While it has been long understood that iron deficiency in pregnancy is both common and clinically important, our understanding of this condition continues to evolve. Recent research has shown that iron deficiency is not only problematic for the mother and foetus during the pregnancy, but that there can be longer term impact on neuro cognitive development that extend into childhood.

While there has been some debate about how aggressively we should pursue these aims, these finding increase the imperative to detect and correct iron deficiency in pregnancy promptly. This is an important update for all those health professionals who work with women who are or are planning a pregnancy.