Low iron during pregnancy

The role of iron in the body is to transport oxygen to all the cells of the body, so when you are low on iron it means that the distribution of oxygen is compromised, leaving you with symptoms such as:

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• fatigue
• weakness
• dizziness or lightheadedness
• shortness of breath
• pale or yellowish skin
• desire to chew ice.

Sometimes women are diagnosed with low iron during pregnancy without any of these symptoms, but just due to the results of a blood test. In this case it can be fruitful to check if you are in fact suffering from anemia or if your iron tested low simply due to proper blood expansion. Please look to the following article on the official Brewer website for details.

Feeling one or more of those symptoms?

Then work with Emma Banks, homeopath to increase your health and resilience.

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How to boost iron levels during pregnancy?

The first way to boost iron levels is through diet or nutrition.

Some dietary sources of iron are:

• pastured and organic animal (such as beef or chicken) liver
• pastured and organic blood pudding
• pastured and organic bone marrow
• a mixture of honey, roasted buckwheat and walnuts,
• organic black strap molasses
• red meat such as steak.

When you are eating iron rich foods for the purpose of increasing your blood iron levels make sure to avoid eating dairy (cheese, milk, yogurt etc) and caffeine (coffee, etc) for at least one hour before and one hour after your iron rich meal/snack.

You can also increase your absorption of iron by adding Vitamin C to the meal. Drink a small glass of orange juice or fresh squeezed lemonade or take a Vitamin C supplement (250mg) with your iron rich food.

If food is not enough?

Increase iron using supplementation:

• beef liver capsules
• beef blood capsules
• Floradix iron supplement (vegetarian).

The use of beef liver capsules is becoming popular and here are three brands that I recommend: MK Supplements, Ancestral Supplements and Perfect Supplements. These aren't affiliate links.

My personal story of boosting iron in pregnancy.

Personally, I saw great results with the beef blood capsules from Ancestral Supplements.

I was notified by my doctor as being on the edge of anemia after my first blood test in pregnancy. I was taking a gummy prenatal that didn't contain iron because I just didn't feel very good after taking one that did.

I knew the importance of adequate blood iron so I started to look for something that my body would agree with and I found the beef blood capsules. This form of iron made sense to me, as a homeopath, as supporting the health of my blood by using the blood of an animal.

I took the capsules throughout second and third trimester and by the time I had my blood checked again during labor before giving birth my levels were back to normal.

After giving birth, the doctor said that I didn't even need to get another blood test to check my iron levels (as is standard here in hospital after birth). I was good to go!

After birth I took beef liver capsules as for recovery and breastfeeding support.

Another option for those who are vegetarian is Floradix liquid (or tablets but the body absorbs liquid better and there is less risk of constipation).

I also used the cells salts:

Use homeopathy to maximize your iron absorption and utilization.
You can also use homeopathy to increase your uptake of iron and relieve your symptoms during pregnancy.

• cells salts
• classical homeopathic care

Cell salts are nano doses of certain minerals that help your body to uptake and utilize the essential bodily minerals.

To support your iron levels use the following cell salts: Ferrum Phos 6X, Natrum Phos 6X, and Kalium Phos 6X. These three cell salts can be taken together several times daily for months until symptoms improve. Take these as indicated on the bottle.

I love working with women during pregnancy.

I invite you to work with me if you are experiencing low iron, stress or emotional symptoms during pregnancy.

Increase your health and resilience with me, Emma Banks, homeopath.

I will support you with personalized health advice and unique homeopathic remedies to relive emotional, mental and physical symptoms associated with pregnancy and get you in shape for the birth and postpartum period.

Classical homeopathy is non-toxic and can be used alongside any other medications.

Thank you for reading my article. I hope it has helped. Feel free to comment below.

Make a free appointment with me here to see if homeopathic care is right for you.

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This blog article has been reviewed for accuracy by Alana Battiston, dietitian.