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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is It Mandatory To Take Iron Supplements During Pregnancy?

I am 26 weeks pregnant . Indian doctors advised me to take Orofer tab 1 /day, Calcimax 500 2 tab/day and Folinext 5 mg 1 tab/ day. however i have Nausea, Vomiting, breathing problems and abdominal pain whenever I try to take Orofer tablet. We currently moved abroad and I ask my doctor about Orofer tablets he suggested to stop those tablets and just to eat regular food and to continue with calcium and folic acid tablets. I am very confused now. I heard Iron is necessary in pregnancy. What should I do now?
Fri, 4 Apr 2014
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hi and welcome to HCM

I understand your concern. This is for your information that routine iron supplementation for all women in pregnancy is not recommended in some developed countries like UK. In India it is given for all pregnant women irrespective of their Hb status to build their iron reserves

Women with established iron deficiency anaemia should be given 100-
200mg elemental iron daily and should be advised on correct
administration to optimise absorption

In your condition probably by now you have undergone Hb estimation and if its is
For Non-anaemic iron deficient women 65mg elemental iron daily is essential.

Your doctor would have advised based on your blood report, so you can trust him and take food which are rich in iron like. But do remember that most doctors even in developed countries still give iron supplements to build iron reserve, if they experience symptoms that you are experiencing like nausea, abdominal pain then they shift to preparations with lower iron content. Slow release and enteric coated form will be avoided.


Regards
Dr Santosh
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Is It Mandatory To Take Iron Supplements During Pregnancy?

Hi and welcome to HCM I understand your concern. This is for your information that routine iron supplementation for all women in pregnancy is not recommended in some developed countries like UK. In India it is given for all pregnant women irrespective of their Hb status to build their iron reserves Women with established iron deficiency anaemia should be given 100- 200mg elemental iron daily and should be advised on correct administration to optimise absorption In your condition probably by now you have undergone Hb estimation and if its is For Non-anaemic iron deficient women 65mg elemental iron daily is essential. Your doctor would have advised based on your blood report, so you can trust him and take food which are rich in iron like. But do remember that most doctors even in developed countries still give iron supplements to build iron reserve, if they experience symptoms that you are experiencing like nausea, abdominal pain then they shift to preparations with lower iron content. Slow release and enteric coated form will be avoided. Regards Dr Santosh