Sometimes anemia may occur during pregnancy.... In anemia, the number of red blood cells is not enough to deliver oxygen to the body tissues of the mother or baby.

During this period, the body produces more blood to support the baby's growth... If the mother does not get enough iron or some other specific nutrients, the body will not be able to produce enough red blood cells.

Mild anemia during pregnancy is normal..

Types of anemia during pregnancy

3) lack of vitamin B12

The body needs vitamin B12 to make normal red blood cells.... When a pregnant mother does not get enough vitamin B12, her body will not be able to produce sufficient amounts of healthy blood cells.

Women who do not consume meat, poultry, dairy products, and eggs are at high risk of vitamin B12 deficiency....Deficiency of this vitamin, like folate, can cause neural tube defects and premature birth....Blood loss during or after childbirth can also cause anemia.

[sibwp_form id=7]

Risk factors of anemia during pregnancy

All pregnant women are at risk of developing anemia... The reason for this is the increased need for iron and folic acid during pregnancy... If any of the following are present, the risk of anemia during pregnancy increases:

• Multiplicity
• Two pregnancies with a short interval
• Profuse vomiting caused by morning sickness
• Pregnancy during adolescence
• Insufficient consumption of iron-rich foods
• Having anemia before pregnancy

Symptoms of anemia during pregnancy

The most common symptoms of anemia during pregnancy include the following, if you have any of these symptoms, it is better to have an urgent online consultation with a doctor:

• Pale skin, lips and nails
• Feeling weak and tired
• shortness of breath
• Fast heartbeat
• Concentration disorder

In the early stages of anemia, the symptoms may not be very clear. Also, the mentioned symptoms may appear naturally during pregnancy, without the person suffering from anemia.. Make sure you are not anemic by doing blood tests during prenatal visits.

Dangers of anemia in pregnancy

Severe or untreated iron deficiency anemia is associated with:

• Premature birth or low birth weight of the baby
• need for blood transfusion (in case of heavy bleeding during delivery)
Postpartum depression

Causes of anemia in babies

• Delay in child growth and development
• Premature baby or low birth weight
• severe abnormalities of the brain and spinal cord at birth (neural tube defects)
• Untreated vitamin B12 deficiency also increases the possibility of neurological defects.

Anemia test

At the first prenatal appointment, the doctor will order a blood test to check for anemia. Blood tests include the following:

• Hemoglobin test
  This test measures the amount of hemoglobin in the blood....Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein inside red blood cells whose job is to transport oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body.
• Hematocrit test
  This test measures the percentage of red blood cells in a blood sample.

If the level of hemoglobin or hematocrit is lower than normal, you may have iron deficiency anemia. In this case, the doctor will request a blood test to determine the cause of the anemia.

Even if you do not have anemia at the beginning of pregnancy, the doctor will ask for a test again in the second or third trimester of pregnancy to detect the occurrence of any anemia.

Treatment of anemia

If you are anemic during pregnancy, you may need to take iron or folic acid supplements along with other vitamin supplements... Your doctor also recommends increasing the amount of foods rich in iron and folic acid in your diet.

In addition, your doctor will ask you to repeat the blood test after a certain period of time to check the improvement of your hemoglobin and hematocrit.

To treat vitamin B12 deficiency, your doctor may prescribe a supplement.... Your doctor may also increase your intake of animal foods such as meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products.

The gynecologist may refer you to an oncologist (hematologist) who specializes in anemia and other blood diseases, and this specialist will follow you during pregnancy and help the gynecologist in controlling anemia.

prevention of anemia

To prevent anemia during pregnancy, make sure you get enough iron.... Eat a balanced diet and eat iron-rich foods.... Eat iron-rich foods at least three times a day, such as:

• beef, chicken and fish
• Vegetables with broad leaves and dark green color (such as spinach, broccoli and cabbage)
• Cereals enriched with iron
• Beans, lentils and tofu (made from soy milk)
• Nuts and seeds
• Egg

Foods rich in vitamin C help the body absorb more iron... including:

• compounds and their water
• Strawberry
• Kiwi
• Tomatoes
• Capsicum pepper

Try to consume foods rich in iron at the same time.... For example, you can have a glass of orange juice with breakfast cereal....Also try to use foods rich in folate to prevent its deficiency.... Among these foods, the following can be mentioned:

• Broad leaf vegetables
• compounds and their water
• dry beans
• Bread and cereals enriched with folic acid

Follow your doctor's instructions about getting enough vitamins and iron during pregnancy...Vegetarians should consult their doctor about the need to take vitamin B12 supplements during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

To get information about anemia in pregnancy, it is better to visit a doctor gynecology and obstetrics and a blood and oncology specialist... It is possible to book a doctor's appointment online through the GCORP LLC website.... The contact number and address of the office can also be accessed through GCORP LLC.