Table 1.

Average iron requirements and changes during and after pregnancy for a woman with a pre-gestational bodyweight 55 kg to 60 kg

Stage	Amount (mg)
Pre-partum
Fetus	270
Placenta	90
Expansion of RBC mass	450
Obligatory losses	230
Sub-total	1040
Intra-partum
Maternal blood loss at delivery	150
Overall requirement	1190
Post-partum changes
Contraction of maternal RBC mass	−450
Loss of menstruation during gestation	−160
Sub-total	−610
Net requirement	580