Pregnancy Diary

One of the first tests that your doctor or midwife will do early in the first trimester, is to check blood iron levels and again during the second trimester to determine that iron levels are staying normal during the pregnancy. if a woman’s iron levels are low, her doctor or midwife will prescribe an iron supplement for her to take during pregnancy. For there have been some studies done over the past few years which suggest that low iron levels in a mother during pregnancy can affect the child’s mental development in negative ways.

Foods high in iron include meats, egg yolks, dried beans or peas, green leafy vegetables, dried fruits, nuts and grains. Besides the iron suppllement pills, a woman can eat more foods that are naturally high in iron during her pregnancy in order to increase the iron levels. Foods coming from animals (the meat and eggs) have higher levels of iron in them than the foods coming from vegetables. If you are consuming mostly vegetables to get your iron, avoid tea while eating them because the tea can prevent or reduce iron absorption. Adding Vitamin C to your meals will also help increase the amount of iron that is absorbed into your body.

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