The World Health Organization says monitoring for pregnant women and young children with iron deficiency is important. Iron deficiency in children under 2 years of age severely affects brain development. According to the World Health Organization, this problem can have negative effects on children as they grow up, such as poor learning.
Similarly, a child's brain development is affected if the mother is in the third trimester. Pregnancy check-ups to find out if you have iron deficiency are essential to help your baby avoid the consequences of iron deficiency.
The relationship between iron and children's brains
Recent studies have found that pregnant women with enough iron help their unborn children to develop good brain development, and children born to mothers with iron deficiency anemia are more at risk during pregnancy. And neurological development problems.
Iron has been found to be essential for the functioning of other cells and organs and, most importantly, for brain development during the basic stages of neuronal production and metabolism on energy and neural connections. Iron deficiency in children, especially the first 1,000 days from birth, can lead to long-term complications such as dementia and behavioral problems. These problems, if they occur in children, will make it harder for them to study or do not learn as well as other children and may lead to poor concentration.
Prevent iron deficiency
Pregnant women and young children are a group of people who are prone to iron deficiency because at this stage, both pregnant women and young children need high iron to support growth. Pregnant women can get iron through diet and iron supplements prescribed by their doctor. Proper iron maintenance during pregnancy reduces the risk of birth defects and postpartum.
For newborns, continuing to receive breast milk is one of the most important factors in supplementing the baby's iron needs. After 6 months, babies can continue to breastfeed and supplement their diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables to ensure they get enough iron and other nutrients for both mental and physical growth.
Good foods rich in iron for children's physical needs include fish, meat, seafood and greens. On the other hand, parents should watch for some suspicious signs, such as weak, tired, anemic, behavioral problems and frequent infections, which may indicate that the child is suffering from iron deficiency and should take the child to see a doctor.