Ask Auntie Eve: Iron and Energy
When I was carrying my first child, I couldn't find a doula that felt like "my person." I went through pregnancy feeling like there was sooo much I didn't know, that I'd never even considered, and — in addition to the various physical and emotional adjustments involved in growing a baby — it was all quite overwhelming.
By my second and third pregnancies, I had my doula, Eve, by my side; supporting me through two glorious home births. Now a student midwife, Eve carries the spirit of the “Granny Midwives” before her, sharing the knowledge our communities once passed down freely. Knowledge I’m so excited to share with our Kinfolk!
That’s why we created Ask Auntie Eve — to help democratize this wisdom about our sacred bodies. In this series, she’ll answer your most burning questions, because information like this should always be accessible. And nurturing our bodies is always the move, whether we're planning to have a baby or not.
This week, we’re talking iron & energy — because running on empty? We not doing that!
Lindsey: Iron and hemoglobin levels can be a struggle for many Black women, especially in pregnancy. That was definitely the story of my first pregnancy! My midwives at the time had me taking what felt like a million pills, but my levels weren’t improving. After much frustration, [my husband] Nkrumah suggested I focus on food and absorption instead — and that changed everything. I really want to spare other mamas (and women in general) the heartache, so I’m so thankful to you for walking us through this.
Lindsey: In your work as a doula, how have you seen low iron impact clients, during pregnancy and beyond?
Auntie Eve: Low iron doesn’t just show up in a lab result — it shows up in how you feel. I’ve worked with so many Black women who are dragging through life, thinking it’s just normal exhaustion, when in reality, their iron is in the gutter.
Low iron will have you out here like a phone on 1%, barely holding on, shutting down at the worst moments, needing to be plugged in just to function. And for pregnant mamas? That 1% is growing a whole human. You cannot build life when your own blood is struggling to keep up.
Mamas are out here chewing ice like it’s their second job. Because yeah, that’s a sign. Listen, I know low iron because I lived it. I thought exhaustion was just part of life. Push through! Keep going! Meanwhile, I was chewing crushed ice like it was my love language. Then I got pregnant and started planning my VBAC/HBAC (Home/Vaginal Birth after Cesarean) and my midwife hit me with the real: You can’t birth at home if your iron is low.
I went all in: iron pills, liquid supplements, dark leafy greens, beets, blackstrap molasses, herbs. And the wildest part? The moment my iron came up, I put the cup [of ice] down. My body had been screaming for what it needed.
As a doula, I see it all the time. I can see when someone’s iron is low before they even get their labs back. And when the results come in? They’re like, How did you know, Auntie? Because, baby — you’re Black.
Low iron can mean dizziness, shortness of breath and extreme fatigue — even before labor begins. When a mother goes into labor with low iron, she’s at higher risk of hemorrhage, it slooowwwsss down labor and can cause deep exhaustion. That makes it harder to PUSH. It’s like trying to run a marathon with no water.
Postpartum, low iron can make healing slower and contribute to postpartum depression. Our bodies need iron to carry oxygen to our tissues, and if we aren’t getting enough, we’re running on fumes…physically and energetically.
It’s not just about fixing a number on a test; it’s about getting Black women to feel fully in their bodies, strong and nourished.
When we do fix it? It’s like turning the lights back on. And that’s real power.
Lindsey: Okay, let’s back up a moment, and talk about the function of iron, which you just touched on. Also, in laymen’s terms, what are hemoglobin and hematocrit — besides scary ass words when introduced on a lab report saying you’re “deficient”!
Auntie Eve: Iron is the thing that helps your blood carry oxygen. So when your iron is low, your body is out here gasping for air like an old school preacher in the middle of a sermon.
Hemoglobin is the iron-rich protein in the blood that carries oxygen. Picture it like a bunch of little delivery trucks carrying oxygen to every part of your blood. If your hemoglobin is low that means you don’t have enough trucks on the road, and your blood is starving for air. That makes you feel cold, weak and like you could take a nap any time.
Hematocrit is the percentage of your blood that’s made up of red blood cells. If it’s low that means you don’t have enough red blood cells in circulation.
Lindsey: For someone navigating low iron, who are the key people they should have on their team, and what kinds of questions should they be asking?
Auntie Eve: First, get a provider who listens to you. Not one who just tosses you iron pills like Halloween candy. Nope, we not doing that. We do not accept bare minimum. Find someone who actually gives a damn. Work together to figure out why your iron is low: gut issues? Stress? Fibroids? Heavy periods?
We need answers:
What type of iron should I be taking?
Not all iron is the same! Some will jack you up, causing constipation; some absorb better with vitamin C.
