what happens if you take too much iron when pregnant?
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Although our bodies can store a certain amount of extra iron, higher-dose iron supplements may cause side effects. These include, in particular, gastrointestinal (stomach and bowel) problems like constipation, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. When taken on an empty stomach, they can damage the lining of the stomach.
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Causes of Anemia during Pregnancy The cause of anemia truly comes down to how many red blood cells are being produced in the body and how healthy they are. A fall in hemoglobin levels during pregnancy is caused by a greater expansion of plasma volume compared with the increase in red cell volume.
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Advertisement. If a ferritin test shows higher than normal levels, it could indicate that you have a condition that causes your body to store too much iron. It could also point to liver disease, rheumatoid arthritis, other inflammatory conditions or hyperthyroidism.
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When you're pregnant, your body needs this iron to make more blood so it can carry oxygen to your baby. Your baby needs iron to make his own blood. During pregnancy you need 27 milligrams of iron each day. Most prenatal vitamins have this amount.
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Taking a prenatal vitamin that contains iron can help prevent and treat iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy. In some cases, your health care provider might recommend a separate iron supplement. During pregnancy, you need 27 milligrams of iron a day.
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Excess iron is stored in your organs, especially your liver, heart and pancreas. Too much iron can lead to life-threatening conditions, such as liver disease, heart problems and diabetes.
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Best time to take prenatal vitamins Iron is absorbed better if you take it with a beverage that has vitamin C, such as orange juice. Some women find that adding prenatal vitamins to their diet causes some symptoms like nausea and constipation.
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Iron supplements can cause side effects, usually stomach upset such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dark stools, or constipation. Pregnant women are especially susceptible to constipation. Adding extra fiber to your diet can help relieve this symptom. A stool softener may also make you feel better.
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Ingestion of 20 to 60 mg/kg of elemental iron may cause toxicosis with mild gastrointestinal (GI) signs. Ingestion of >60 mg/kg of elemental iron is considered potentially serious and may result in GI hemorrhage as well as metabolic acidosis and elevated liver enzyme values.
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High levels of ferritin can damage your joints, heart, liver, and pancreas. Too much iron is most often caused by an inherited disease called hemochromatosis. Many people with this disease never have any symptoms, especially women who lose iron through menstruation.
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According to the CDC, you should start taking a low-dose iron supplement (30 mg a day) when you have your first prenatal appointment.
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Pregnant women should aim to get 27 mg of iron from food each day. Only 4 mg of this is absorbed by the digestive system. Most pregnant women get less than 15 mg a day from food. To meet the target of 27 mg per day would require major changes to the average diet of women.
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If you take too much manganese as supplements, you could have side effects. These can include loss of appetite, slowed growth, and reproductive issues. It may also cause anemia. This is because manganese competes with iron for absorption.
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During pregnancy, your body produces more blood to support the growth of your baby. If you're not getting enough iron or certain other nutrients, your body might not be able to produce the amount of red blood cells it needs to make this additional blood. It's normal to have mild anemia when you are pregnant.
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But in general, avoid taking extra prenatal vitamins or multivitamins with dosing in excess of what you need on a daily basis. High doses of some vitamins may be harmful to your baby. For example, extra vitamin A during pregnancy can potentially cause harm to your baby.
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IDA in pregnancy can be treated with oral iron supplements or an iron infusion. You should try oral iron supplements and avoid iron infusion in the first trimester of pregnancy where possible. Iron infusions are considered safe to use in the second and third trimester of pregnancy.