Anaemia in Pregnancy

Anaemia in pregnancy

Many women will become anaemic during pregnancy, mainly due to the changes in the body to support your growing baby particularly the increase in blood volume which occurs. Anaemia occurs when there are too few red blood cells in the blood which are used to transport oxygen around the body. Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow and contain the protein haemoglobin which is vital for carrying oxygen. Adequate amounts of iron, vitamin B12 and folate are required for the production of haemoglobin. Unfortunately, iron is not easily absorbed in the body making it difficult for the body to make haemoglobin. Pregnant women are often recommended to take an iron supplement during pregnancy to help avoid becoming anaemic.

A person with anaemia will feel tired and in more severe cases may experience feelings of being out of breath, dizziness, weakness, racing heartbeat, irritability and difficulty concentrating. For pregnant women, they will feel more tired than expected and in severe cases may reduce the amount of amniotic fluid around the baby increasing the risk of complications such as miscarriage, pre-term birth or having a baby of low birthweight. A baby born to an anaemic mother may also be anaemic.

For more information;

Pregnancy Birth & Baby – Anaemia during pregnancy

Source: (Pregnancy Birth & Baby)

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