You may have signs of anemia in pregnancy if your complete blood count, also known as CBC, shows that your red blood cells, which mainly carry oxygen through the body, are pretty low. It will also make you feel tired, dizzy, cold, and breathless. In several cases of anemia during pregnancy, tweaks will help you to be on the right track.
What is Anemia During Pregnancy?
Anemia in pregnancy symptoms occurs when you have a shortage of red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout your body. When your body doesn’t have the proper oxygen from your blood, it will not work correctly. A person who is suffering from anemia during pregnancy is mainly considered anemic. The red blood cells have the critical protein known as hemoglobin.
Also, this protein will hold the oxygen and help your red blood cells carry the oxygen from your lungs to your body. It also helps bring carbon dioxide from your body to your lungs so you can breathe easily.
To produce the RBCs and hemoglobin, your body requires a consistent supply of iron and vitamins. Without such a supply, your body won’t be able to make the proper hemoglobin to carry the oxygen into your organs. It is pretty standard for women to get anemic during pregnancy as they don’t have the appropriate iron and other vitamins in their bodies.
Who is Most Likely to Have Anemia During Pregnancy?
During pregnancy, blood in your body will be increased by 20% to 30%. This means that your body requires more iron for red blood cells. You may be at higher risk for anemia during your pregnancy if you are:
- Pregnancy with multiples
- Not taking enough iron
- Having back-to-back pregnancies with minimal time between
- Experiencing the heavy menstrual flow before pregnancy
- Vomiting often due to morning sickness
Also Read : Low iron pregnancy symptoms
Is it Normal to be Anemic During Pregnancy?
Blood volume will increase during pregnancy, and mild anemia is normal. Iron deficiency is quite common in pregnancy, with approximately—52% of pregnant women not getting the proper iron. Mild and severe anemia needs treatment to protect your health and fetus as well simply.
How Does Anemia Affect the Baby During Pregnancy?
The development of the feature depends on consuming enough iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid. Anemia will affect the fetus’s growth mainly during the first trimester. If the anemia goes untreated, then your baby will be at higher risk of having the anemia after birth, which also leads to developmental problems. Anemia also increases the risk of delivering the baby early and having a low baby weight as well.
Can Anemia in Pregnancy Cause Miscarriage
No. Anemia during pregnancy will not cause miscarriage, but severe anemia will cause pregnancy complications in some cases.
How Can I Treat Anemia at Home While Pregnant?
One of the best methods to treat common anemia during pregnancy is to ensure that you take the proper iron, B12, and folic acid. You can also take prenatal vitamins regularly. Also, please consult with your healthcare provider about their recommended prenatal vitamin.
The diet changes will also be helpful for you. You have to eat more food that is high in iron, such as spinach, lean beef, and turkey. Foods high in vitamins and help your body consume iron are essential, like citrus fruits, tomatoes, and peppers.
How Soon After Treatment for Anemia During Pregnancy Notice a Change?
If you have iron deficiency, B12 deficiency, or folate deficiency anemia, you will start feeling better within a few days after taking the supplement. If you don’t notice any change, consult your healthcare advisor.
How Can I Prevent Anemia During Pregnancy?
The best thing you can do to prevent anemia is to eat a minimum of 30 mg of iron regularly, three times a day. If you can’t be able to get that much iron in your regular diet, then you can consult with your doctor about taking iron-rich food.
You have to take a prenatal vitamin daily; if possible, you must start taking the prenatal vitamins before getting pregnant. Some prenatal vitamins don’t have enough iron, so you have to consult our doctor to determine which type of prenatal vitamin suits you.
Also, it would help if you remembered that you can do all the correct things and get mild anemia during pregnancy. It is because of the natural increase in the volume of the blood. If you are feeling tired, dizzy, or having any other symptoms of anemia during pregnancy, then you can consult with your doctor.
Final Verdict
Above in this article, we have shared a detailed guide about anemia in pregnancy. We hope this guide will become valuable and helpful for you in learning about the whole process and its solutions. If yes, then share this guide with others so that they can benefit from this article. If you have any queries, please get in touch with us by commenting below.
FAQs
What causes anemia in pregnancy?
Iron and folate acid deficiency are among the most common causes of anemia during pregnancy. The anemia increases the risk of preterm delivery and also the postpartum maternal infections as well. If your HB is below 11.5 g/DL during the pregnancy hen, you have to consult with the woman prophylactically.
What is anemia in pregnancy?
Anemia is when the blood has fewer red blood cells or hemoglobin. It is a decrease in the total red blood cells or the hemoglobin in the blood during the pregnancy. It is one of the ordinary conditions in pregnancy and confers several health risks to the child and mother.
Complications of anemia in pregnancy?
Severe anemia hurts the mother and the fetus as well. The anemia with a low hemoglobin level, which is less than 6 gr/dl, is mainly associated with poor pregnancy outcomes. Prematurariy, spontaneous abortions, and low birth weight or fetal death are the general complications of severe maternal anemia.