Take 10: Should all pregnant women be taking iron tablets?

Iron supplements during pregnancy used to be the norm, but times have changed

Iron supplements during pregnancy used to be the norm, but times have changed.

“When I was training the rule was that you immediately put them on an iron supplement at the time of establishing their pregnancy,” says Dr Pradeep Jayasuriya, a GP and the past director of research at the RACGP in Western Australia.

“That recommendation has now gone, so not everyone gets iron,” he says.

[media_embed] https://player.vimeo.com/video/203403345[/media_embed]

“Everyone should certainly be tested for iron,” says Dr Jayasuriya.

“So when you do your antenatal screening tests it is imperative that you check the haemoglobin and their iron studies. And depending on those results, give them the appropriate treatment.”

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