In this article, you will learn more about: Let’s dive in to understanding iron’s role in the body and action steps you can begin taking today in order to improve your iron levels. You can see how this blood loss adds an additional stress to a new mother’s body, especially when it comes to the fatigue that ensues from not having enough hemoglobin, iron and therefore oxygen delivery to tissues. ( Source 1) To put that volume in perspective, 500 cc would be about 11% the total amount of blood circulating in a 150 pound woman. Then, I work to aggressively replace the volume of blood lost with intravenous fluid administration to preserve hemodynamic stability.Īlthough blood loss during a C-section range between women, an average woman loses about 500 cc of blood.

One of my primary jobs during a C-section is to administer medications, including oxytocin or ergometrine, in order to limit the amount of blood loss from the uterus immediately after the baby has been delivered. Nearly 1/3 of all deliveries is the US are by C-section according to the latest 2019 data. In my years as an Anesthesiologist, I’ve been with women during labor and delivery of their babies, especially during Cesarean sections (C-sections). Because of blood loss and increased iron needs, most women need to ensure they are getting enough. Iron is a nutrient of particular importance for women during menstruation, pregnancy and the postpartum periods of life.

These are very common questions when it comes to iron and ones that I will dive into in this article. How much iron do I need? Can I get iron through food? What is the best iron supplement? I need to raise my iron levels, but my body isn’t tolerating the supplements my doctor prescribed. After all, prevention is the best medicine. Even better, let’s address iron before this happens. If you are iron deficient or are experiencing the relentless fatigue of iron deficiency anemia, iron becomes critical to understand and address.

Why is this? For many, iron simply isn’t on the radar and we may think we are getting enough in the diet, but in actuality, it’s slowly being depleted. Iron is a nutrient that is critical for health and a well-functioning body, yet it is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies in the world.

Liquid iron supplement for pregnancy