Iron is important to help form red blood cells which carry oxygen around the body. Demand for Iron increases during pregnancy to account for the rise in maternal blood volume and the growth of the fetus and placenta. Requirements for Iron increases by 50% during pregnancy. Iron supplementation can help cover the increased needs during pregnancy and can help prevent dietary Iron deficiency. MamaCare is a good source of Iron which is necessary for normal neurological development in the fetus but can also reduce tiredness and fatigue for mothers-to-be.
The form of Iron in MamaCare is mild on the gastrointestinal tract. MamaCare provides a moderate amount of Iron, providing 38% of daily requirements to supplement Iron in the diet. This is in contrast to many other pregnancy supplement tablets which provide more than 100% of daily requirements and may contribute to constipation, nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.
The best dietary sources of Iron are meat, fish and poultry, especially red meat and organ meats as they are high in haem iron which is well-absorbed. While there is iron found in high levels in plant foods like legumes and wholegrains, this type of iron called non-haem iron is less easily absorbed by the body. Combining these foods with a food rich in vitamin C like orange juice can increase the absorption.