About
During pregnancy, the body prioritizes the mother’s essential functions when distributing nutrients, such as iron. This protective mechanism ensures the mother remains strong enough to support the growing fetus. However, it can mean that unless iron intake is sufficient, the baby may not receive all the iron it needs, putting both at risk for complications such as anemia. That’s why early monitoring and supplementation are so important.
Iron is a key mineral for pregnancy, especially during the first trimester. During this stage, your body is hard at work supporting fetal development and needs more iron than usual. Although you can take iron supplements and include more iron in your diet, you might be facing challenges from morning sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). At Materna, iron infusions can help ensure your body has the nutrients it needs and support your health in whatever comes next.
Iron infusions are a form of IV therapy where iron is administered directly into the bloodstream. Iron deficiency is a common problem during pregnancy – that’s because of the sudden increase in blood volume as your body begins to prepare for growing a new life. Blood is essential to you and your baby’s health, carrying oxygen, supporting energy levels, keeping up immune function, reducing the risk of low birth weight, and much more. This means it’s essential to ensure you’re maintaining sufficient iron levels throughout early pregnancy, especially at a time when it’s difficult.
The biggest benefit of iron infusions is that they can bypass the digestive system, allowing your body to absorb iron directly. For women who have hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), morning sickness, or food aversions, getting enough iron can be challenging, especially through oral supplements (which can cause their own side effects). Although you can take supplements, they may not work effectively when you can’t keep food down. By acting early and maintaining steady blood iron levels, you can achieve a healthier pregnancy.
Iron infusions are performed in our relaxing and comfortable office. Our OB/GYN providers will test your blood iron levels and determine the best path forward. We can also discuss your other symptoms, such as nausea or past health problems, which are interfering with your iron levels. We’ll also help you understand more about how to get more iron from your diet, taking into account your habits and food aversions. Our team can quickly and effectively put in an IV while you relax in our calm, clinical setting. The drip typically takes 30-60 minutes to complete, after which we’ll monitor you and ensure you feel confident in your next steps. We’ll recommend when to return for your next appointment, as well as what side effects you can expect. You may have some brief fatigue and a metallic taste, but you can return to your daily activities right away.
Iron infusions can be integral to the success of your early pregnancy. Call or text to book a free, 15-minute consultation with our team. At Materna, we specialize in supporting women during the earliest and most crucial phase of this important journey. Contact us today to get started.
