Pregnant women who take iron supplements every day have a lower risk of giving birth to a low-weight baby, according to a new study.
When you are pregnant, your whole body has a ton more work to do as compared to when you weren’t. It’s no different for your red blood cells. It is estimated that there is almost 50% more blood in your body when you are pregnant. And your blood has to meet the very high demands of your growing baby’s iron needs as well. With so much work on its shoulders, anemia in pregnancy is almost inevitable. Anemia is sometimes called ‘tired blood’.
Anemia in pregnancy is actually very common in the pregnancy second trimester and pregnancy third trimester. Anemia in pregnancy is not a dangerous condition and it is easily treatable. But if anemia is left unchecked and untreated for long periods of time, it can get severe enough to be life-threatening. That is why it is important to see your doctor immediately if you experience symptoms of anemia in pregnancy.
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.
As one of the main causes of anemia during pregnancy, low iron is a very common nutritional deficiency worldwide. Anemia is the most common disorder of the blood.
Anemia is a condition that develops when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a main part of red blood cells and binds oxygen. If you have too few or abnormal red blood cells, or your hemoglobin is abnormal or low, the cells in your body will not get enough oxygen. Symptoms of anemia -- like fatigue -- occur because organs aren't getting what they need to function properly.Anemia can leave you feeling tired and weak. If significant and untreated, it can increase your risk of serious complications like preterm delivery.
Being low in iron can lead to -
- More fatigue than normal in pregnancy
- Increased susceptibility to illness and infection
- Certain medications for labor pain cannot be administered, including an epidural
- Increased risk of post partum infections
- Increased risk of post-partum depression
- Pre-term delivery
- Low birth weight of the baby.
- Higher risk of still birth or newborn death
- If you have anemia in pregnancy, you are putting your baby at higher risk of having anemia after birth or during childhood.
- The foetus normally stocks up on iron before birth to see it through for a few months after it is born. When you have anemia in pregnancy, the ‘stock’ may be lower, thus making your baby more vulnerable to the effects of iron deficiency.
- You may experience some dizziness, weakness, and even fainting if you have anemia in pregnancy.
- Some women with anemia in pregnancy experience shortness of breath, a faster heartbeat than is normal even without physical exertion, and pale skin.
- Low body temperature may be an indication of anemia in pregnancy.
Other Deficiency..
- If you are not meeting your body’s demands for extra Vitamin B12 and folic acid, you could develop anemia in pregnancy.
- If you have internal hemorrhaging or lose a lot of blood due to an accident or pregnancy complications, you can develop anemia in pregnancy.
- There are certain inherited blood disorders which can cause anemia in pregnancy. A couple of examples include sickle cell disease and thalassemia. Other chronic illnesses like cancer or kidney failure can also cause anemia in pregnancy.
- If any of your pregnancies were too close together, you are at higher risk of anemia in pregnancy.
- Women who are pregnant with two or more babies are at higher risk for anemia in pregnancy.
- Your risk for anemia in pregnancy increases with each subsequent pregnancy.
- If you had a heavy period before you got pregnant, the chances that you will develop anemia in pregnancy are quite high.
- Had a poor diet before you got pregnant? Your risk of developing anemia in pregnancy just got higher.
- If you went on drastic diets to lose weight before you got pregnant or if you are trying to lose weight after you conceived, you will very likely develop anemia in pregnancy.
- A history of eating disorders or blood disorders also increases your risk of anemia in pregnancy.
Morning sickness increases your risk of anemia in pregnancy. Morning sickness usually occurs during the pregnancy first trimester. Most women do not start out with enough reserves of iron to meet the rapidly increasing requirements of the body. Morning sickness can take a toll on the body and cause the minimal iron reserves you do have to be depleted.
Iron supplements are often prescribed as part of the treatment for anemia in pregnancy if the cause of the condition is iron deficiency. But do not depend on these alone. It is better to get as much iron as possible from the food you eat. More importantly though, iron supplements have known side effects like digestion problems. That being said, you will still be required to take between 60 and 120 mg (milligrams) of iron a day till your anemia stabilizes. The amount may be reduced then if your doctor allows it. You may also need to take additional supplements for Vitamin B12 and folic acid.
Do not take your iron supplements with milk as it hinders absorption into the bloodstream. Take it with plain water, or better still, orange juice. The vitamin C in the orange juice helps the blood to absorb the iron.
Of all the pregnancy complications, anemia in pregnancy is the easiest on to prevent simply because it is completely within your control. With a combination of the right foods and iron supplements, you can beat anemia in pregnancy before it has had a chance to take a toll on you or your baby. Of course, if the reason for your anemia in pregnancy is an inherited blood disorder, then it will have to be treated first to prevent the condition from developing.
Before you are pregnant, you need about 18 mg of iron a day. During pregnancy, this number shoots up to 27 mg. These may look like very small numbers to you, but it is actually quite difficult to meet the requirement if you are not taking iron supplements as well. Your doctor will prescribe about 30 mg a day via supplements. Your other prenatal supplements also have some amount of iron in them.
Since iron deficiency is not the only cause for anemia in pregnancy, it is best to be up to date on other vitamins and minerals as well. Talk to your doctor about taking B12 supplements and folic acid.
To prevent anemia in pregnancy, make sure that you are getting enough iron from the foods you eat. All fruits and vegetables have some iron content. But the ones that are specifically iron rich include green, leafy vegetables like broccoli, spinach, kale, and fruits like strawberries, oranges, prunes, and grapefruit’ any fruits with Vitamin C are good for you as they assist your body in absorbing the iron you get from other foods.
Beans, peas, legumes, lentils, and iron-enriched grains and cereals are a powerhouse of nutrition to prevent anemia in pregnancy. For a snack, a handful of nuts, seeds and dried fruit will provide your body with the required quantities of iron to prevent anemia in pregnancy. Remember to eat a variety of foods for your requirements if possible. Do not depend on just one food group to do all the work of preventing anemia in pregnancy.
Avoid coffee, tea and soda during pregnancy to avoid not just anemia but other pregnancy complications as well. The caffeine is known to inhibit the release of iron in the blood. The calcium from milk and other dairy products is known to do the same. So do not consume dairy products at the same time as the iron-rich foods; you can have them between meals though. Other foods that prevent your body from absorbing iron include soy and eggs.
At last: Cook your food in cast iron pots and pans. Research has shown that food that is prepared this way has a higher iron content than food prepared in other types of utensils.
Take care of your unborn baby.
Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these blogs is to provide information about the tradition of ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, prevention or cure of any disease. If you have any serious, acute or chronic health concern, please consult a trained doctor/health professional who can fully assess your needs and address them effectively. If you are seeking the medical advice of a trained Ayurvedic expert, call us or e mail.
Dr Unnati Chavda
(Promoting pregnancy wellness)
www.ayurvedapanchkarma.in
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