I have anemia during my pregnancy what are foods I can eat that have iron, but wont contribute to constipation

Question

I. E. red meat. I know thats good , but I'm already having issues with constipation due to just being pregnant and taking extra iron supplements. sorry if this is tmi

Answer 1

Leafy green veggies like broccoli and spinach are good sources of iron that will not constipate you.

Chicken and turkey and liver are also excellent sources as are beans and nuts.

This website helped me A LOT when choosing foods to increase my iron intake.
http://www.healthcastle.com/iron.shtml

All the best to you and baby!

Answer 2

Any extra iron will have that unfortunate side effect. And if you are anemic you may need to take a supplement. Slow FE releases slowly and is gentler to your system. I have to take two of those a day. What you want to increase is your fiber intake. You can take citracel fiber supplements if you have a hard time fitting all that extra fiber in your diet. I take 2 fiber pills 2 to 3 times a day. I hate taking all those pills, but I just remind myself that these are supplements my body needs for the baby. If you dont get enough Iron, the baby can not get enough oxygen. So if you are anemic, the supplements could be very very important. As long as I take my fiber, I do not have any problem with constipation. Also, remember not to take your iron within 2 hours of ingesting any calcium or dairy. This blocks absorption. This included antacids that have calcium. Good Luck!

Answer 3

No, it's a common problem not TMI, lots of people are embarrassed to ask. Having this problem can lead to hemorrhoids,and believe me you'd rather be asking about this than hemorrhoids.
Beans have lots of iron and fiber. Look for cereals that high in iron and fiber. Your best, easiest and cheapest option would be beans though. Kidney beans, pinto, whichever you prefer. If you're already taking supplements though, you should opt for more fiber in your diet, get stool softeners also. My doctor prescribed them to me when I got pregnant, and I haven't had a problem with this pregnancy, and I had five (yes! 5) hemorrhoids when I got pregnant. They cleared up after I got the softeners, and I've stayed regular. sorry if this is tmi, lol, but there ya go, hope this helps.

Answer 4

I suffer from the same problem. I just found out I'm anemic and I'm going to have to take additional iron supplements on top of my prenatal vitamins. Hello, Constipation! I was told lentils are really good at raising your hemoglobin count, so I was thinking of searching for some good lentil soup recipes and so on. Other than that, don't take your iron supplements at the same time as any calcium supplements and/or calcium-containing foods (like milk) because it blocks the iron absorption. Good luck!

Answer 5

Spinach is a great source of iron-you can eat spinach salad, eggs florentine, spinach souffle, and just plain cooked spinach with butter. Most dark leafy green vegetables have good amounts of iron in them so just look around the produce department. You may also want to get an iron supplement in addidtion to your prenatal vitamins. Check with your doctor. Iron needs vitamin C in order to be absorbed so pass the OJ too. Congrats on your pregnancy and I hope everything goes splendidly.

Answer 6

I have anemia too. Im 29 weeks. My Dr told me to eat prunes, cream of wheat and spinach as those are all high in iron. And prunes will definitely help with the constipation.

Answer 7

i had anemia too during my pregnancy eat alot of beans spinach red meat and im taking a iron pill that is called slow-fe its over the counter and i dont have any problems with constipation

Answer 8

Food Source/Serving Size/Iron (mg)

Almonds, raw 10 - 12 each 0.7
Apricots, dried, med.-size 10 each 1.7
Bagel 1 whole 1.5
Baked beans, canned 1/2 cup 2.0
Bread, white 2 slices 1.4
Bread, whole wheat 2 slices 1.7
Broccoli, cooked 1/2 cup 0.6
Broccoli, raw 1 stalk 1.1
Dates 10 each 1.6
Kidney beans 1/2 cup 3.0
Lima beans 1/2 cup 1.8
Macaroni, enriched, cooked 1 cup 1.9
Molasses, blackstrap 1 tbsp. 2.3
Peas, frozen and prepared 1/2 cup 1.3
Prune juice 1/2 cup 1.5
Raisins, not packed 1/4 cup 1.0
Rice, brown, cooked 1 cup 1.0
Rice, white enriched, cooked 1 cup 1.8
Spaghetti, enriched, cooked 1 cup 1.6
Spinach, cooked 1/2 cup 2.0

*Make sure you are getting plenty of fiber in your diet to help with your constipation issues. I hope this helps, good luck!

Answer 9

try leafy greens, like spinach and kale. Keep you fiber intake high to counteract the constpation.

Answer 10

eat some dark dreens... spinach is good for iron.. so are green beans.