Anaemia is a medical condition in which you don’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your tissues and has been discovered to occur in 80% of the pregnant women due to the excess amount of blood the body produces to help provide nutrients for the baby. Anaemia during pregnancy can be in two ways: it can be a mild condition and easily treated if discovered early and it can also be very severe and cause damage to the baby and mother, if not taken care of properly.
SYMPTOMS OF ANAEMIA DURING PREGNANCY
Most times, symptoms of anaemia can be mild at first and often go unnoticed. However, as it progresses, the symptoms become worsen. Also note that some symptoms could be due to a different cause other than anaemia, so talking to your doctor is strongly advised.
Some common symptoms of anaemia are:
-Excessive tiredness and weakness of the body
-Pale skin and some body parts
-Dizziness
-Headaches
-Shortness of breath
-Irregular heartbeat
-Chest pain
CAUSES
-Iron deficiency
-Poor intake of iron in diet
-Folic acid deficiency
-Heavy menstrual bleeding
-Ulcer
COMPLICATIONS OF ANAEMIA DURING PREGNANCY
-Preterm labour
-Increased incidence of postpartum hemorrhage
-Increased susceptibility to infection after child birth
-Worsening of anaemia after blood loss after delivery
-Low birth weight of the child. Growth retardation of the foetus.
YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP ANAEMIA DURING PREGNANCY IF YOU :
-Vomit frequently due to morning sickness
-Have closely spaced pregnancies
-Are deficient in iron taking
-Have a heavy pre-pregnancy menstrual flow
PREVENTION AND TREATMENT
-Taking daily iron-folic acid capsule during pregnancy
-Taking daily iron rich foods
-Consuming food rich in folic acid
-Take foods rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C helps in iron absorption.
-Good nutrition during pregnancy
Folic Acid Basic Facts
Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps your body’s cells grow. The baby needs folic acid to help support the rapid cell growth needed to make the tissue and organs of the baby. Folic acid is necessary for red blood cell production and neural tube formation.
When folic acid is used prior and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, you decrease your baby’s chances of having spina bifida, anencphaly and neural tube defects by 70%.
Tips On Taking Iron Pills
-For better absorption, take iron supplements 1 hour before eating.
-Increase the fiber in your diet and fluid intake if you have constipation
-Don’t take iron pills at bedtime if they upset your stomach.
-Don’t take iron with milk, tea and coffee.