If you are pregnant, then you are most probably in a high risk of getting anaemia. Anaemia in pregnancy is a normal condition that most women will go through. But there are precautions to follow and things you should be cautious of about anaemia.
Anaemia is a condition in which there is a deficiency of red cells or haemoglobin in the blood, resulting in pallor and weariness.
Having anaemia during pregnancy will affect your blood circulation and your baby as they would not attain enough oxygen.
Worrying that you might be one of the pregnant mums with this condition? Let’s go through one by one about anaemia and how to prevent them in a healthiest and safest way.
Anaemia During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, your body will need to produce more blood to support the growth of your baby.
Your body will eventually not produce enough amount of blood to support your body and baby, if you are having iron deficiency.
It’s normal to have mild anaemia when you are pregnant. But you may have more severe anaemia from low iron or vitamin levels or from other reasons.
Anaemia can leave you feeling tired and weak. If it is severe but goes untreated, it can increase your risk of serious complications like preterm delivery.
Type of anaemia in pregnancy
There are three type of anaemia that usually occurs during pregnancy. Each of them happens for a reason.
Iron-deficiency anaemia. Adequate amount of haemoglobin occurs because of the iron-deficiency that take place in the body.
Haemoglobin the main protein in red blood cells. It helps carrying oxygen from lungs to the rest of the body.
Iron-deficiency is the common cause of anaemia in pregnancy. It causes the blood to have difficulties in carrying oxygen to tissues passing by the body.
As a result, iron deficiency anaemia may leave you tired and temporary short of breath.
Folate-deficiency anaemia. Folate is a kind of vitamin which are found in certain natural food like green leafy vegetables. It is a type of vitamin B. The body usually needs folate to produce new cells to support your body, including healthy red blood cells.
During pregnancy, women need extra folate. But sometimes they don’t get enough from their diet.
When that happens, the body cannot produce enough normal red blood cells to transport oxygen to tissues throughout the body.
With the deficiency of folate in your blood cell, it will contribute to certain type of birth defects. You might go through neural tube abnormalities or also known as spina bifida. In some severe cases, it might even cause low birth weight for the baby.
Vitamin B12 deficiency. The body cannot produce enough healthy red blood cells due to the lack of vitamin B12 in a pregnant woman’s body.
The body needs vitamin B12 to form healthy red blood cells. Women who don’t eat meat, poultry, dairy products, and eggs have a greater risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency.
This could contribute to birth defects such as neural tube abnormalities and also preterm labour.
Even a blood loss during or after pregnancy can also lead to anaemia.
Factors of Anaemia in Pregnancy
Every pregnant woman will undergo the risk of becoming anaemic. That is because they need more iron and folic acid than usual. But the risk is higher if you:
- Are pregnant with twins or more than one child in a time
- Had your second pregnancy very soon after the first
- Vomit a lot because of morning sickness
- Get pregnant in a very young age (teenage)
- Eating less food that contain high value of iron
- Already an anaemic before getting pregnant
Symptoms of Anaemia in Pregnancy
There are certain symptoms that you can feel by yourself during pregnancy that indicates anaemia in your body.
- Pale skin pigments
- Easily getting tired or become weak
- Dizziness
- Have difficulty breathing
- Rapid heartbeat
- Reduced concentration
- Fatigue
Risk of Anaemia in Pregnancy
Severe or untreated iron-deficiency anaemia during pregnancy can increase your risk of having:
- A preterm or low-birth-weight baby
- A blood transfusion (if you lose a significant amount of blood during delivery)
- Postpartum depression
- A baby with anaemia
- A child with developmental delays
Untreated folate deficiency can increase your risk of having a:
- Preterm or low-birth-weight baby
- Baby with a serious birth defect of the spine or brain (neural tube defects)
Untreated vitamin B12 deficiency can also raise your risk of having a baby with neural tube defects.
Tests for Anaemia
During your first prenatal appointment, you’ll get a blood test so your doctor can check whether you have anaemia. Blood tests typically include:
- Haemoglobin test. It measures the amount of haemoglobin, an iron-rich protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to tissues in the body.
- Haematocrit test. It measures the percentage of red blood cells in a sample of blood.
If you have lower than normal levels of haemoglobin or haematocrit, you may have iron-deficiency anaemia.
Your doctor may check other blood tests to determine if you have iron deficiency or another cause for your anaemia.
Even if you don’t have anaemia at the beginning of your pregnancy, your doctor will most likely recommend that you get another blood test to check for anaemia in your second or third trimester.
Treatment for anaemia
- Meat
- Eggs
- Dairy products
Preventing Anaemia
To prevent anaemia during pregnancy, make sure that you get enough iron for constant red blood cell production. Eat well-balanced meals and add more foods that contain high amounts of iron into your diet.
Aim for at least three servings a day of iron-rich foods, such as:
- Lean red meat, poultry, and fish
- Leafy, dark green vegetables (such as spinach, broccoli, and kale)
- Iron-enriched cereals and grains
- Beans, lentils, and tofu
- Nuts and seeds
- Eggs
Foods that are high in vitamin C can help your body absorb more iron. These include:
- citrus fruits and juices
- strawberries
- kiwis
- tomatoes
- bell peppers
Try eating those foods at the same time that you eat iron-rich foods. For example, you could drink a glass of orange juice and eat an iron-rich cereal for breakfast.
Also, choose foods that are high in folate to help prevent folate deficiency. These include:
- leafy green vegetables
- citrus fruits and juices
- dried beans
- breads and cereals fortified with folic acid
Follow your doctor’s instructions for taking a prenatal vitamin that contains a sufficient amount of iron and folic acid.
Vegetarians and vegans should talk with their doctor about whether they should take a vitamin B12 supplement when they’re pregnant and breastfeeding.
REMINDER!
As the world are in the outbreak of COVID-19, make sure you stay safe inside. Never get too exposed in the public and make a direct contact with anyone.
Do not forget that you are not alone, there is a baby in your stomach that are waiting to be born. Be extra careful with yourself and every family member that are staying with you.
Make sure to keep your immune system strong. Hold on with all the baby shower and baby full-month celebration that you have been planning from the first day of your pregnancy.
It is not the best time to go for a vacation or have any occasion at this moment. Your safety is much more important for now. Stay safe and healthy mommies!