Symptoms of anemia for pregnant women
If the level of hemoglobin in the blood decreases, the body suffers from a weakness in transporting oxygen to its organs. The first signs of anemia may be a lack of symptoms or a feeling of fatigue and dizziness.
Affected women may also appear pale in the skin. In advanced cases, it is possible to notice a rapid and weak pulse, and a decrease in blood pressure.
For unborn babies, lack of oxygen poses a serious risk that can affect their normal development, especially brain development. Pregnant mothers may suffer from excessive fatigue and difficulty breathing, and the possibility of premature birth may increase. After a woman gives birth, her risk of infection also increases.
Bleeding that occurs naturally during childbirth can greatly increase the severity of anemia in affected women.
Types of anemia for pregnant women
Pregnancy can be a cause of the emergence of certain types of anemia in women, the most prominent of which are:
Iron deficiency anemia
In cases of pregnancy, women may suffer from iron deficiency, which leads to insufficient amounts for the formation of hemoglobin, the essential element for transporting oxygen from the lungs to various parts of the body. This deficiency is the most common cause of anemia among pregnant women.
Anemia due to folic acid deficiency
Folic acid is one of the essential vitamins and is found naturally in a number of foods, such as green leafy vegetables. This vitamin plays an important role in the formation of red blood cells in humans.
During pregnancy, the need for folic acid increases significantly, as the quantities contained in foods eaten on a daily basis may not be sufficient to meet this need, which may lead to a deficiency in red blood cells and thus lead to anemia. Therefore, it is usual for pregnant women to take folic acid supplements to avoid these problems.
If there is a deficiency of folic acid, the fetus can develop serious complications such as spina bifida or birth weight problems.
Anemia resulting from a deficiency in vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is essential for the body to help build red blood cells that keep them healthy. Pregnant women who do not get enough of this vitamin are at risk of developing anemia.
Also, women who do not eat meat, dairy products, or eggs face a greater risk of vitamin B12 deficiency, which may lead to problems with the development of the fetus, including the possibility of neural tube defects, as well as the possibility of premature birth.
Causes of anemia in pregnant women
Pregnant women are more susceptible to anemia due to their increased need for iron and folic acid to support fetal growth. This risk may increase in specific cases, such as:
- Pregnancy with more than one fetus at the same time.
– Repeated pregnancy without sufficient time interval.
- Exposure to continuous vomiting that disrupts the diet.
– Pregnancy in adolescence, where the diet may not be complete.
– Neglecting to eat foods that boost iron levels, vitamins, and minerals essential for the formation of red blood cells.
Having anemia before pregnancy also increases the risks during pregnancy.
Diagnosis of anemia in pregnant women
During the first visit to the doctor during pregnancy, the doctor takes a blood sample to perform several laboratory tests aimed at evaluating the pregnant woman’s health, including checking for the presence of anemia. Tests related to anemia include the following:
Hemoglobin examination: The level of hemoglobin present in red cells is measured, which helps determine the ability of the cells to carry oxygen from the lungs to different parts of the body.
Hematocrit examination: This examination focuses on measuring the quantitative percentage of red cells in the blood that was drawn, to determine whether the pregnant woman suffers from anemia resulting from iron deficiency or other causes.
If anemia is suspected, the doctor may order further laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis. It is also possible for these tests to be repeated in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy to monitor the mother’s condition and well-being.
Risks of anemia for pregnant women
Neglecting to treat anemia during pregnancy may lead to a number of serious health problems. Among these problems are:
Pregnant women may be exposed to the risks of iron deficiency anemia, such as the possibility of giving birth to a premature baby, or giving birth to a low-weight baby. The mother may also need to receive a blood transfusion in severe cases of anemia, which often does not respond to nutritional supplements.
In addition, you may experience things such as postpartum depression, the possibility of the baby suffering from anemia, and delays in the baby's growth and development.
As for anemia resulting from folic acid deficiency, it may lead to similar complications, including premature birth and low birth weight of the baby. In addition, the fetus may suffer from serious malformations of the spinal cord and brain, resulting in a defect in the development of the neural tube.
Treatment of anemia for pregnant women
Doctors recommend that pregnant women with anemia take a range of nutritional supplements that contain iron and folic acid, in addition to a variety of other essential vitamins and minerals.
They also stress the importance of increasing consumption of foods that serve as natural sources of these nutrients. If anemia is caused by a deficiency of vitamin B12, the importance of taking tablets that contain this vitamin is emphasized.
As for food sources, it is recommended to eat a group of animal products, including all types of meat, eggs, and dairy products to enhance vitamin B12 levels in the body.
Preventing anemia for pregnant women
In order to maintain your health and protect yourself from the risks of anemia during pregnancy, it is important that you focus on eating iron-fortified foods consistently in all daily meals.
Ideal options for eating iron are meats such as beef, chicken and fish, which are strong sources of iron. There are also vegetarian options such as spinach, broccoli and cabbage, which are no less important. In addition, cereals that are fortified with iron, beans and lentils, are also a hotbed of this essential mineral.
Do not forget nuts and eggs, as they are also included in the list of materials rich in iron. In addition to iron, it is useful to include in your diet foods rich in vitamin C, such as citrus juices, strawberries, kiwi, tomatoes and green peppers, due to their important role in facilitating the absorption of iron in the body.
If you suffer from a folic acid deficiency, it is highly recommended to increase your intake of leafy vegetables, citrus fruit juices, dried grains, in addition to breads and breakfast cereals fortified with folic acid, to ensure you meet your necessary nutritional needs and enhance your overall health.
