Anemia is a global public health problem, it particularly affects young children and pregnant women. WHO estimates that 42% of children less than 5 years of age and 40% of pregnant women worldwide are anaemic [1]. Fortunately, doctors are well-versed in how to treat those living with anemia successfully. Let’s cover some facts.
What is anemia?
Anemia occurs when there is a drop in hemoglobin levels in your blood. Hemoglobin is a protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to all your other organs and tissues. If it’s low, your body gets less of the oxygen it needs, and when you’re pregnant, the baby gets less oxygen too. Hemoglobin contains iron, and in 95% of cases, the anemia is due to an iron deficiency [2].
What are the symptoms of anemia during pregnancy ?
It is likely that if an expectant mother has anemia during pregnancy, she may be likely to experience
Fatigue
Weakness
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Headache
Pale or yellowish skin
Shortness of breath
Craving or chewing ice (pica)
Symptoms of severe anemia may include:
A rapid heartbeat
Low blood pressure
Difficulty concentrating
It is important to remember that some symptoms of anemia are similar to normal pregnancy symptoms, so it can make it hard to detect. However if you are in doubt or feel concerned contact a medical professional.
What is a normal hemoglobin level?
In adult women, a normal hemoglobin level is 12-16 g/dL. During pregnancy, the volume of plasma in your blood increases, which drops your levels of hemoglobin. This is called hemodilution, or relative anemia (because your plasma levels have changed, not your red blood cells).
Mild anemia starts at 10-12 g/dL, moderate anemia at 8-10 g/dL, and severe anemia is diagnosed at hemoglobin levels under 8 g/dL [3].
What are the risk factors for iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy?
Although anemia is common, there are some factors that make the risk of anemia during pregnancy more increased. [4] Some expectant mother are like to experience anemia during pregnancy if they have had two pregnancies close together, if there is a pregnancy with more than one baby, if the expectant mother is experiencing vomiting frequently due to morning sickness, if the expectant mother doesn't consume enough iron-rich foods, if the expectant mother has a heavy pre-pregnancy menstrual flow or of there is a history of anemia before your pregnancy. It is best to consult your medical professional should any of these apply to you.
What are the risks during pregnancy?
Iron is essential for the development of the baby's brain and nervous system. This means that anemia is most dangerous in the first trimester of pregnancy. It has been associated with autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit disorder later in childhood [5].
If the expectant mama develops anemia in the second half of her pregnancy, there is a higher risk of the baby being born underweight (an average of 2.3 ounces or so) [1]. However, if the anemia only occurs after the 30th week of pregnancy, it’s unlikely to cause any problems [5].
What do I do about my anemia?
You can make up for your iron deficiency with supplements. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends taking 60mg of iron per day while pregnant, increasing the dosage to 120mg if you develop anemia [6]. Your multivitamin likely already contains iron, but with anemia, you may need to get an iron supplement to take along with it.
One drawback: iron supplements can cause constipation. For this reason, it’s ideal to get as much iron as possible from your meals.
This article was created in association with UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency.
