Iron Needs in Pregnancy

Beautiful smiling young pregnant woman preparing healthy food

Iron is a mineral needed to make hemoglobin. This protein in red blood cells carries oxygen to your organs, tissues, and your baby. Large amounts of iron are essential for your own increasing blood volume, and for your baby’s developing blood supply. Because it can be difficult to get the recommended amount of iron daily during pregnancy from diet along, your prenatal vitamin will contain 27-90 mg of this mineral. Your hemoglobin level will be checked early in pregnancy, and again at 26-28 weeks. If iron-deficiency anemia is present, you will need to supplement with an additional iron tablet.

You can increase your iron intake through your diet. Vitamin C will help your body absorb iron. Antacids, calcium, and caffeine, however, can block iron absorption, so avoid taking it with milk, tea, or coffee.

Primary sources of dietary iron are meats, eggs, vegetables, and iron-fortified cereals.

Other food sources of iron include:

  • Spinach
  • Almonds, cashews, walnuts
  • Soybeans
  • Blackstrap molasses
  • Raisins
  • Liver
  • Chili
  • All-Bran cereal
  • Cream of Wheat
  • Beans: black, pinto, lima
  • Prune juice
  • Peas
  • Beef
  • Pork
  • Shrimp
  • Oatmeal
  • Chex cereal
  • Total cereal
Accepted Insurances

May-Grant Obstetrics & Gynecology participates with the following insurances. Please note that office copays are due at the time of service and any co-insurances are the responsibility of the patient. Please check with your carrier or call our office at 717-397-8177 for an updated menu of insurance options.

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If you are a *NEW* patient at May-Grant, you MUST call the office to schedule. The number is 717-397-8177.

*New* patients include those who have not been seen in our offices in the past three years.

By clicking “book now” and continuing, you are affirming that you are a current May-Grant patient. If you are a new patient, your appointment will be canceled, and you will need to call the office to schedule. This allows us to book you appropriate time with the appropriate provider.

Please consider the following when booking:

Online scheduling is currently for ESTABLISHED May-Grant patients only. If you are a new patient (GYN or OB), please call the office at 717-397-8177 to schedule your appointment to ensure that your provider has enough time to address your needs.

If you schedule an appointment online as a new patient, your appointment will be canceled and you will not be able to be seen. A “New Patient” includes those who have not been seen in our offices in the past three years.

Additionally, your insurance coverage will be verified when you check in for your visit. Please confirm that we accept your insurance before booking online. If we do not accept your insurance, you will not be seen and your appointment will be canceled.

Each patient is unique, and so is each appointment type!

Online scheduling is currently for ESTABLISHED May-Grant patients only. If you are a new patient (GYN or OB), please call the office at 717-397-8177 to schedule your appointment to ensure that your provider has enough time to address your needs.

If you schedule an appointment online as a new patient, your appointment will be canceled and you will not be able to be seen. A “New patient” includes those who have not been seen in our offices in the past three years.