The increased amount of iron required to support pregnancy has been estimated to be 5 to 6 mg per day. This would make the RI for pregnant women 27 mg. per day. This extra iron is needed to support a 20 to 30 percent increase in maternal blood supply, the requirements of the placenta, and the needs of the fetus. Many people would find it difficult to meet this requirement for dietary source alone. Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), when eaten during the same meal as a food containing iron, can significantly increase the amount of usable iron from the food.

Because of deficiency of meeting your additional need for iron during pregnancy, the use of an iron supplement is generally recognized as reasonable and effective. The preparations commonly used contain ferrous gluconate, ferrous sulfate, or ferrous fumarate (simple iron salts) in amounts from 30 to 60 mg daily. These amounts are considerably greater than your actual requirements to compensate for the fact that such supplements are less efficiently absorbed than is iron from food source. Larger doses, however, are usually not advised except for the treatment of established iron deficiency. You can also raise the iron content in foods by cooking in iron pots and skillets.

Maternal anemia (a condition in which the blood is deficient in red bood cells, hemoglobin, or total volume) is the major consequence of iron deficiencies but its effects on the outcome of pregnancy are poorly understood. Anemia is usually determined by measurements made from a sample of your blood. About one third to one half of the pregnant women who do not take iron supplements develop anemia. Maternal risks associated with anemia involve reduced tolerance to possible hemorrhage at delivery and increased risk of postpartum infection. The risks to the baby are not well defined. About one forth of the pregnant women who are iron deficient exhibit “pica,” a term used to denote an appetite for strange things (usually the food items). In the past, consumption of dirt, starch, clay etc., was cited as a cause of iron deficiency. Recently, the opposite view has been proposed – that iron deficiency causes pica. Whatever the case, if you feel that you may be affected by pica, or if you have unusual food cravings, you should discuss it with your healthcare provider. Usually it is of no concern, but in rare cases it may compromise your own and your fetus health.