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Third
Trimester
 It is recommended that all pregnant women in their second and third trimester
take a daily iron supplement containing 30 mg of elemental iron.
Iron helps make red blood cells, which
carry oxygen. The baby needs red blood cells for its new blood. You need more
red blood cells too, since your body makes as much as 50% more blood during
pregnancy. 30 milligrams of iron per day is required to satisfy these needs.
This is twice as much iron as you needed before you were pregnant. Without
enough iron, you can become anemic, which leads to low energy and poor
concentration.
It is hard to get the iron you need
through food, especially if you are a vegetarian. For example, you need to eat
about 15 servings of red meat or about 10 potatoes to get the recommended daily
requirement. Therefore, many doctors prescribe iron supplements for pregnant
women.
Daily supplementation with linoleic acid and calcium
during the third trimester of pregnancy appears to significantly reduce the risk
of preeclampsia in women at high risk for this complication.
Researchers found that daily doses of 450 mg linoleic
acid and 600 mg calcium raised prostaglandin E2 levels and decreased the ratio
of thromboxane B2 to prostaglandin E2.
Vitamin K If you have problems with hemorrhaging,
you might want to consider taking a low dose of vitamin K at the end of your
pregnancy.
Disclaimer: This information is intended as a guide only. This information is offered to you with the
understanding that it not be interpreted as medical or professional advice. All
medical information needs to be carefully reviewed with your health care
provider.
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