free radical damage. One can use a serum ferritin level to determine if iron is required. If the value is below 20, this indicates the need for iron. If it is above 100, one likely has too much iron and would benefit from actually donating blood to lower one's iron levels. Normally the best source of iron is organic grass-fed red meat.