Anemia During Pregnancy Can Be Harmful to Moms and Babies
April 2, 2017
Anemia is a condition that can occur when the body does not produce enough red blood cells. It can be caused by several nutrient deficiencies. Taking a daily prenatal vitamin during pregnancy can help women meet nutritional goals and reduce the likelihood that they will become anemic.
Effects of Anemia During Pregnancy
The hemoglobin in red blood cells plays an important role in carrying oxygen to the body’s organs and tissues. During pregnancy, these small cells also carry oxygen to a woman’s growing baby. To support the needs of her baby, a woman’s blood volume will increase 30 – 50 percent during pregnancy.1 It makes sense that pregnant women must obtain more nutrients so their bodies can support this increase and function at optimal levels.
Pregnant women who do not get the nutrients they need during pregnancy may become anemic. In the early stages of anemia, there may be no obvious symptoms. Women may experience pale skin, lips and nails as well as dizziness, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat or a general feeling of tiredness or weakness.2
Unfortunately, many of these symptoms also can be associated with pregnancy, so some women may not be aware that they are suffering from anemia. For that reason, it is important for expecting mothers to keep all prenatal appointments and have routine blood tests for anemia.
Types of Anemia During Pregnancy
Anemia is commonly thought to indicate an iron deficiency. While this can be true, anemia can occur from other types of nutritional deficiencies:
- Iron-Deficiency Anemia2 – This is the most common type of anemia in pregnancy. When the body doesn’t have sufficient iron, it cannot produce hemoglobin, a protein that is present in red blood cells.
- Folate-Deficiency Anemia2 – Folate is essential in creating new cells, including red blood cells. Folate also plays a role in the closure of a baby’s neural tube. Sadly, folate-deficiency can lead to spina bifida and other birth defects.
- B12-Deficiency Anemia2 – Vitamin B12 is also necessary in creating red blood cells. Women who follow a vegan diet or who generally don’t eat meat or dairy are more at risk to develop vitamin B12-deficiency anemia.
Prenatal Vitamins with Iron, Folate and Vitamin B12
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, pregnant and lactating women should get 18 mg of iron, 800 mcg of folate, and 8 mcg of vitamin B12 each day.3 Good nutrition paired with a prenatal vitamin can help reduce the chances that a woman will become anemic during pregnancy. The Prenate® Vitamin Family has several prenatal vitamins that can help meet or exceed iron, folate and vitamin B12 daily intake recommendations:
Prenate® is committed to providing nutritional support for mothers and babies. With products designed with the patient in mind, Prenate® prescription prenatal vitamins support the stages and special needs of pregnancy. Expecting mothers can save on their prescription prenatal vitamins with our savings cards. Click here to get your prenatal vitamin coupon now and pay only $18 per prescription refill! Talk to your doctor to see if Prenate® vitamins may be right for you to help fill nutritional gaps.
