Anemia in Pregnancy

Anemia is a medical condition which occurs when a person is found with a deficiency of red blood cells. Though people of all ages can be diagnosed with anemia, pregnant women are more vulnerable to it. Due to prevalence of anemia in pregnancy, the fetus may not receive sufficient blood, which contains vitamins, hormones, electrolytes, etc., for it to develop. This may result in low birth weight, poor fetal growth, and birth of the baby before completion of the actual term.

There are a couple of factors that can increase the risk of pregnant women to have anemia. It has been observed that this is very common when a pregnant woman is carrying twins. Another reason for anemia in pregnancy would be the lack of a nutritious diet. Women who smoke and consume alcohol also have a high risk of getting affected by anemia.

Causes of Anemia during Pregnancy

The most common cause of anemia in pregnancy is due to iron deficiency. Iron deficiency anemia is mostly caused during the last three months of pregnancy. During this period, the baby requires the red blood cells from the mother's blood for development. Women who do not consume adequate amounts of foods that contain iron to regain the lost red blood cells become anemic.

Deficiency of folic acid is also another reason for anemia during pregnancy. Folic acid or folate is a vitamin B necessary for having a healthy baby. Researchers have found that intake of foods containing folic acid during pregnancy can decrease the chances of the baby to have brain and spinal cord defects.

Another cause of anemia in pregnancy is lack of vitamin B12 in the body. This vitamin is extremely crucial for the formation of red blood cells and protein synthesis. This deficiency is most likely to be seen in women who are vegetarians. Loss of blood can also lead to anemia in pregnancy. Some pregnant women may experience gastrointestinal bleeding or bleeding hemorrhoids leading to excess loss of blood. Anemia can also occur due to loss of blood during childbirth and after delivery.

Symptoms of Anemia in Pregnancy

Women having anemia during pregnancy may experience certain symptoms when the red blood count goes too low. Some of the signs and symptoms of anemia include-

• Extreme tiredness or fatigue
• Difficulty in breathing
• Feeling dizzy (vertigo)
• Paleness on the lips, nails, skin, palms, etc.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Anemia in pregnant women is diagnosed when the hemoglobin or hematocrit level of blood is found to be very low during routine blood tests. The treatment for anemia in pregnancy would depend upon person to person. The medications or treatment measures given to the pregnant women is determined after looking at their medical history and health during pregnancy. Most likely, pregnant women diagnosed with anemia are likely to be given iron and Vitamin B12 supplements. However, these should be taken only twice a day because too much of iron supplements can cause certain side effects like constipation. Sometimes, the body may not be able to absorb iron and so pregnant women may be given intra-muscular iron injections. When pregnant women have anemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency, they would be required to consume vitamin B12 supplements to increase the count of red blood cells.

A nutritious and healthy diet during pregnancy can lower the risk of having anemia. It is necessary for women to inculcate green leafy vegetables, legumes, cereals, rice, pasta, milk, chicken, beef, pork, etc., into their diet to prevent anemia in pregnancy. Moreover, it is also important to give up cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption completely. Taking precautions to avoid anemia would ensure the perfect health of the mother and the baby.