Anaemia & Pregnancy

According to Yahoo Health, Anaemia is "an iron deficiency that is due to a low number of red blood cells." Iron is needed to make haemoglobin - the protein in red blood cells. During pregnancy, a woman's iron level increases due to the fact that her blood level expands by more than 50%. However, as the blood level increases, more iron is needed for the baby and the placenta. Since most women are iron-deficient to begin with, they are faced with a huge risk when they begin their pregnancy. When your iron levels reduce to a level that is insufficient to produce haemoglobin, you will begin to suffer from anaemia.

Unfortunately, the risk does not stop there. If you are regularly dealing with morning sickness, or if you have had two pregnancies in a short amount of time; chances are that you will have to deal with anaemia more than others. This is why doctors give you iron pills! A normal diet filled with iron may not be sufficient amount for you and your baby. Therefore, doctors prescribe natal vitamins loaded with iron to keep you healthy and safe.

If you have just gotten pregnant or want to start having a family, it would be wise to find out if you are anaemic. Doctors take a blood sample and measure the amount of red blood cells that you have. It is a simple and painless test that many people have done. As for symptoms, the typical signs of anaemia are fatigue and dizziness. You may also appear paler (usually in your fingernails) and have shortness of breath. If you do indeed have anaemia, it is quite easy to treat. Doctors will prescribe around 60 mg of iron supplements a day. Although most medication should be taken with a full stomach, iron supplements should be taken on an empty stomach. This will help the absorption process and make you feel better in the long run.

As for side effects from taking the extra iron, there is not much to worry about. Most people become constipated and suffer from nausea, but the feelings should subside quickly. If the problem persists, it would be wise to check with your doctor and decrease the amount of iron you are taking. Luckily anaemia is a common problem and doctors are quite familiar with the treatments available. Once the deficiency is diagnosed, you will be on your way to feeling much better.

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