Soon-to-be-mothers can help prevent iron deficiency by getting enough iron from their foods and prenatal supplements. Many pregnant women choose gummies instead of the traditional pill form because they’re chewable and great-tasting, making them perfect for women who have trouble swallowing pills.
However, gummies typically contain fewer nutrients and often do not include iron at all. This is why we suggest that women who prefer to take prenatal gummies without iron add additional iron sources like Fergon® Iron Restore™ to help reduce the risk of deficiency.
The Importance of Iron Supplements During Pregnancy
Iron is one of the most critical nutrients during pregnancy. A growing baby uses the mother's red blood cells for growth and development, especially in the last trimester. If enough red blood cells are stored in the mother's bone marrow before pregnancy, the mother's body can use those stores during her pregnancy. But for women who don't have sufficient iron stores, they may be at risk for iron deficiency anemia, the most common type of anemia in pregnancy.
An analysis from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that iron deficiency anemia rates were 6.9% among women in the first trimester, 14.3% in the second trimester, and 29.7% in the third trimester.
Women are at a higher risk of developing iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy if they:
- Have closely spaced pregnancies
- Have a history of anemia before pregnancy
- Don't consume enough iron in their regular diets
- Suffer from morning sickness and vomiting often
- Have heavy menstrual flow before their pregnancy
- Are pregnant with twins or more.
Iron deficiency anemia can have severe consequences for the developing baby, including low birth weight, stunted physical growth, delayed brain development, delayed development of language and motor skills, and early mortality. That is why health professionals stress the importance of keeping healthy iron levels for both the mother and the growing fetus.
