MOMS TELL OTHER MOMS
Iron deficiency during pregnancy can make you feel weak and tired. Know the risk factors, symptoms and what you can do to avoid it
What helped you survive the first trimester?
“For me, it was sharing my secret with my partner and our parents. The daily phone calls and the excitement and happiness kept me feeling positive.” Nancy Mabusela
“The promise of the second trimester. Seriously, I had a horrible time on every front those first few months. It took me ages to get used to being pregnant in my head, and I hated the changes in my body, and I felt revolting, and my partner wasn’t being his best self. Things certainly improved at around 12 weeks.” Stef Carter
“Ginger biscuits. I ate about a packet a day – no lies. I was either nauseous or ravenous all day long, and these biscuits actually stayed down.” Nicolette Roux
YOUR BODY IS ALONG FOR THE ROLLER COASTER RIDE AS WELL
IRON DEFICIENCY (ID) is when your body doesn’t have enough iron to meet its daily needs and it starts using its iron stores. Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is when your body’s iron stores are depleted, and your body is unable to produce sufficient haemoglobin, which carries oxygen to the rest of your body. Iron deficiency is common during pregnancy because pregnant women have higher requirements for iron. Iron is critical for the growth and development of the baby. Maternal iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) put the baby at risk. Iron-deficient mothers are more likely to have premature or low birth weight babies. There are also consequences for the newborn – they are at greater risk of developing ID or IDA in later life and long-term adverse effects on brain development and behaviour. Postpartum ID is also common after giving birth due to blood loss and may be associated with postpartum depression, fatigue and insufficient milk syndrome.
ENSURE YOU ARE NOT AT RISK. ASK YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER TO CHECK YOUR IRON LEVELS ESPECIALLY IF YOU NOTICE ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS
• Fatigue • Headaches
• Breathlessness • Paleness
• Unusual food cravings, such as dirt and ice (known as pica)
• Brittle nails • Frequent infections
• Swelling or soreness of the tongue
• Poor concentration • Irritability
TREATMENT VERSUS SUPPLEMENT – WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Supplements have 24mg or less elemental iron. Based on international and local treatment guidelines, this is insufficient to treat your iron deficiency. These guidelines recommend 100 – 200mg elemental iron per day for the treatment of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CONTROLLED ABSORPTION?
With FERRIMED® you’ll get the right amount of iron. The body only absorbs the iron it needs in an active and controlled manner, leading to better tolerability.