Anaemia in pregnancy
Many women lack the sufficient amount of iron needed for the second and third trimesters. When your body needs more iron than it has available, you can become anemic.Anemia is one of the most frequent complications related to pregnancy.
When you are pregnant, you may develop anemia. Anemia 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.
When you have anemia, your blood doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to your tissues and to your baby.Anemia is a condition in which blood has a lower-than-normal amount of red blood cells or hemoglobin. Anemia in pregnancy is a decrease in the total red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood during pregnancy.
During pregnancy, your body produces more blood to support the growth of your baby. If you’re not getting enough iron or certain other nutrients, your body might not be able to produce the amount of red blood cells it needs to make this additional blood.Your body goes through significant changes when you become pregnant. The amount of blood in your body increases by about 20-30 percent, which increases the supply of iron and vitamins that the body needs to make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to other cells in your body.
Signs and symptoms of anaemia in pregnancy –
- Chest pain.
- Pale or yellowish skin.
- Dizziness or lightheadedness.
- Shortness of breath.
- Cold hands and feet.
- Weakness.
- Feeling tired or weak
- Shortness of breath
- Headaches
- A low body temperature
- Pale skin, lips, nails, palms of hands, or underside of the eyelids.
Types of Anemia During Pregnancy
*Folate-deficiency anemia
*Vit.B12 deficiency
*Iron-deficiency anemia
Cause of Anemia in Pregnancy
Folate-deficiency anemia. Folate is the vitamin found naturally in certain foods like green leafy vegetables A type of B vitamin, the body needs folate to produce new cells, including healthy red blood cells.Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia in pregnancy. While mild anemia is common for many people during pregnancy, it can become a serious problem that requires more advanced medical treatment if left unmanaged.When you lack sufficient red blood cells to move oxygen throughout your body, it has an impact on your organs and bodily functions.
What are the complications of anemia?
Motor or cognitive development delays in children.Pregnancy complications, such as preterm delivery or giving birth to a baby with low birth weight.Heart problems.If you have anemia during pregnancy, your baby may not grow to a healthy weight, may arrive early, or have a low birth weight. Also being very tired may keep you from recovering as quickly after birth.
Preventible:
Eating a healthy, balanced diet before and during pregnancy helps keep up your levels of iron and other important nutrients needed for your growing baby.Folate is the form of folic acid found in food.
Good food sources to prevent the anaemia:
- Fish
- Kiwis
- Meats
- nuts and seeds
- Poultry
- tomatoes
- Legumes
- Eggs
- Iron-enriched white bread, pasta, rice, and cereals.
- Leafy greens of the cabbage family.
- Citrus fruits and juices and most berries.
Severe Anemia Affect Pregnancy?
Anemia may cause your baby to not grow to a healthy weight. Severe anemia during pregnancy increases your risk of premature birth, having a low birth weight baby and postpartum depression.Severe anemia in pregnancy (Hb <7 g/dL) requires urgent medical treatment and Hb <4 g/dL is an emergency carrying a risk of congestive cardiac failure, sepsis and death. Physiological adaptation in pregnancy leads to physiological anemia of pregnancy.
For Anemia Tests
Hematocrit test.
Hemoglobin test.
If you have lower than normal levels of hemoglobin or hematocrit, you may have iron-deficiency anemia.
Treatment
Iron supplements are easy to take, however adverse effects in some cases may include gastrointestinal side effects, nausea, diarrhea, and constipation. In cases when oral iron supplement is not tolerable, other options include longer intervals between each oral dose, liquid iron supplements, or intravenous iron. Intravenous iron may also be used in cases of severe iron deficiency anemia during second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Treatment of iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women, iron supplementation at doses higher than prenatal supplements is recommended. The standard doses of oral iron ranges from 40 mg to 200 mg elemental iron daily. Consult with your medical provider to determine the exact dose needed for your condition, higher than needed doses of iron supplements may sometimes lead to more adverse effects.
What this pregnancy harm for baby?
Severe anemia during pregnancy increases your risk of premature birth, having a low birth weight baby and postpartum depression. Some studies also show an increased risk of infant death immediately before or after birth.
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Author: Reena Singh, B.Sc. Nursing, M.Sc. Nursing, Pharmacist & others..!!