Anemia while pregnant: types, symptoms, causes, treatment
Anemia is a common condition in pregnancy and is associated with a high risk of maternal and perinatal mortality, especially in developing countries. Anemia is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as hemoglobin less than 11g/dl, and 50% of cases are due to iron deficiency.
The effects of iron deficiency usually occur in the context of physiological anemia, this is a normal variation of pregnancy since in single pregnancies, the plasma volume increases by around 50%, accompanied in turn by an increase in the number of red blood cells, among the symptoms of iron deficiency, fatigue, headache, decreased mental capacity, irritability, and weight loss can be mentioned, all these manifestations will depend on the degree of severity in which iron deficiency occurs.
The goal of treatment is to correct the anemia and reduce adverse outcomes. Both iron deficiency and anemia can be treated by administration of oral iron and intravenous iron.
How maternal anemia while pregnant affects the baby:
Despite having a high incidence, there is little verified information about the risks for the baby if the mother suffers from anemia during pregnancy.
Hb levels less than 9.5 g/dL before or during the second trimester, or less than 11.0 g/dL near term, are estimated to be associated with low birth weight, prematurity, and neonatal jaundice. It also increases the risk of perinatal death when hemoglobin is less than 8.5 g/dL. (Be careful, we say: “increases the risk”, this does not mean that nothing will necessarily happen to the baby).
What is anemia while pregnant?
Anemia during a healthy pregnancy is common. Having anemia means that your level ofcellsredsIt is low. It can happen during pregnancy because your body is working to make more blood to help your baby grow.
Sometimes anemia during pregnancy can be caused by other problems, including not having enough iron, folate, or vitamin B12. Each type of anemia is treated differently.
What happens if you have anemia during pregnancy?
If the anemia is physiological, generally nothing needs to be done. In developed countries, anemia is usually not severe, and the placenta adapts to supply the fetus with the necessary nutrients. However, if the anemia is moderate or severe, it can have effects on both the mother and the baby.
How anemia manifests itself during pregnancy:
The signs of anemia are similar to those of pregnancy, so quarterly blood tests are always performed to measure hemoglobin levels.
Normal iron values in pregnant women are close to a hemoglobin of 11 g/dL in the first and third trimesters and 10.5 g/dL in the second trimester. These would be the minimum to carry out a ferritin study and assess treatment.
Symptoms of anemia in pregnant women
Anemia is usually detected by a blood test, but there are certain symptoms to watch out for if you’re pregnant. An anemic person presents pale skin, lips, nails, palms of the hands or lower part of the eyelids, feels tired, and apathetic, without the desire to take care of himself or enthusiasm for his situation, with the risk of also feeling disinterested in baby care.
You may experience fatigue, lightheadedness, or dizziness, as well as shortness of breath and a fast heartbeat. These are somewhat confusing symptoms, which may well be understood as pregnancy discomfort or a sign of stress, so if you identify with the symptoms, you should tell your doctor to confirm it with a blood test.
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Types of anemia while pregnant
During your pregnancy you can find yourself with three different types of anemia, and each one due to different causes.
Dilutional or physiologic anemia of pregnancy:
Do not be scared if you have anemia during the second trimester of pregnancy, since as we have mentioned before, it is common in pregnant women due to the maternal physiological changes produced by pregnancy. Also, you usually don’t need treatment.
iron deficiency anemia:
Iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy is due to iron deficiency, either due to poor iron absorption or because you do not have enough deposits. This occurs because the body needs iron to make hemoglobin, and during pregnancy, it is necessary to double the amount of iron. You have to make more blood and oxygen for the baby, so if you don’t get enough iron during your pregnancy you will suffer from anemia.
Megaloblastic anemia:
Megaloblastic anemia is caused by a deficiency of folic acid or vitamin B12 – due to inadequate ingestion or malabsorption. These are vitamins that contribute to the formation of red blood cells and that you need to take at the beginning of your pregnancy.