How often should I be re-tested?
Because iron takes time to build, we need to track progress.
Am I getting enough B12 and folate?
These work with iron to build healthy blood.
Do you have heavy periods? Could they be contributing to this? Do you have fibroids? (That’s a whole ‘nother discussion). But if you’re losing too much blood every month, no amount of spinach is going to save you.
How can I naturally boost my iron with food?
Hint: eat your greens with vitamin C, and don’t drink coffee or tea with your meals. Pick up the water, Sis.
And don’t stop there. Get a doula (hi, I’m right here!) or a nutritionist who understands Black women’s bodies. Western medicine loves to act like we’re all the same, but our risks? Higher. Our solutions? Gotta be customized.
Lindsey: Many of us (or our providers) are quick to reach for supplements, but what are some of the bigger-picture factors to consider when trying to improve iron levels?
Auntie Eve: Listen. If your body isn’t absorbing iron properly, you’re just making expensive pee. I’m pro-supplements, but I’m even more pro- getting what you need from food first. Why? Because food comes with the cofactors that your body actually needs to use the iron. Here are some things to do and foods to try:
Gut Health: your body absorbs iron in the intestines, so if you have gut issues you might not be absorbing what you need. Bone broth and fermented foods can help.
FOOD OVER PILLS: (when possible), but if you do take supplements, get one that won’t constipate you. Like Floradix or an herbal iron blend.
Iron-rich foods: Liver (yes, I know, but stay with me), beef, lamb, chicken thighs, sardines, dark leafy greens (kale, collards, spinach), beets, nuts & seeds, lentils, chickpeas, black beans, quinoa.
Extras that pack a punch: Blackstrap molasses (a spoonful a day in your oatmeal would be nice), pumpkin seeds, sea moss, dried apricots.
Pair it right: Iron loves vitamin C (bell peppers, oranges, strawberries). It hates calcium and caffeine. Yes, you can have coffee — just don’t drink it with your iron rich meals. Drink water first, THEN have ya coffee.
Herbs for Iron: Nettles, dandelion root, yellow dock, burdock root (perfect in teas or tinctures)
Lindsey: Stress and nourishment go hand in hand. How do you guide clients in staying mindful of their body’s needs, especially when life gets hectic?
Auntie Eve: Sis, stress eats minerals like Pac-Man. If you’re constantly running on fumes, anxious, and barely holding on, that’s not strength — that’s deficiency. Your body can’t build healthy blood when it’s sleep-deprived and burnt out. I said what I said.
But first Coffee?? Nope. Start your day with real food, not just caffeine. Having a nutrient-rich breakfast first, like eggs, greens and a bit of fruit, can make a huge difference.
CHEW your food. Rushing through your meals means you’re not absorbing what you eat. I know, I know, life be lifein’. But digestion starts in the mouth. You gotta give your body a chance to actually use the nutrients
Breathe. Stretch. Rest. Repeat. Stress burns through your minerals like a wildfire (I’ve tried to give you several analogies for stress, have you noticed?) Rushing through your meals means AGAIN you are not absorbing what you eat. Are we seeing a trend here?
Smoothies with spinach + orange juice. Soups with bone broth, snacks like pumpkin seeds. Keep iron-rich food options on deck.
Treat yourself like someone you love. Would you let a baby skip meals, eat junk or go all day without rest? Would you let Granny go without getting a good meal? Treat yourself with the same care. I don’t care what “they” say, rest is non-negotiable. Sleep is when your body rebuilds. Honor your rest.
At the end of the day, low iron isn’t just about food and supplements. It’s about how we live. Stress, exhaustion, burnout, all of it depletes us. And if we don't stop and replenish? We’ll keep running on empty. Rest and food are not luxuries, they are our birthright.
Lindsey: What’s one piece of wisdom you wish more people knew about energy, iron, and overall well-being?
Auntie Eve: You deserve to feel good. Period. Feeling tired all the time is not your destiny. Your energy is sacred. Low iron isn’t just a “condition” — it’s a message from your body! A reminder to rest, to eat foods that build you up, to check in with your stress levels, and to honor what your body needs.
Black women: we have generations of wisdom in our blood. Our grandmothers, and great grandmothers knew the power of greens, herbs, rest and healing foods. We don’t have to just survive. Not in pregnancy, not in postpartum, not at all. We CAN thrive. It’s about knowing when to replenish yourself, knowing when to say no, knowing when to slow down and let your body heal. We are not meant to be tired all the time. We are not meant to just survive. And I need more of us to believe that. So, if you're reading this, take this as your sign: start feeding your body like you love yourself. Because you DO deserve that.