Iron supplements

[monal]

Hi,

I'm taking a pregnancy vitamin which has iron in it. I'm not anaemic at all as far as I know.

I've just had a long and detailed email from my sister-in-law where she mentions that iron supplements "can be bad for the foetus" and suggesting homeopathic rose-based alternatives. Personally I don't believe in homeopathy at all so I'm prepared to just take her email with a pinch of salt, but are there studies that show iron supplements can be bad for the baby? What are the supposed risks? When I googled it, the first result was a Daily Mail article but I would rather have something solid to read. I'm not worrying about it unduly, I promise, I just want to know what she's referring to.

And so it begins! I only told them I was pregnant last Saturday, it hasn't even been a week

if its a pregnancy vitamin they have exactly the right safe amount needed x

I would definitely go straight to your doctor or midwife to discuss the use of iron supplements as information on the internet isn't always accurate and just scaremongers unnecessarily. Your doctor/midwife will be able to tell you if they think you need more iron, if you don't then the iron in the pregnancy vitamin will be just fine. I have gone most of my pregnancy without needing any extra supplements and it's only now at 33 weeks that I actually need to take extra iron due to low hb. Good luck

It is also worth being aware that there are different types of iron supplement, and different measures of iron deficiency.

I take ferrous sulphate as prescribed for me in pregnancy. I also take a general pregnancy vitamin.

I've been prescribed iron by both the GP and the consultant at the hospital since I was 13 weeks pregnant. None of the professionals have mentioned it being bad for the baby.

I take iron due to chronic anaemia. When I informed my GP about my pregnancy, the dosage was increased 6 times higher. I was told during pregnancy you need more iron.

But saying that, I suggest you speak to your GP to find the correct dosage.

In my general pregnancy vitamin pill (Seven Seas) there is iron (121% RDA). I guess if I had anemia they would also want to supplement with extra iron. As the pill I take is by a good brand and for the whole pregnancy I trust that the doses are completely safe. I'm reassured that there is some iron in it tbh - I'm generally a bit low on iron and pg women in general get low in iron as their pregnancies progress. Bin the homeopathy advice though .