Anemia In Pregnancy | Healofy
Women go through a lot of complications during pregnancy. The many changes in their body can cause problems such as diabetes, constipation, morning sickness and headaches. One of the most common complications among Indian women is anemia in pregnancy.
If you have any worries about having anemia during pregnancy, or if your doctor has already informed you that you have anemia, don't be scared. With the right food habits, you can easily overcome this. Read this blog to understand more about anemia in pregnancy. We have also listed some healthy food habits that you can follow to keep anemia in pregnancy away.
What is anemia?
The blood in your body is made up of red blood cells, which has a protein called hemoglobin. Hemoglobin carries oxygen from your lungs to the other parts of your body.
If the hemoglobin or red blood cell count reduces in your blood, your body parts will not get enough oxygen. This condition is called anemia.
What causes anemia in pregnancy?
During pregnancy, your baby gets all the necessary food and nutrients from your blood. The placenta absorbs the nutrients from your blood to feed your baby. This can cause a decrease in hemoglobin in your blood. If your daily food intake does not have enough nutrients, the hemoglobin in your blood does not get replaced, causing anemia in pregnancy.
Too much blood loss from vaginal bleeding or bleeding from wounds or cuts during your pregnancy can also cause loss of blood cells, leading to anemia in pregnancy.
In general, anemia in pregnancy is caused by less iron, folate or vitamin B12 in your body.
What are the symptoms of anemia in pregnancy?
There are many symptoms that can indicate loss of blood cell or hemoglobin count in your body. These symptoms are:
- Pale skin, less colour in the face
- Feeling breathless, tired or dizzy
- Faster heartbeat
If you notice any of these symptoms, go to your doctor immediately.
How is the medical test for anemia in pregnancy done?
As anemia during pregnancy is very common, a blood test to check for anemia is usually done when you go for a medical checkup. Using your blood sample, the hemoglobin count and red blood cell count is checked.
Normal hemoglobin levels are 12-15 g/dl (grams per deciliter) of blood. If the level is lesser than this range, you might get diagnosed with anemia.
Are you at a higher risk of having anemia during pregnancy?
Yes, some women are more likely to have anemia during pregnancy than others. If you have any of these following conditions, you might have anemia during pregnancy:
- If you have anemia before your pregnancy.
- If you are pregnant with twins or more babies.
- If there is a short gap between two pregnancies. Doctors advise that it is good to have a gap of at least 1.5 years between two children.
- If you are pregnant at a very young age (below 18 years).
- If you do not eat nutritious food.
What are the risks of anemia during pregnancy?
If you have anemia during pregnancy, it is very important to recover as soon as possible. Anemia can affect both you and your baby. Some of the risks are:
- Premature delivery.
- You might have depression after the baby's delivery. This is called postpartum depression.
- Fetal development gets affected (Your baby's growth and development in the womb will be slow).
- Baby might be born with anemia.
- Baby will be born with a low weight.
- During delivery, there will be a loss of blood. If your blood level is already below the normal range, you might require a blood transfusion after delivery.
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