I had heaps of trouble with my iron.
We get told to take the iron tablets but they don't tell you the iron tablets are going to make you constipated.
And being constipated is more stressful than having low iron.
I had iron infusions with all my babies, a blood transfusion with my last.
I had heaps of trouble with my iron.
We get told to take the iron tablets but they don't tell you the iron tablets are going to make you constipated.
And being constipated is more stressful than having low iron.
I had iron infusions with all my babies, a blood transfusion with my last.
Why is low iron a problem in pregnancy?
Iron helps to carry oxygen in the blood to our organs. Sometimes we don’t get enough iron from food, which is what we call iron deficiency or sometimes anaemia. If we don’t have enough iron it can make us feel extra tired. Iron is needed to make extra blood for both mum and bub.
How do I get more iron in my body?
These are some things that can help:
- Eat strong blood food.
- Eat iron helper foods that are high in vitamin C. These foods help our body to use iron properly.
- Reduce sugary drinks and junk food.
- Tea and coffee stop our body from using iron.
- See your health care provider regularly.
What kind of foods give me strong blood?
Below are some strong blood foods:
The best foods are:
- Red meats and offal like liver and kidney.
- Bush meats like goanna, kangaroo and emu.
Good foods are:
- Chicken, eggs and fish.
- Iron rich cereals, bread, and damper.
- Beans and chickpeas.
What are Iron Helper foods?
Below are some iron helper foods:
Best helper foods are:
-
Green leafy vegetables like broccoli, spinach, cabbage as well as carrot, pumpkin, capsicum and cauliflower.
-
Fruits like kiwifruit, berries, oranges, pineapple and pawpaw.
-
Bushfoods like bush berries, fruit and vegetables.
What are iron stoppers?
Some drinks stop iron getting into your blood. This is one of the reasons we say not to give these drinks to babies or children.
Below are some iron stoppers:
-
Coffee
- Tea
- Dairy
Here are some tips to make sure that the meals you are eating are high in iron.
More Information
Good food, for strong blood
Low iron and how to deal with it.
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Weak Blood in pregnancy
Video about what Iron deficiency (Anemia) is and how it affects pregnant women in Western Australia.
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What is Anemia?
Video about what Iron deficiency (Anemia) is and how it affects children in Western Australia.
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