Treatment and Prevention

The treatment and prevention of pregnancy related problems are the same:

a balanced diet which contains enough iron, protein, and vitamins to build healthy blood cells.

During pregnancy, your body makes almost a third more blood, and this process (called hemodilution) requires good nutrition. Some women need extra iron during pregnancy, but many do not. Iron supplements should never be taken unless your midwife or doctor does a blood test to discover if you are actually deficient in iron. If she/he does advise you to take iron, you will find many types at the drug store.

Ferrous Sulfate is effective and the least expensive form but also is the one most likely to upset your stomach. You may need to try another form of iron or wait a few weeks until Morning Sickness passes. It’s also a good idea to take vitamin C and B whenever you take iron supplements.

A word of caution. Please be careful to keep iron supplements away from children. Even a few iron pills are enough to poison a young child .