You are in Our Sponsors . Your body needs tremendous amounts of iron to keep up with your expanding blood volume and with the baby s needs. Anemia can develop in women who begin pregnancy with low iron stores or who don t take in adequate amounts of iron to keep up with the increased needs.
Many pregnant women become iron deficient, which can be corrected with a supplement containing iron.
Other women progress from low iron stores to a severe form of iron deficiency called anemia. Signs of anemia include extreme fatigue, pale skin, trembling, and even fainting. To reduce your risk of anemia, be sure to eat plenty of foods that are high in iron, such as meat, eggs, and fortified cereals. You can increase your absorption of iron by ingesting a citrus food, like orange juice or tomato juice, at the same time. Your health care provider may recommend that you take a supplement containing iron in addition to eating a good diet.