Review Article
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 |
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