Anemia During Pregnancy

Because of my HB drop to 10.8 this month.. this info is a quick reminder to me.. Come on inCHa.. eat healty food for your baby.. 

Anemia During Pregnancy

Anemia occurs when the number or size of a person’s red blood cells are too low. Red blood cells are important because they carry oxygen from your lungs to all parts of your body. Without enough oxygen, your body cannot work as well as it should, and you feel tired and run down. 

Anemia is common in pregnancy because a woman needs to have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen around her body and to her baby. So it's important for women to prevent anemia before, during and after pregnancy. Women will probably be tested for anemia at least twice during pregnancy: during the first prenatal visit and then again between 24 and 28 weeks.

Causes of Anemia

Iron Deficiency

Usually, a woman becomes anemic (has anemia) because her body isn’t getting enough iron. Iron is a mineral that helps to create red blood cells. About half of all pregnant women don’t have enough iron in their body (iron deficiency). In pregnancy, iron deficiency has been linked to an increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight.  

Illness or Disease

Some women may have an illness that causes anemia. Diseases such as sickle cell anemia or thalassemia affect the quality and number of red blood cells the body produces. If you have a disease that causes anemia, talk with your health provider about how to treat anemia.

Signs of Anemia

Anemia takes some time to develop. In the beginning, you may not have any signs or they may be mild. But as it gets worse, you may have these symptoms:

• Fatigue (very common)

• Weakness (very common) 
  

• Dizziness 

• Headache 

• Numbness or coldness in your hands and feet 

• Low body temperature 
  

• Pale skin 

• Rapid or irregular heartbeat 

• Shortness of breath 

• Chest pain 

• Irritability 

*Because your heart has to work harder to pump more oxygen-rich blood through the body, all of these signs and symptoms can occur.

Prevention of anemia

Good food sources of iron include the following:

• Meats - beef, lamb, liver, and other organ meats
  

• Poultry - chicken, duck, turkey, liver (especially dark meat)

• Fish - shellfish, including clams, mussels, oysters, sardines, and anchovies

• Leafy greens of the cabbage family, such as broccoli, kale, turnip greens, and collards

• Legumes, such as lima beans and green peas; dry beans and peas, such as pinto beans, black-eyed peas, and canned baked beans

• Yeast-leavened whole-wheat bread and rolls

• Iron-enriched white bread, pasta, rice, and cereals 
  

My source from : March of Dimes