Pregnancy and Maternal Health Care

Archive for the ‘Anemia’ Category

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. Read the rest of this entry »

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Anemia is one of the most frequent complications during pregnancy. Many women suffer particularly from the second quarter. Anemia is a common condition during pregnancy. Red blood cells carry oxygen through the body and baby. It is important to prevent anemia before, during and after pregnancy. If a woman is anemic, it means that the quantity and / or size of red blood cells of women is lower than normal.

The baby’s development depends largely on the supplier to the mother’s blood, so that untreated anemia can cause poor fetal growth, premature birth and low infant birth weight.

You are likely to perform tests to assess their level of anemia at least twice during pregnancy: during their first prenatal visit and again between weeks 24 and 28. If you have anemia, your health professional may prescribe an iron supplement.You can help reduce your risk of anemia by eating foods that contain iron throughout your pregnancy. These include :

* Red Meat
* Seafood
* Poultry (dark meat)
* Breakfast cereals,
* Whole grains
* Blackstrap molasses
* Spinach and other leafy greens
* Baked potato with skin
* Beans or kidney beans
* Raisins, dates, prunes, figs, apricots

Foods containing vitamin C can increase the amount of iron your body absorbs. For this reason, you should eat foods like orange juice, tomatoes, strawberries and grapefruit. Coffee and tea, egg yolks, milk, fiber and soy protein prevent the absorption of iron.

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