Читать книгу Safe Food: What to eat and drink in pregnancy - Rosie Dodds - Страница 56

Iron is needed to make haemoglobin, a pigment that is found in our red blood cells. Haemoglobin carries oxygen around our bodies. If our red blood cells are not healthy, the transport of oxygen around our bodies may not be good enough. We may begin to feel tired, breathless, dizzy and miserable. These are some of the signs of anaemia.

Doctors and midwives used to give all pregnant women supplements of iron routinely. We now know that unnecessary iron supplements may interfere with the absorption of other minerals, such as zinc. They may also cause constipation. It is usually better to prevent anaemia by eating more iron-rich foods. Iron supplements are, however, necessary to treat anaemia; your doctor or midwife will advise you as to whether you need an iron supplement.