A pregnant woman in her first trimester asks the nurse why she needs to increase iron intake during pregnancy. The most correct response made by the nurse would be:

Question

1. "You need to increase your iron intake so that your own blood volume increases.".
2. "Your baby will use the iron you have stored, making your own iron level low.".
3. "If you have a low iron level it will increase in your baby's birth weight.".
4. "Women with low iron levels increase their risk for post-term delivery.".

Answer 1

2

Rationale: When insufficient iron intake occurs during pregnancy, transfer of iron continues to the fetus at the expense of the mother's iron stores. An increase in maternal blood volume causes maternal iron needs to increase substantially. Inadequate iron intake is not associated with an increase in maternal blood volume. Maternal iron deficiency increases the risk for preterm delivery and low-birth-weight infants.