Anemia in Pregnancy – Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

If you’re not getting enough iron or certain other nutrients, your body may not be able to produce the amount of red blood cells it needs to make that extra blood.

It is normal to have mild anemia when you are pregnant. But you may have more severe anemia from low iron or vitamin levels or for other reasons.

Anemia in pregnancy should be treated by eating foods rich in iron and folic acid, such as meats, liver steak, and dark green vegetables, in addition to iron -supplemented medications .

Anemia in pregnancy is a normal condition, especially between the second and third trimester of pregnancy, as there is a reduction in the amount of hemoglobin in the blood and an increase in iron requirements .

This disease is diagnosed through a blood test, and when severe, it can bring risks for the mother and baby, such as weakness, growth retardation and premature birth.

 Symptoms of Anemia in Pregnancy:  Symptoms of anemia in pregnancy can be confused with the symptoms of pregnancy itself, as they are usually:

• Tiredness;
• Dizziness;
• Headache;
• Leg pain;
• Lack of appetite;
• Pale skin;
• discolored eyes;

Other symptoms such as hair loss may also appear, but are more common in cases of severe anemia.

Iron Deficiency Anemia in Pregnancy:  Of all the types of anemia, iron deficiency anemia is the most common during pregnancy and is caused by an iron deficiency , which in turn causes an insufficient production of hemoglobin.

This type of anemia is caused by the increased production of red blood cells, which is necessary to support the growth of fetal and placental tissues. If there is no iron supplementation during pregnancy, the body will not be able to produce enough hemoglobin, resulting in a deficit of oxygen in the tissues, which can cause problems with the growth of the fetus.

However, this type of anemia is easily treatable by prescribing iron supplements that will restore hemoglobin production, normalizing the levels of red blood cells necessary for the baby’s growth.

Pernicious Anemia: Pernicious  anemia is less common than iron deficiency anemia , and occurs due to a deficiency of vitamin B12, as this vitamin plays an important role in the production of red blood cells.

In addition to causing this type of anemia , vitamin B12 deficiency has other negative consequences, such as an increased risk of congenital malformations, namely neural tube defects, or premature birth.

Megaloblastic anemia:  Like pernicious anemia , megaloblastic anemia is less common than iron deficiency anemia, having its origin in the lack of folic acid (vitamin B9), which causes a lower production of blood cells, resulting in less tissue oxygenation and restriction of fetal growth.

Ingestion of Which Foods:  To treat anemia in pregnancy , it is recommended to eat foods rich in iron such as meat, beef liver, beans, spinach and cabbage. To enhance the absorption of iron present in food, you should drink the juice or eat a citrus fruit with the meal, such as orange, lemon, pineapple or tangerine.

Treating Anemia in Pregnancy:  Anemia is treated by supplementing the missing nutrients. In the case of iron deficiency anemia, an iron supplement will be prescribed, while inpernicious and megaloblastic anemia supplements of vitamin B12 and folic acid will be prescribed respectively .

To monitor the effectiveness of the supplements, your doctor will also prescribe new blood tests to determine if your hemoglobin and red blood cell values ​​have returned to normal.

Your doctor may also recommend dietary changes to improve levels of iron and other nutrients.