Anemia during pregnancy

Anemia is one of the most prevalent nutrition deficiency problems faced by pregnant women. Doctors are always cautious in dealing with all such patients and test their hemoglobin levels on a routine basis. The causes may vary from iron deficiency, worm infestation, deficiency of Vitamin B12 and folic acid, to repeated pregnancies over a short period of time. If the hemoglobin level in the blood falls short of 11grams the person is said to have anemia.

The common symptoms of anemia include bodily weakness and fatigue, lassitude, vertigo, breathlessness, swelling of body, paleness and in acute cases the patient may even have a heart failure. Pregnant women who are severely anemic may require blood transfusions; that being a risky proposition it is extremely important to control anemia in pregnant women by means of early detection and proper management of the same.

Research shows that the causes of maternal anemia vary from region to region. Further its prevalence also varies substantially depending on the socio-economic conditions and lifestyle across different cultures. Sometimes despite adequate iron and folic acid levels a pregnant woman may suffer from maternal anemia because pregnancy tends to alter the digestive process. The fetus consumes a certain quantity of iron and folic acid from the mother’s body thereby causing her to get anemic.

Pregnancy calls for special consideration towards the mother’s diet and health. Women ought to follow a healthy lifestyle and maintain a balanced diet that includes plenty of iron-rich food components. This includes green leafy vegetables, spinach, whole grain bread, cereals, eggs, meat, liver, nuts, fruits and dairy products.

Further, iron tablets should be taken orally from the fourth month of pregnancy under the strict supervision of the physician and should be continued through the period of lactation. Folic acid supplements should also be taken up to a certain period under medical supervision. For those suffering from acute cases of maternal anemia, blood transfusion maybe necessary.

In addition to all these, expecting mothers are required to adopt all other measures that ensure safe motherhood. This includes personal hygiene, sufficient hours of sleep and proper rest, exercise under careful supervision, abstinence from smoking and alcohol.