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Should I Supplement Iron in the Third Trimester?

I’ve been getting lots of questions about “low iron” during pregnancy. I want to preface by saying this is absolutely not medical advice.
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It’s very common for pregnant women to have lower hemoglobin levels in their third trimester of pregnancy and this could occur for a number of reasons:
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🔂First, the download of iron (and copper) from mother to baby takes place in the third trimester.
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🔐Second, pregnancy is a huge stress on the body and stress = iron sequestration in the tissues. Excess iron through fortification and supplementation also = iron sequestration in the tissues.
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🩸Third, Hemoglobin production stays the same while blood volume increases.
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These aside, practitioners tend to freak out if hemoglobin gets lower than 12 g/dl. But research actually shows that mother nature most often wants hemoglobin at 8.5-9.5 g/dl to ensure the healthiest babies.
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The usual prescription for women is to take more iron pills, which can be harmful to mother and baby. From food, pregnant women can absorb up to 3X more iron than non-pregnant women and 9X more iron than men. And as I’ve talked about time and time again, iron supplementation depletes copper and causes iron sequestration in the tissues. One of the many issues with this is that the transportation of nutrients across the placenta to the baby is dependent on copper.
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My point? Just because we’re “deficient” or “low” in something doesn’t always mean we need to supplement. Nature is usually far more complex and sophisticated than we give it credit for. And there are often many variables and reasons for the way things present.
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For more info like this, sign up for the wait list via the the link in my bio. @the.preconception.pt and I are working on something very special. ❤️
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NOT MEDICAL ADVICE.

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This is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare professional before pursuing any changes to your personal healthcare regime.

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References

Burton, G.J. (2011). Oxidative Stress. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3101336/.

Cao, C. Fleming, M.D. (2016). The placenta: the forgotten essential organ of iron transport. Retrieved from: http://europepmc.org/article/PMC/5059819#nuw009-B78.

Cartner, A.M. (2012). EVOLUTION OF PLACENTAL FUNCTION IN MAMMALS: THE MOLECULAR BASIS OF GAS AND NUTRIENT TRANSFER, HORMONE SECRETION, AND IMMUNE RESPONSES. Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anthony_Carter2/publication/232278000_Evolution_of_Placental_Function_in_Mammals_The_Molecular_Basis_of_Gas_and_Nutrient_Transfer_Hormone_Secretion_and_Immune_Responses/links/0046352780784b5ed8000000/Evolution-of-Placental-Function-in-Mammals-The-Molecular-Basis-of-Gas-and-Nutrient-Transfer-Hormone-Secretion-and-Immune-Responses.pdf?origin=figuresDialog.

Chen, H. Attieh, Z.K. Syed, B.A. Kuo, Y.M. Stevens, V. Fuqua, B.K. Andersen, H.S. Naylor, C.E. Evans, R.W. Gambling, L. Danzeisen, R. Bacouri-Haidar, M. Usta, J. Vulpe, C.D. McArdle, H.J. (2010). Identification of Zyklopen, a New Member of the Vertebrate Multicopper Ferroxidase Family, and Characterization in Rodents and Human Cells. Retrieved from: https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/140/10/1728/4689064.

Frass, K.A. (2015). Postpartum hemorrhage is related to the hemoglobin levels at labor: Observational study. Retrieved from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090506814001158.

McArdle, H.J. (2008). Copper and Iron Transport Across the Placenta: Regulation and Interactions. Retrieved from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1365-2826.2008.01658.x.

McArdle, H.J. (2011). Role of the placenta in regulation of fetal iron status. Retrieved from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2011.00428.x.

Steer, P. Alam, M.A. Wadsworth, J. Welch, A. (1995). Relation between maternal haemoglobin concentration and birth weight in different ethnic groups. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2548871/.

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Remember: this post is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here. While the owner of this website tries to keep the information up to date, there may be things that are out-of-date and out of their control.