The advice comes after a study found that women who took iron supplements in pregnancy were more likely to suffer from high blood pressure and deliver smaller babies. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) already recommends that pregnant women get iron from their diet rather than supplements. The Iranian study followed 727 women who did not have anaemia, of whom 370 were given a 150mg ferrous sulphate (iron preparation) tablet every day throughout pregnancy while 357 were given a dummy pill. Researchers, from Tarbiat Modarres University in Tehran, found that women taking the tablets were more likely to develop high blood pressure and more likely to have a baby that was small for its gestational age (SGA). This study shows that iron supplements may have a harmful effect on women who do not need them in the first place. read more

Technorati Tags: women, iron, pregnancy, supplements, study, advice, pregnancy news

Tata from University of Nottingham in the UK and colleagues used data from more than 280,000 pregnancies to compare the risks of obstetric complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with asthma and those without asthma. Asthma did not significantly increase the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid disorders, the need for assisted delivery, placental separation from the uterine wall (placental abruption), placenta blocks the opening to the birth canal (placental previa), pre-eclampsia (a condition affecting multiple body systems characterized by high blood pressure and kidney failure), or eclampsia (progression of pre-eclampsia to a life-threatening severity). However, when compared with women without asthma, women with asthma did have a 20-percent increased risk of hemorrhaging during delivery, a 38-percent risk of hemorrhaging after delivery, a 6-percent risk of anemia, and a 57-percent increase risk of depression. Women with more severe asthma and a history of asthma exacerbations had an increased risk of miscarriage and depression, the researchers note, but increased risk of hemorrhage after delivery was restricted to women with milder asthma and no exacerbations. read more

Technorati Tags: asthma, risk, women, increased, delivery, reuters, pregnancy news

A yard sale supporting the Loving Choices Pregnancy Center begins at 8 a. Money raised will be used to provide the pregnancy center with needed items. The Morning News does not review comments before their publication, nor do we guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by our comment policy. If you see a comment that violates our policy, please notify the web editor. read more

Technorati Tags: comment, center, comments, morning, news, policy, pregnancy news