What would you like to know? Share this Story  Why do I need to
take iron supplements during pregnancy?   Iron & pregnancy
Particularly if you're anemic, your caregiver may give you a
prescription for iron tablets. Nutritionist and registered
dietician Martha Belury, PhD, RD, tells you why iron is
important for your body, and also disusses how these supplements
might otherwise affect you.  The question:  I was recently told
by my doctor that I need to take iron supplements. Why is this
necessary?  The expert answers:   The Recommended Daily
Allowance (RDA) for iron for a pregnant woman is 30 milligrams
per day. This extra iron is needed for the normal functions of
building red blood cells and carrying oxygen to tissues. Because
the blood volume of a pregnant woman increases by as much as
50%, extra iron is needed for this extra blood. As importantly,
this blood is supplying the growing fetus with oxygen and other
gasses as well as nutrients.  The RDA for iron is double the
recommendation for non-pregnant wom