Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility while taking ferrous fumarate - Brand names: Fersamal, Galfer

Ferrous fumarate and pregnancy

Your doctor or midwife may recommend that you take an iron supplement (ferrous fumarate) in pregnancy. Iron supplements are safe to take in pregnancy and it is important that low iron levels are treated so that you and your baby stay healthy.

If you are pregnant and taking iron supplements, it is common to become constipated or get piles (haemorrhoids). A doctor, pharmacist or midwife can give you advice on how to avoid this. If you do get constipation or piles, talk to a doctor, midwife or pharmacist about the best way to treat this.

Ferrous fumarate and breastfeeding

You can usually take ferrous fumarate while you are breastfeeding.

Iron (including ferrous fumarate) is a natural part of breast milk. When you take iron as a supplement it does not affect how much gets into breast milk or how much gets to your baby.

This means that taking iron supplements is very unlikely to cause any side effects in your baby.

However, if your baby also has low iron levels, they will need to be treated directly. Any iron supplements that you are taking will not affect their levels.

If you notice your baby is not feeding as well as usual, or has constipation or diarrhoea, or you have any other concerns about your baby, contact your doctor, pharmacist, health visitor or midwife.

Ferrous fumarate and fertility

There's no evidence that ferrous fumarate reduces fertility in either men or women.