Essence of Iron During Pregnancy for Pregnant Women -myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theEssence of Iron During Pregnancy for Pregnant Women. Answer: Introduction Recent research has shown that 80% of pregnant women are suffering from iron deficiency. Iron is a critical nutritional requirement that assists pregnant women in so many ways. The formation of the red pigment of blood solely depends on the existence of ferritin in the bloodstream. Furthermore, Iron is necessary for the development of the placenta. Sufficient levels of Iron increases the weight of expectant women. The born children, on the other hand, enjoy good health and minimal chances of iron-related complications. Iron deficiency causes anemia. Pregnant women should take supplements in little amounts. Iron supplements should be prescribed for all pregnant females to curb any shortcoming. Benefits of Iron Iron is a necessary nutrient for any expectant woman. The mineral nutrient forms a vital component of the red blood cells pigment known as hemoglobin. The dye is responsible for the transport of oxygen gas, which cells need to carry out their functions (Siu 2015). The levels of plasma components increase during the first trimester of pregnancy. The increase causes a rapid reduction in the number of heme molecules; consequently, decreasing the hemoglobin contents (Rawal, Hinke, Bao Zhu et al. 2016). Thus, a pregnant woman needs to consume more iron-rich food to normalize the iron content in the blood. The various food sources that supply iron include rice, wheat, flour and flake Oats, Bran, Carob, millet, and Soy (Fisher Nemeth 2017). However, the meat sources include chicken, beef, Ham, and Pork (Rawal et al. 2016). The fetus also requires iron for the development of hemoglobin and eventually red blood cells. The amount of iron uptake by expectant women should be enough to suffice for the fetus (Venti, Decaillet, Kleynen Grabczan, et al. 2016). Apart from the food sources of iron, the mother can use the supplements that the doctor has prescribed. Iron is necessary for the subsequent trimesters after the first trimester. The mother requires iron to boost the mass of the RBC (Titaley Dibley 2015). The metal that the woman takes enhances the growth of the fetus in the womb (Lopez, Cacoub, Macdougall Peyrin-Biroulet 2016). Furthermore, the body requires iron to develop the placenta. Whenever a mother observes a diet rich in iron during pregnancy; she gives birth to a healthy baby. Furthermore, the child is unlikely to complain about iron-related ailments in the future. Effects of Iron Deficiency Pregnant women should observe a diet rich in Iron to eliminate chances of a deficiency. Recent research by a reputable research firm in Australia indicates that the lack of enough iron in the blood of expectant women affects 80% of those mothers (Khambalia, Aimone, Nagubaid Roberts, et al. 2016). However, the situation is rampant at the onset of the second and third trimesters. The deficiency leads to Anemia, reduction in the weight of the delivering woman, the importance of the born child also reduces. Moreover, there are chances that the fetus can die immediately after delivery (Gebremedhin, Samuel, Mamo Moges et al. 2014). The onset of deficiency manifests due to the following ways. More iron should be present during pregnancy than before; the mother consumes foods with little or no iron sources. The diet lacks the efficient source of iron, or the cause of iron present, yield low-quality mineral. Side effects of low iron levels include anemia, sources of iron in the body depleting, and formation of hemoglobin components having defective structures. Whenever the levels of iron in the bloodstream go lower than the equilibrium, the levels of iron in the serum also decreases. Anemia sets in when hemoglobin levels drop to more than two units of measurements below the regular content of an individual (Sui 2015). Anemia occurs in progressive stages which include: reduction in iron contents from the stores in the body. Decline in the production of globin and heme molecules; finally, the onset of full-blown anemia. A pregnant mother should visit a physician to seek guidance on the iron levels. The iron contents drop mostly during the third stage of pregnancy (Sui 2015). The physician should recommend the best supplements to address the issue. The reduction of blood uptake of iron deforms heme molecules; hence, globin cannot combine with heme to form hemoglobin (Lopez et al. 2016). The combination of the two cases results in maternal anemia. Iron Supplements and their Effects The risks of low levels of iron in the bloodstream are many and devastating. Therefore, health specialists recommend supplements to correct the possible deficiency during pregnancy. The best recommendation is taking low amounts of supplements. When mothers use supplements in higher quantities, they are likely to suffer from numerous adverse health conditions, which include: infections to the gastrointestinal tract, poor absorption of iron from the bloodstream to the target cells, and disruption of chemical and metabolic pathways (Venti et al. 2016). Alternative to Iron and its supplements There are a majority of food types that supply iron into the bloodstream. However, some are expansive and at times difficult to come across. Vitamin C is a viable alternative that pregnant women can conceder to get iron for hemoglobin production. Expectant mothers can get Vitamin C from the following sources. Fresh tomatoes, green pepper, berries, potatoes, mangoes, kiwi, Citrus juices, Cantaloupe, and Broccoli (Khambalia et al. 2016). Furthermore, women can consider natural sources such as drinking a glass of milk containing molasses of the blackstrap. Additionally, taking spoonful amounts of Coconut oils, and well-grounded ginger nuts is another viable alternative. Conclusion Clinicians should prescribe iron supplements for all expectant males to eliminate the chances of a deficiency. Normal levels of irons in the serum assist the system of the pregnant woman in making the placenta. Additionally, the presence of iron facilitates hemoglobin manufacture. Low levels of iron in circulation lead to the onset of maternal anemia. Iron supplements help to boost the levels in the bloodstream. Females should take little amounts of supplements to avoid the side effects such as complications of the gastrointestinal tract. Furthermore, expectant mothers should look for other alternatives to sources of iron such as Vitamin C. References Fisher, A.L., and Nemeth, E., 2017. Iron homeostasis during pregnancy. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 106(Supplement 6), pp.1567S-1574S. Gebremedhin, S., Samuel, A., Mamo, G., Moges, T. and Assefa, T., 2014. Coverage, compliance, and factors associated with utilization of iron supplementation during pregnancy in eight rural districts of Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 14(1), p.607. Khambalia, A.Z., Aimone, A., Nagubandi, P., Roberts, C.L., McElduff, A., Morris, J.M., Powell, K.L., Tasevski, V. and Nassar, N., 2016. High maternal iron status, dietary iron intake and iron supplement use in pregnancy and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: a prospective study and systematic review. Diabetic Medicine, 33(9), pp.1211-1221. Lopez, A., Cacoub, P., Macdougall, I.C. and Peyrin-Biroulet, L., 2016. Iron deficiency anemia. The Lancet, 387(10021), pp.907-916. Rawal, S., Hinkle, S.N., Bao, W., Zhu, Y., Grewal, J., Albert, P.S., Weir, N.L., Tsai, M.Y. and Zhang, C., 2017. A longitudinal study of iron status during pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes: findings from a prospective, multiracial cohort. Diabetologia, 60(2), pp.249-257. Siu, A.L., 2015. Screening for iron deficiency anemia and iron supplementation in pregnant women to improve maternal health and birth outcomes: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. Annals of internal medicine, 163(7), pp.529-536. Titaley, C.R., and Dibley, M.J., 2015. Factors associated with not using antenatal iron/folic acid supplements in Indonesia: the 2002/2003 and 2007 Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey. Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition, 24(1), pp.162-176. Veltri, F., Decaillet, S., Kleynen, P., Grabczan, L., Belhomme, J., Rozenberg, S., Pepersack, T. and Poppe, K., 2016. Prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity and dysfunction in women with iron deficiency during early pregnancy: is it altered?. European journal of endocrinology, 175(3), pp.191-199.