Anemia in Pregnancy – Symptoms and Causes of Anemia in Pregnancy

Anemia is a condition of too few red blood cells, or a lowered ability of the red blood cells to carry oxygen or iron. Tissue enzymes dependent on iron can affect cell function in nerves and muscles. The fetus is dependent on the mother's blood and anemia can cause poor fetal growth, preterm birth, and low birth weight. In pregnancy, a woman's blood volume increases by as much as 50 percent. This causes the concentration of red blood cells in her body to become diluted. This is sometimes called anemia of pregnancy and is not considered abnormal unless the levels fall too low.

Iron requirements go up significantly when you're pregnant. Iron is essential for making hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to other cells. During pregnancy, the amount of blood in your body expands until you have almost 50 percent more than usual. And you need more iron to make more hemoglobin for all that additional blood. You also need extra iron for your growing baby and placenta.

Symptoms of Anemia in Pregnancy

The usual symptoms are breathlessness, tiredness, weakness, fainting, or paleness. Less frequently there are palpitations, loud heartbeat, inflamed tongue, nausea, headache, forgetfulness, jaundice, and abdominal pain.

Early symptoms are usually nonexistent or nonspecific (eg, fatigue, weakness, light-headedness, mild dyspnea with exertion). Other symptoms and signs may include pallor and, if anemia is severe, tachycardia or hypotension.

Nausea and vomiting: Even if the woman who is pregnant experiences what seems like an abnormal amount of nausea and vomiting (morning sickness), it probably will not affect the baby's health, particularly if the woman is still gaining weight at the expected rate.

The body also has a remarkable ability to compensate for early anemia. If your anemia is mild or developed over a long period of time, you may not notice any symptoms.

Omega-3 Fatty Acid Deficiency: Having an Omega-3 deficiency during pregnancy can be harmful to the mother and baby. Omega-3's are polyunsaturated fats that support the growth and development of a fetus and help reduce the risks of pregnancy complications. It is recommended women consume 300mg of Omega-3's daily during the course of pregnancy, which can be found in cold water fish, eggs, walnuts, and dark green leafy vegetables.

Causes of Anemia in Pregnancy

Anemia during pregnancy can be caused by a variety of reasons. They may include: iron poor diet, lack of folic acid, blood loss due to hemorrhoids or gastrointestinal bleeds, destroying iron and other nutrients in food by excessive cooking. During pregnancy, anemia may be present even with iron and folic acid supplements because pregnancy alters the digestive process and the unborn child consumes the nutrients normally available to the mother.

Sickle cell anemia is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. This means it occurs in someone who has inherited hemoglobin S from both parents. Sickle cell disease is much more common in certain ethnic groups, affecting approximately one out of every 500 African Americans. Someone who inherits hemoglobin S from one parent and normal hemoglobin (A) from the other parent will have sickle cell trait.

Blood loss: This is a common reason for iron deficiency anemia in adults. Heavy periods may cause anemia. Blood loss can also be caused by internal bleeding, usually in the digestive tract. A stomach ulcer, ulcerative colitis, cancer, or taking aspirin or similar medicine for a long time can cause bleeding in your stomach or intestines. That's why it's important to find the reason for a low iron level.