Anemia During Pregnancy and its Impact on Pregnancy Outcomes

A person who has anemia doesn’t have sufficient quantity of Red Blood Cells in their body to effectively carry oxygen as per the requirements. During pregnancy the Red Blood Cells production increases to help the growth & development of the baby, but if a pregnant woman isn’t consuming adequate nutrients like Iron, she may not be able to produce as many Red Blood Cells as required for making additional blood. Having mild Anemia during pregnancy is common, but if you have any pre-existing conditions, you may develop severe Anemia. 

Types of Anemia in Pregnancy 

The types of Anemia during pregnancy can be of three types – 

• Iron-Deficiency Anemia – This type of Anemia occurs when the body doesn’t have adequate Iron to produce enough Hemoglobin, a protein in Red Blood Cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. This results in adequate transportation of oxygen to tissues throughout the body. Iron Deficiency is the commonest cause of Anemia during pregnancy.
• Folate-Deficiency Anemia – Folate is required to produce healthy cells, including Red Blood Cells. Pregnant women require a lot more folate, therefore Folic Acid Supplements are commonly prescribed during pregnancy. Lack of Folate can also cause Neural Tube Defects.
• Vitamin B12 Deficiency – Vitamin B12 is required to make healthy Red Blood Cells. Lack of Vitamin B12 can also cause Neural Tube Abnormalities and Preterm labour.

 Apart from this, blood-loss during or after pregnancy can also cause Anemia. 

Risk Factors and Symptoms of Anemia During Pregnancy

Some risk factors increase the likelihood of pregnant ladies to develop Anemia. These risk factors are – 

• Pregnancy with more than one child
• Less gap between 2 pregnancies
• Vomiting due to Morning Sickness
• Pregnancy in teenagers
• Lack of Iron in diet
• Anemia before pregnancy

 All these risk factors put you at a larger risk of developing Anemia during pregnancy. The symptoms of Anemia during pregnancy are – 

• Pale Skin
• Pale Lips
• Pale Nails
• Dizziness
• Tiredness or Weakness
• Shortness of Breath
• Trouble with Concentrating
• Rapid Heartbeat

 If you have the Risk Factors and Symptoms of Anemia, make sure you tell your doctor about it and follow your gynecologist’s advice. 

Complications of Anemia During Pregnancy

Severe or untreated Anemia can cause some complications in the pregnancy. The risks associated with Anemia during pregnancy are – 

• Preterm Birth or Low-Birth Weight baby
• Requirement of Blood Transfusion
• Postpartum Depression
• Baby with Anemia
• Developmental Delays in Child

 Along with this deficiency of nutrients such as Iron, Vitamin B12 and Folate can cause deficiency disorders in the baby as well as developmental abnormalities if left untreated. 

How Prenatal Vitamins can help prevent Nutritional Deficiencies 

As you would have figured out by reading this article, Nutrients such as Iron, Vitamin B12 and Folate are very important during pregnancy. However, a pregnant lady’s diet may not be sufficient to meet her nutrient requirements. Additionally, the nutrient requirements change with each trimester, so modifying the nutrient intake accordingly is also important. Prenatal Vitamins help you bridge the nutrient gaps in your diet, and you should choose Prenatal Supplements like Trimacare, which offers a very unique Trimester-Wise course that helps pregnant mothers meet their dynamic nutrient requirements during pregnancy. One Trimacare Tablet contains 20 plus nutrients, which removes the need to eat multiple tablets for prenatal supplementation. Trimacare’s Time-Release Iron is gentle on the stomach, which doesn’t cause gastrointestinal symptoms like conventional Iron Tablets. The L-Methyl Folate in Trimacare Is 7 times more bioavailable form of Folic acid that is easily absorbed & utilized. Vitamin B12 in Trimacare 3 is known to improve maternal mood during pregnancy. Since Trimacare Prenatal Vitamins are vegetarian, they are suitable for vegetarians. Make sure that you consume Trimacare Prenatal Tablet as suggested by your doctor so that you can enhance your health & growth and development of your baby during pregnancy. Pregnancy can be a time when managing nutrient consumption can seem tricky, but with the right diet, prenatal supplements, and guidance from your gynecologist, it is possible to take care of your diet to avoid deficiency diseases in your and your baby. A healthy mother is capable of giving birth to a healthy baby, so make sure you are investing in making yourself a healthy mom during pregnancy. 

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