Hemoglobin is a protein that carries oxygen in the blood. The body needs hemoglobin to transport oxygen throughout your body and to help remove carbon dioxide. There are many natural ways you can increase your hemoglobin levels during pregnancy, including: eating well and avoiding vices.
Iron-rich foods
- Red meat and chicken
- Eggs
- Fish
- Beans, peas, lentils, nuts and seeds (shelled)
- Pulses (chickpeas, kidney beans)
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps your body absorb iron. It’s found in fruits and vegetables, as well as some multivitamins.
Avoid vitamin C supplements if you are pregnant because they can cause birth defects or other problems for you or your baby.
Folic acid
Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps your body make new red blood cells. It’s found in leafy green vegetables, beans, and fortified cereals; it’s also available as a supplement.
Avoid alcohol
Alcohol can cause you to lose iron and folic acid, which are essential for your baby’s development. Alcohol is also not good for the baby because it can cause premature birth, low birth weight and fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
No smoking
Smoking during pregnancy can harm your baby. Smoking during pregnancy is a risk factor for premature birth and low birth weight, as well as respiratory problems in the newborn.
Increase your fluid intake
To help boost your hemoglobin levels, you should drink plenty of water. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that pregnant women consume at least 8 glasses a day, but the best way to prevent dehydration is by drinking more than usual—even if it’s just one glass every few hours. Whether you’re craving something sweet or savory, make sure that whatever drink you choose has no caffeine or alcohol in it; these can both affect how well your body absorbs iron supplements.
You may also want to avoid sugary drinks like soda and juice because they contain artificial sweeteners that aren’t easily absorbed by the body over time.
Eating Well And Avoiding Vices Are Easy Ways To Increase Your Hemoglobin
There are several ways to increase your hemoglobin in pregnancy. Eating well and avoiding vices are easy ways to do so, but here’s a list of more specific recommendations:
- Eat iron-rich foods like meats, fish, eggs and vegetables (such as spinach) at every meal. Iron helps make blood cells that carry oxygen through the body’s tissues. If you’re not getting enough iron from these sources during pregnancy—or if your body has lost stores from previous pregnancies—it might be difficult for your body to produce enough hemoglobin for delivery day!
- Eat vitamin C foods such as citrus fruits or juices because they help increase hemoglobin production by making red blood cells stronger. Click here for an extensive list of vitamin C sources that can help boost circulation throughout the body when pregnant women need it most!
- Drink plenty of water throughout each day – especially before bedtime so that there’s extra liquid available when needed during labor/delivery days! Also try adding lemonade concentrate into plain old water bottles so they taste better too 🙂 Still not convinced? Well then maybe try THIS article written by my colleague Sarah Channing who lost her baby due its lacklustre health care system back in 2012; she went through hell trying desperately hard even though no one cared about how hard she tried…
Conclusion
Remember, you’re not alone. There are many people who have the same concerns and fears about raising a child on their own. Listen to them, and do your best to reassure them that it can be done! We hope these tips have given you some ideas for how to increase hemoglobin in pregnancy
