IV vs Oral Iron Therapy in Pregnancy

Iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy has been linked to several obstetrical adverse events including preterm birth, low birth weight, Cesarian Section, and of course the need for blood transfusion. Babies born to iron deficient mothers are also at risk of being iron deficient themselves- a condition which has been linked to poor psychosocial development. In this session, we will review the data favoring IV iron therapy over oral iron therapy during pregnancy and the postpartum period, especially for women with severe iron deficiency (hemoglobin < 10).