Question

Your best friend has just found out she is pregnant. She has been told by her obstetrician to take 30 mg of iron (ferrous gluconate) per day along with a prenatal vitamin to help prevent anemia. After taking it for 2 weeks, she is complaining of heartburn, cramps, and constipation. a) What 3 suggestions would you make for her that might help with these side effects? b) Would you suggest she continue with the same supplement or try something else? Why or why not? c) Plan a one-day diet that would provide between 25 and 30 mg of iron and would be appropriate for a pregnant woman.

Answer 1

Answer:

a). * Take the iron tablets with a full glass of water

   * Take the medication 2 hours after the meal

* Add more fiber rich foods and green leafy vegetables.

b).I would suggest to consult her obstetrician to take iron tablet in smaller doses or change to another forms of iron rather than stopping it because iron is important during pregnancy. It helps to prevent anemia, increase the blood volume and blood supply to the fetus.

c). * 7- 8 am - Breakfast - Cereal, fortified with 100% of the DV of iron-

1 serving -18 mg iron

* 10 am - Morning snack - Grean peas boiled 1/2 cup - 2 mg

* 1 - 1: 30 PM- Lunch - Bread ,whole wheat 1 slice - 1 mg

Chicken roasted 3 ounces - 1 mg

Spinach boiled 1/2 cup - 3 mg

* 4 PM- Evening snack - Cashew nut oil roasted,1 ounce - 2 mg

* 7 - 7:30 pm Dinner - Turkey roasted, breast meat 3 ounces - 1 mg

Broccoli boiled 1/2 cup - 1mg

This one day meal plan consists of total 29 mg iron

It is not appropriate for pregnant women .

WHO recommended 30 - 60 mg of iron daily for pregnant women to prevent anemia.