Anemia during pregnancy can cause serious problems
Anemia is considered if the hemoglobin level during pregnancy is less than 11 mg/dl. Anemia during pregnancy is usually seen as a result of iron and folic acid deficiency. In addition, vitamin B12 deficiency also causes anemia. Therefore, taking into account the state of anemia-deficiency; It can be treated with supplementation of iron, folic acid and vitamin B12.
What Problems Does Anemia Cause During Pregnancy?
– Increased risk of premature birth,
– Risk of bleeding after childbirth,
-Intrauterine growth retardation,
– Increased risk of low birth weight,
-The risk of infection in the mother after birth,
– Delay in the recovery of the mother after childbirth,
-Normal blood loss during childbirth reaches dangerous levels in anemic women,
It carries serious risks and dangerous consequences, such as maternal death.
That is why it is very important for the health of mother and child that all mothers-to-be monitor their blood values closely.
What Are the Symptoms of Anemia During Pregnancy?
Anemia, with symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, hair loss, thinning of nails, breakage, gastrointestinal problems, headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sleep disorder, is usually manifested by complaints of weakness and fatigue.
If these symptoms are observed in expectant mothers or observed at routine checkups, iron evaluation is performed. If there is an iron deficiency, the reasons should be thoroughly investigated. While iron deficiency carries serious risks, excessive consumption also causes the proliferation of cancer-causing cells in the body. For this reason, external supplements should definitely be under the supervision of a specialist.
Treatment of anemia during pregnancy
Anemia in pregnancy is diagnosed by blood tests. If there is a planned pregnancy, the hemoglobin level is determined by a blood test before you become pregnant. In the case of an unexpected and unexpected pregnancy, the hemoglobin level can be measured with a blood test that must be performed in the first weeks of pregnancy. Thus, iron deficiency is detected by the hemoglobin and ferritin levels measured in the early stages of pregnancy. Although the iron level in the blood of the expectant mother is normal, the blood levels will drop quickly if extra iron is not given from the second half of the pregnancy. Therefore, even though your blood count values are normal, iron supplementation is required after the 20th week at the latest.
The goal of treating anemia during pregnancy is to replenish the expectant mother’s iron stores. That is why an iron-rich diet supplemented with iron supplements is used. Due to the increase in the needs of the fetus and placenta and the increase in blood volume during pregnancy, expectant mothers must meet the iron requirement of 4 mg, which is 2 times more than the pre-pregnancy period during this period. This iron requirement, which increases after the second half of pregnancy, is about 6-7 mg per day and the daily iron requirement during pregnancy reaches a total of 30 milligrams. For this reason, a minimum of 27 milligrams of iron supplementation per day is ideal during pregnancy. During this period, the consumption of red meat and foods containing vitamin C should not be neglected. To replenish iron stores, treatment is continued for another 3 months, even if the anemia improves.
During the treatment of anemia; side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, upset stomach can be observed. If such side effects are observed, iron pills can be taken after meals to minimize side effects. During the treatment of anemia, expectant mothers should pay attention to the consumption of foods such as milk and dairy products, calcium salts, tea and coffee that reduce iron absorption, and use antacid-derived drugs and not consume them together with iron. contain foods. Vitamin C increases iron absorption. For this reason, it is better to take iron medicines with orange juice and on an empty stomach to increase the absorption of iron. In addition, it is necessary to consume foods rich in iron, such as red meat, eggs, legumes, cereals, fresh vegetables and dried fruits.
It is very important to take the necessary precautions against anemia and iron deficiency during pregnancy. For this reason, you should not neglect your checkups and regularly take the vitamin and iron medication that your doctor has given you.