We habitually write off all our ailments for toxicosis, but in fact, the cause of anemia, in other words - anemia. At the same time, 80% of the pregnant world make the same mistake, and most of them suffer from iron-deficiency anemia. Our present task is to clarify the importance of iron preparations during pregnancy.
Why do I need iron?
As is known, erythrocytes (blood cells) are constructed from hemoglobin, and, in turn, hemoglobin has iron in its composition. With a shortage of iron, the production of red blood cells decreases, and, accordingly, oxygen supply is disrupted.
The result of iron deficiency
At pregnant women shortage is expressed in the form of dry and brittle hair and nails, cracks in the corners of the mouth, blue sclera, yellowness of the hands, pallor. And anemia can also arise due to depletion of the iron depot in the body, for example, frequent childbirth, prolonged breastfeeding, etc.
In the fetus, iron deficiency causes oxygen starvation, retardation of intrauterine development, risk of premature birth and death.
Iron Iron Strife
The amount of iron in our diet (even the most balanced) is barely enough to meet our own needs, and here is pregnancy, when the blood volume increases by 50%, then more hemoglobin is needed, and you need to nourish the fetus, develop the placenta, and expand the uterus . That is why during pregnancy, as well as during lactation, iron supplements for pregnant women should be taken additionally. They have differences:
- ferrous iron;
- ferric iron;
- iron-containing complexes.
It is recommended to take bivalent iron medicines, as they are better absorbed by the intestine. When taking trivalent preparations, heartburn, diarrhea and metallic taste often occur in the mouth.
The World Health Organization (WHO) advises taking iron preparations containing also folic acid in pregnancy. And the dose of elementary iron is 60m / day, and folic acid is 400mg.
Antagonists
Whether you supplement iron stores with food or medications, you should avoid the parallel intake of antagonists, especially calcium. Ca deteriorates the absorption of iron, between doses should be an interval of 2 hours.
Overdose
Despite the fact that with anemia it is necessary to make up the depot of the body with iron, treatment should be gradual, for 2-3 months. After normalization, the drug dose should be halved. Prescribe iron-containing drugs can only be a doctor, since both shortage and excess are equally dangerous for the health of the mother and baby. Below is a list of new generation of iron preparations.
List of drugs
- Maltofer Fole (iron + folic acid).
- Hemofer (iron + microelements).
- Sorbifer (ferrous sulphate + ascorbic acid).
- Tardiferon (ferrous sulfate + mucoproteosis, ascorbic acid).
- Ferrogradumet (ferrous sulphate).
- Heferol (iron fumarate).
- Ferroplex (ferrous sulphate + ascorbic acid).
- Ferrum Lek (Iron III).
- Ferretab Comp (iron fumarate + folic acid).
- Iron fumarate (iron fumarate).