Iron needs increase in pregnancy to support a growing baby and to make up for blood loss during delivery-daily requirements increase to 27 mg daily.  We get iron from animal foods and plant based foods, with animal based foods having the most easily assimilated iron in the body. 

Symptoms of iron deficiency anemia can result in fatigue, headaches, dizziness and impaired immunity. 

Iron deficiency is quite common during pregnancy and your midwife or OB may put you on a prophylactic iron supplement toward the end of your pregnancy just to make sure you are not iron deficient.  While increasing some supplements during pregnancy is not a bad idea, iron does not pass through the system as easily and can build up in the body creating a toxic environment and can cause oxidation which is damaging to cells and tissues. 

To make sure you are getting enough iron, but not too much, first, ask your Dr. to check your iron levels before taking an extra iron supplement that you may not need.  To keep your iron levels at a healthy level,  you can boost your iron intake by eating the following foods packed with iron as well as cooking with a cast-iron skillet which leaches iron into the food (especially of an acidic base-think tomato sauce):

Plant based sources:

quinoa
lentils
pumpkin seeds
blackstrap molasses
spinach
kidney beans
soybeans
swiss chard
cashews
hazelnuts
barley
tofu

Animal sources:

shrimp
sirloin
turkey
light canned tuna (in light moderation in pregnancy)
chicken
pork loin


If you think you may have iron deficient anemia, consult your Dr. or midwife.

Most of us would like to change some aspect of our lives for the better, but most often we don't know where to start.  Dreams, fantasies and visions are the first step on this path.  These are our mind's powerful signs to pay attention to; often times our heart telling us what we really want and need to do. With less time to lead contemplative lives, we often pass off the daydreams or visions we may have for ourselves.  We feel guilt at having quiet time to go inward, "do nothing" and pay attention to what we really need for ourselves to be truly happy.  When we envision our lives with purpose and feeling, we are more open to inviting that energy into our lives, and with that, opportunities to get what we really want.

If you'd like to start envisioning changes in your life, here are some ideas to get you started.

Journaling-a wonderful way to find out what you really want and to practice truth and being honest about your feelings, desires and dreams without anyone else judging you.  Journaling takes practice, and has the most benefit when you are brutally, brutally honest with yourself.
1st step, get yourself a journal you are drawn to aesthetically that you will want to pick up again and again.  Better yet, make your own! Next step, set aside some time when you will be relaxed and can write freely.  It doesn't have to be long or even daily but the more you practice the easier it will flow.

Dream Tracking-We get subtle clues about our lives and desires in our dreams.  We often feel compelled to tell others about our dreams, and sometimes they are so vivid we have trouble distinguishing them from real life.  Writing down your dreams, either in a journal or a dream journal, you wil be able to start to notice any reoccuring themes, and give yourself clues into any fears or anxieties that may be holding you back from accomplishing your goals.  Since dreams are often fleeting, it's best to keep a notebook beside your bed and write as soon as you wake up or you may find that dream may be lost by the time you get around to jotting it down.

Create a Rich Fantasy Life-Why do so many of us think fantasizing is a waste of time? How many times are we told to "get real".  Why do we push our fantasies away, even when they are enjoyable? Most of us are afraid of never really getting what we truly desire, and some of us are afraid of what would happen if the fantasy DID come true. Indulge yourself, let your fantasies go.  The more you enrich your fantasy life, the more clues you will be given by the frequency and reoccurring nature of your fantasy.  The fantasies you have most often are the ones that are telling you to take action.