When you're pregnant, you may develop anemia. When you have anemia, your
blood doesn't have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to your tissues
and to your baby.
During pregnancy, your body produces more blood to support the growth of your
baby. If you're not getting enough iron or certain other nutrients, your body might
not be able to produce the amount of red blood cells it needs to make this
additional blood.
It's normal to have mild anemia when you are pregnant. But you may have more
severe anemia from low iron or vitamin levels or from other reasons.
Anemia can leave you feeling tired and weak. If it is severe but goes untreated, it
can increase your risk of serious complications like preterm delivery.
Here's what you need to know about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of
anemia during pregnancy.
Iron-deficiency anemia
Folate-deficiency anemia
Vitamin B12 deficiency
In the early stages of anemia, you may not have obvious symptoms. And many of
the symptoms are ones that you might have while pregnant even if you're not
anemic. So be sure to get routine blood tests to check for anemia at your prenatal
appointments.
Untreated vitamin B12 deficiency can also raise your risk of having a baby with
neural tube defects.
If you have lower than normal levels of hemoglobin or hematocrit, you may have
iron-deficiency anemia. Your doctor may check other blood tests to determine if
you have iron deficiency or another cause for your anemia.
Even if you don't have anemia at the beginning of your pregnancy, your doctor
will most likely recommend that you get another blood test to check for anemia
in your second or third trimester.
meat
eggs
dairy products
Preventing Anemia
To prevent anemia during pregnancy, make sure you get enough iron. Eat well-
balanced meals and add more foods that are high in iron to your diet.
Aim for at least three servings a day of iron-rich foods, such as:
Foods that are high in vitamin C can help your body absorb more iron. These
include:
Try eating those foods at the same time that you eat iron-rich foods. For example,
you could drink a glass of orange juice and eat an iron-fortified cereal
for breakfast.
Also, choose foods that are high in folate to help prevent folate deficiency. These
include:
Follow your doctor's instructions for taking a prenatal vitamin that contains a
sufficient amount of iron and folic acid.
Vegetarians and vegans should talk with their doctor about whether they should
take a vitamin B12 supplement when they're pregnant and breastfeeding.