Oral Iron Prophylaxis in Pregnancy: Not Too Little and Not Too Much!

Table 1

Iron balance in normal pregnancy and delivery, approximate figures.

Gross iron demands
Obligatory iron loss (0.8 mg × 290 days)	230 mg
Increase in red cell mass	450 mg
Newborn baby (weight 3500 g)	270 mg
Placenta and umbilical cord	90 mg
Blood losses at delivery	200 mg
Total gross	1240 mg
Net iron demands
Menostasia in pregnancy	−160 mg
Postpartum decrease in red cell mass	−450 mg
Total net iron demands	630 mg