Read more: Essential vitamins and minerals for baby
Anemia While Pregnant Iron Supplement, Yes Or No?
In the blood tests that will be carried out in the prenatal check-ups each trimester, the state of anemia of the mother is controlled. Hemoglobin, the concentration of this protein in the blood, and hematocrit, the percentage of the total volume of blood made up of red blood cells, are measured. When the hemoglobin concentration falls below 11 g/dl, it is considered that an iron supplement should be given to complement the pregnant woman’s diet, although opinions on the matter are varied.
The mother’s blood volume increases and a phenomenon known as physiological hemodilution occurs, that is, the blood is more diluted, which decreases the hematocrit value by 3 to 5 units.
Naturally, the hemoglobin values drop, although in reality what happens is that she has more hemoglobin than she did before becoming pregnant, but in a lower concentration. For this reason, some consider that an iron supplement is not necessary, that it is enough to have a varied diet including foods that provide iron, and that it is also not recommended as it increases the risk of premature birth and low birth weight. Always check with your doctor who will indicate the best in your case.
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How is anemia diagnosed during pregnancy?
As part of your routine prenatal visits, your doctor will take a blood sample for testing. Tests may include a complete blood count to examine your red blood cells.
Severe Anemia While Pregnant
Severe anemia in pregnancy is defined as hemoglobin < 7 g/dL and very severe anemia would be found with hemoglobin less than 4 g/dL. These very low levels are a medical emergency since there is a significant risk of heart failure. Some of the symptoms of anemia are fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, headache, cold hands and feet, pale skin, palpitations…
Other lesser-known symptoms include hair loss, restless legs syndrome, and even pica (predilection for eating inedible things). In addition, pregnant women with anemia are more predisposed to suffer infections, so urinary tract infections would be recurrent. And they also tend to have more hypertensive disorders.
Read more: No breast milk after delivery what to do
How to treat anemia in pregnancy
Eat a balanced diet that includes healthy, iron-rich foods. Some women need to take iron pills along with prenatal vitamins. Others may need a vitamin such as folic acid or vitamin B12. The recommendation for any pregnant woman is to supplement with 30 mg-40 mg of iron per day, which already includes almost all the vitamin supplements that are taken during pregnancy.
However, in case of having to treat anemia in pregnancy, it is supplemented with 60 to mg-100 mg of iron.
How to naturally solve anemia while pregnant
To prevent anemia, it is recommended to eat a varied diet that includes foods rich in iron to ensure that the body has the necessary iron reserves to provide enough oxygen for the pregnancy.
Among the foods that provide iron, we find fish and shellfish, green leafy vegetables (chard, spinach, watercress, parsley, etc.), meats (beef, duck, quail), dairy products, and nuts.
It is also advisable to increase the consumption of foods rich in vitamin C, which facilitates the absorption of iron, and avoid the consumption of foods that inhibit absorption such as coffee, tea, and carbonated drinks.
Read more: What are the exclusive benefits of breastfeeding
CONCLUSIONS
Anemia is a common condition in pregnancy and is associated with a high risk of maternal and perinatal mortality, especially in developing countries. Anemia is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as hemoglobin less than 11g/dl, and 50% of cases are due to iron deficiency.
The effects of iron deficiency usually occur in the context of physiological anemia, this is a normal variation of pregnancy since in single pregnancies, plasma volume increases around 50%, accompanied in turn by an increase but to a lesser extent. degree of about 25% of the amount of red blood cells, among the symptoms of iron deficiency can be mentioned fatigue, headache, decreased mental capacity, irritability, and weight loss,
all these manifestations will depend on the degree of severity In which iron deficiency occurs, consequences such as poor psychomotor development can be mentioned. The goal of treatment is to correct the anemia and reduce adverse outcomes. Both iron deficiency and anemia can be treated by administration of oral iron and intravenous iron.
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