Dynamics of Total Iron and Iron Binding Capacity during Pregnancy: Implications for Maternal and Fetal Health

Abstract: Iron has a very important role in both maternal and fetal health during pregnancy, and, hence, it impacts the outcomes related to both mother and child. This review explains the variations in total iron and TIBC through all three trimesters in pregnancy by considering physiological demands and adaptations through each stage in pregnancy to explain the trends in iron metabolism along with clinical implications. During the first trimester, iron remains essentially unchanged, whereas TIBC tends to increase. During the second and third trimesters, iron typically decreases, while TIBC is usually elevated. Such changes indicate that monitoring and management of iron status are important in preventing complications like anemia, which may result in adverse outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth weight. This paper discusses further the factors that affect iron status, like dietary intake, supplementation, or pre-existing ill health, and goes on to give recommendations to effectively institute therapeutic intervention. It is critical to understand these dynamics for optimum health outcomes regarding mothers and fetuses.

Keywords: Pregnancy, iron metabolism, total iron binding capacity, anemia, maternal health, fetal development.