Iron is a crucial micronutrient for everyone’s health, and never more than during pregnancy – as iron-deficiency anemia during pregnancy affects both mom and baby in very visible and invisible ways.
As I’ve written about in a previous blog post, anemia can cause headaches, fatigue, weakness, and depression in mothers. And anemia during pregnancy has been shown to affect baby’s birth weight, intra-uterine grown and Apgar scores (a test given immediately after birth to determine how well baby is doing outside of the womb).
A new study from Brown University in Rhode Island now shows that maternal iron-deficiency anemia also affects infant health. Babies born to mothers who were iron-deficient in pregnancy had an increased risk of infant anemia at six months of age, and lower hemoglobin levels at 12 months.
Here is yet another reason to ensure that ferritin (stored iron) is tested in pregnancy, and if necessary to be proactive about correcting iron deficiencies in the preconception and pregnancy period.
I hope you have found this helpful, and do let me know if you have any questions!
If you are hungry for more evidence-based information in your pregnancy, sign up for my free webinar: 7 Pregnancy Myths Debunked – and get the information you need to have a healthy pregnancy and a thriving baby.
And if you are a care-provider looking for evidence-based resources for your pregnant patients, please get in touch with us at support@myhealthypregnancyplan.com.
In health,
Dr Jocelyn Land-Murphy, ND
Terra Life
Disclaimer: The information and content provided is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not professional medical advice, nor is it intended to be a substitute therefore. Please consult the Disclaimer and Terms of Use for full details.
References:
Abioye, A. et al. (20109) Maternal anemia type during pregnancy is associated with anemia risk among offspring during infancy. Pediatric Research, 86: 396–402.
Helmy, M. et al. (2018). Maternal anemia with pregnancy and its adverse effects. Menoufia Medical Journal, 31(1): 7-11.