Anemia in pregnancy is a global health problem. Mild anemia is common during pregnancy, and iron deficiency is the most common cause.

Q. What Is Anemia?

Anemia is a condition in which the number of healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin decreases. Haemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to tissues, and iron is the key ingredient of hemoglobin.

Q. What Causes Anemia During Pregnancy?

During pregnancy, the body's blood intake increases. Therefore, the body's requirement for iron increases to make more blood and supply oxygen to the growing fetus. A pregnant woman is at risk of developing anemia if her body does not have enough iron stores or gets enough iron-rich food to meet the increasing demand.

Q. What Are the Risks of Having Anemia During Pregnancy?

Anemia during pregnancy can cause problems for both the mother and the baby.

Iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy increases the risk of having a low birth weight baby and a premature delivery ( birth before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy). It Increases the risk of infant death immediately before or after birth. The baby may have low iron stores at birth, too.

Iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy affects muscle function, leading to tiredness and difficulty climbing stairs. It also affects gut function.

After giving birth, anemia can cause reduced milk production and is also found to be associated with post-natal depression. Giving birth often involves bleeding, and sometimes this can be heavy bleeding. If you have iron deficiency anemia, it will increase your likelihood of needing a blood transfusion.

Q. What Are the Risk Factors for Anemia During Pregnancy?

The main risk factors for developing anemia during pregnancy are:

• Having anemia or low iron stores before pregnancy.
• Have two closely spaced pregnancies.
• There is a higher demand for iron, like twins/triplets.
• Vomiting frequently due to morning sickness.
• Don't consume enough iron-rich foods.
• Being under 20 years of age when you become pregnant.
• Have pre-existing blood conditions like sickle cell disease and thalassemia.
• Have inflammatory bowel disease where the ability of the gut to absorb iron from food is affected.

Q. What Are the Symptoms of Anemia During Pregnancy?

The symptoms of anemia are often similar to general pregnancy symptoms, like:

• Fatigue.
• Weakness.
• Dizziness or lightheadedness.
• Headache.
• Pale or yellowish skin.
• Shortness of breath.
• Craving or chewing ice (pica).

Symptoms of severe anemia may include:

• A rapid heartbeat.
• Low blood pressure.
• Difficulty concentrating.

All pregnant women are screened for anemia at their first booking visit, at 28 weeks of pregnancy, and then at 36 weeks before delivery. You may be screened more frequently if you are at increased risk of anemia.

Q. How Can Anemia During Pregnancy Be Prevented by Diet?

An improved diet and iron tablets can prevent risks associated with anemia in pregnancy.

Diet

A well-balanced diet is vital to ensure adequate iron intake. The most easily absorbed iron comes from red meat, fish, and poultry. Vegetarian options include lentils, fortified breakfast cereals, and leafy green vegetables such as spinach, peas, and dried beans.

Vitamin C can help your body absorb iron from food. To enhance the absorption of iron from plant sources and supplements, pair them with a food or drink high in vitamin C, such as orange juice, tomato juice, lemon water, or strawberries.

Some foods can reduce your ability to absorb iron, so it should be avoided when you eat iron-rich foods and/or take iron tablets. These include tea, coffee, and foods containing calcium such as milk, other dairy products and dairy alternatives, some seeds, pulses, vegetables, and many multivitamin tablets.

Iron tablets

Oral iron tablets are very effective at replacing the iron required for haemoglobin levels to rise. Some iron tablets can also contain folic acid and vitamin C, which help with the absorption of iron from the gut.

You may be prescribed iron tablets once or twice a day according to your hemoglobin level and iron stores in your body. The most common side effects of taking iron tablets are nausea, bloating, and constipation. You may require injectable iron therapy if you cannot tolerate oral iron or do not achieve the desired response to oral therapy. If you have iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy, iron tablets are usually continued until 3 months after delivery to replenish the iron stores in the body.

Discuss with Dr. Kiranjeet Kaur. Don’t stay in the Dark.