Iron

Iron

Pregnancy increases your need for iron. Your baby draws enough iron from you to last it through the first five or six months after birth so it’s vital that you consume more iron while pregnant. The recommended daily intake (RDI) of iron during pregnancy is 27mg per day. Taking a supplement may help to meet this recommended intake but you should only take iron supplements under your doctor’s advice

Iron-rich foods include:

  • Lean beef and lamb
  • Poultry
  • Fish
  • Breakfast cereals fortified with iron
  • Eggs
  • Cooked legumes such as chick peas, lentils, kidney and lima beans
  • Dried fruits
  • Green vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and spinach
Eating foods high in vitamin C may also help you to absorb iron if you consume them at the same time. Try drinking some orange juice when eating green vegetables or legumes. You also need to watch out for tea, coffee and cola because caffeine reduces the body’s absorption of iron.