fbpx

Anemia and Pregnancy: What Expecting Moms Should Know

April 1, 2021

Woman laying in bed ill
During pregnancy, your body produces extra blood to help support the growth of your baby. To make more blood requires greater amounts of iron and vitamins that are used to make hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to other cells in your body. If your blood has too few red blood cells, it is harder for oxygen and iron to reach your tissues and your baby. This condition is called anemia.

If you develop anemia during pregnancy, it can affect both you and your baby, which can result in preterm birth, low birth weight, anemia, and developmental delays for your baby. For you, it can lead to postpartum depression or a longer recovery after your baby’s birth.1

Anemia Risk During Pregnancy

Nearly 20 percent of pregnant women worldwide develop anemia caused by iron deficiency. In fact, mild anemia is normal during pregnancy.2 So how do you know if you are at higher risk for developing this condition? Hematologists have identified factors that put women at higher risk, including:

  • Having two pregnancies close together
  • Being pregnant with multiples
  • Experiencing frequent vomiting due to morning sickness
  • Not eating enough foods rich in iron
  • Having a heavy pre-pregnancy menstrual flow

Know the Symptoms

During your first trimester, you may not have obvious symptoms of anemia, or they may be the same as the typical symptoms that often accompany pregnancy. During the second and third trimesters, when your body requires more iron than it can produce, anemia can develop. Recognizing it early so you can treat it is important.

Here are the most common symptoms of anemia during pregnancy:

  • Feeling tired or weak
  • Pale skin, lips, and nails
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Shortness of breath
  • Trouble concentrating

Reducing Your Risk

Determining your risk for anemia when you are pregnant starts with a conversation with your doctor. It is also recommended that you get tested during your first prenatal visit. Your doctor may also suggest that you have another blood test in your second and third trimester to detect anemia.

Preventing anemia during pregnancy starts with good nutrition and eating foods high in iron. Here are some things to include in your diet.

  • Dark green leafy vegetables
  • Red meat
  • Fortified cereals
  • Eggs
  • Peanuts
  • Prenatal vitamins with iron and folic acid

Prenatal Vitamins Boost Iron

Eating healthy is the best way to get the extra vitamins and minerals you need during pregnancy to prevent anemia, but prenatal vitamins can help fill in the gaps by providing additional iron and folic acid.

Prenatal vitamins are readily available online, over the counter, or by prescription, but they are not all the same. Talk with your doctor about your body’s specific needs to maintain the right amount of nutritional support for a healthy pregnancy.

 

Prenate® Vitamin Family
This post is brought to you by the Prenate® Vitamin Family, a line of prescription prenatal supplements designed to enhance preconception, prenatal, and postpartum nutrition in women. Talk with your doctor about how taking a daily prescription prenatal or postnatal vitamin could help support a healthy pregnancy and postpartum wellness.

Anemia and pregnancy graphic

Connect with Prenate®

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Keep this product out of reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.

WARNING: Ingestion of more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids (such as DHA) per day has been shown to have potential antithrombotic effects, including an increased bleeding time and International Normalized Ratio (INR). Administration of omega-3 fatty acids should be avoided in patients taking anticoagulants and in those known to have an inherited or acquired predisposition to bleeding.

This site and its contents are an information resource only, and are neither intended to nor should be used in replacement of your doctor or other prescribing professional’s medical guidance, recommendations or advice. Neither this site nor its information should be used or relied upon for any diagnostic, medical, treatment, nutritional or other purpose. All aspects of pregnancy, including whether pregnancy is right for you, and the nourishment and care of your child, should be made with your doctor and other appropriate medical professional, and in consideration of your and your child’s particular medical history. Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC (“Avion”) makes no representation, warranty or other undertaking that this site or its information are appropriate for you or your child’s specific needs or issues, and further expressly disclaims all damages, losses, injuries or liability whatsoever incurred or alleged to have been incurred in consequence of your reliance on the information on this site. Avion does not endorse any test, procedure, treatment, remedy, therapy, cure, nutritional regimen, method or other activity or undertaking that you and/or your doctor or other medical professional may elect or recommend. By visiting this site you agree to these terms and conditions and acknowledge that you have read and understand the same. These terms and conditions, together with any information on this site, may be amended, restated or otherwise changed from time to time and at any time by Avion within the sole, absolute and uncontrolled exercise of its discretion. You acknowledge and agree that Avion has no duty or obligation to keep you informed of any amendments to, restatements of or other changes to these terms and conditions or this site, and that you are solely and exclusively responsible for apprising yourself of the same.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Keep this product out of reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.

WARNING: Ingestion of more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids (such as DHA) per day has been shown to have potential antithrombotic effects, including an increased bleeding time and International Normalized Ratio (INR). Administration of omega-3 fatty acids should be avoided in patients taking anticoagulants and in those known to have an inherited or acquired predisposition to bleeding.

This site and its contents are an information resource only, and are neither intended to nor should be used in replacement of your doctor or other prescribing professional’s medical guidance, recommendations or advice. Neither this site nor its information should be used or relied upon for any diagnostic, medical, treatment, nutritional or other purpose. All aspects of pregnancy, including whether pregnancy is right for you, and the nourishment and care of your child, should be made with your doctor and other appropriate medical professional, and in consideration of your and your child’s particular medical history. Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC (“Avion”) makes no representation, warranty or other undertaking that this site or its information are appropriate for you or your child’s specific needs or issues, and further expressly disclaims all damages, losses, injuries or liability whatsoever incurred or alleged to have been incurred in consequence of your reliance on the information on this site. Avion does not endorse any test, procedure, treatment, remedy, therapy, cure, nutritional regimen, method or other activity or undertaking that you and/or your doctor or other medical professional may elect or recommend. By visiting this site you agree to these terms and conditions and acknowledge that you have read and understand the same. These terms and conditions, together with any information on this site, may be amended, restated or otherwise changed from time to time and at any time by Avion within the sole, absolute and uncontrolled exercise of its discretion. You acknowledge and agree that Avion has no duty or obligation to keep you informed of any amendments to, restatements of or other changes to these terms and conditions or this site, and that you are solely and exclusively responsible for apprising yourself of the same.

Pin It on Pinterest