Active Iron Pregnancy Plus is a great option because it offers a complete nutritional solution for mother and baby, and is recommended by midwives. It is a specially developed, combination product with 21 essential nutrients to provide complete nutritional support to mum and baby throughout pregnancy. Kind enough to take on an empty stomach, Active Iron’s ground-breaking protein formula works with your body and is strong on absorption when you need it. Supplementing with iron early in your pregnancy can increase iron levels and avoid the need for high dose oral iron if iron levels deplete further. This product contains ferric iron, as opposed to the more easily absorbed ‘ferrous’ type which all our other recommendations contain. However, the spray delivers iron straight to the bloodstream via the blood-rich membrane of your inner cheek, so it absorbs extremely efficiently. And you don’t have to worry about whether or not to take it with food. A really nifty product. Most iron supplements dissolve in the stomach. This can lead to oxidation and gut infl ammation, which can lead to common side effects associated with iron supplements, such as constipation and nausea.

Whilst iron supplementation can help prevent a pregnant woman from developing inadequate iron levels it is particularly important for certain groups: Women’s iron needs change over time. Menstruating women have a higher need for iron due to monthly blood loss. During pregnancy, a woman’s blood volume increases and so there is an additional need for iron. It is also recommended that breastfeeding women increase their iron intake. Following menopause, your iron needs decrease significantly.We recommend Active Iron only to those who are at risk of developing inadequate iron levels (i.e those with regular periods, pregnant, vegetarians, heavy exercisers) or have known inadequate iron levels. Remember, food supplements are not a substitute for a varied diet and a healthy lifestyle. How much iron should a woman take daily? Iron is an essential mineral, meaning our bodies need it for optimal health. However, iron is not produced by the body and that is why it’s important to get enough iron from our diet on a daily basis. Inadequate iron levels is a global problem affecting 2 billion people worldwide, with 1 in 4 women impacted. A woman’s iron needs change over her lifetime with menstruating women, endurance athletes, pregnant and postpartum women having a greater need for iron. Active Iron has a unique non-constipating formula that helps reduce gut irritation from iron. Formulated by scientists, Active Iron is clinically proven to increase iron levels while being gentle on the stomach ² . The Best Iron Supplements for pregnant women Some women (and men) have iron levels so low that they’re classed as anaemic. If you think you may have anaemia, see your GP for a blood test to show how your iron (ferritin) levels are doing. Prescription iron supplements can be 20 times as strong as the standard iron supplements we recommend below.

These tablets are on the large side, and you’re meant to take two per day before meals, so if you hate swallowing tablets you may not like them. But buyers report that they’re gentle on the tummy (“Unlike medical iron tablets that all cause constipation, I find these do not”) and good value for money. Research shows that many women do not have sufficient iron in their diet to meet their daily needs. This is also true during pregnancy, especially during the second and third trimesters when dietary iron requirements increase. If your iron intake is lower than your iron use, then you may benefit from adding an iron supplement to your daily routine. However, food supplements are not a substitute for a varied diet and a healthy lifestyle. Gentle iron supplements for women There are two types of iron found in the diet, non-heme and heme. Non-heme iron is found in plants, nuts and legumes. This is absorbed at a much lower rate than heme iron, which is found in animal products such as meat, especially red meat. Research shows that many women do not have sufficient iron in their diet to meet their daily needs. This is also true during pregnancy, especially during the second and third trimesters when dietary iron requirements can increase to as much as 30mg per day.Those on a plant-based diet, such as vegetarians, are another group who regularly turn to iron supplements. While we get iron from food, the iron found in plant-based sources contain non-heme iron, which is harder for our body to absorb than heme iron, the type found in meat. Thus, while a vegetarian’s diet may be high in iron-rich foods, they may still have inadequate iron levels, in which case supplementation is recommended.