Anemia During Pregnancy
What is anemia?
Anemia is a shortage of red blood cells or reduced ability of them to carry oxygen or iron.
Pregnancy can cause anemia?
Yes, the relationship between anemia and pregnancy is common, although rarely a serious complication because it is the decrease in hemoglobin mass during the gestational period. This is because at that stage there is a predisposition to the discrepancy between the increase in erythrocyte mass and plasma volume increase, with the added possibility of coexistence with acute blood loss by an obstetric or medical condition.
What effects on pregnancy and the baby?
Because the fetus depends on maternal blood, anemia can cause poor fetal growth, preterm birth or low infant birth weight.
Other consequences for the mother are tiredness and listlessness, which makes the care of her and newborn. In turn, in cases of severe anemia increases the risk of postpartum maternal mortality.
Why does it occur?
During pregnancy three successive stages occur that alter the balance of iron. The first change is positive due to the decrease of menses, during the second begins the expansion of red cell mass (between 20 and 25 weeks gestation), and in the third quarter there is a greater uptake of iron fundamentally part of the fetus after 30 weeks.
Generally, 90% of gestational anemia is iron-deficient type, this is for iron deficiency. More rarely megaloblastic exist where there is a deficiency of vitamin B12. The need for iron reaches very high figures in a short period of time due to the requirements of the fetus and placenta, the expansion of maternal blood volume and blood loss during delivery. Therefore, it is clear that diet is not enough to cover the high requirement for iron. If you do not have prior reservations, the natural consequence is the emergence of anemia in late pregnancy.
What are the symptoms?
It is possible that if you suffer anemia during pregnancy did not have obvious symptoms unless the number of red cells is very low. Similarly, the most common, pale skin, lips, nails, palms of the hands or lower eyelids, fatigue, dizziness, difficulty breathing and rapid heartbeat (tachycardia). The above symptoms may also resemble other conditions or medical problems, so the appearance of any of these conditions consults your doctor immediately.