Iron deficiency anaemia is one of the most common medical disorders occurring during pregnancy. It can cause serious problems to the pregnant woman and her developing fetus. Fortunately, if diagnosed early and correctly treated many complications of the disorder can be prevented.
What is iron deficiency anaemia?
Iron deficiency anaemia is a common type of anaemia in Anguilla and many other countries in the region. It is a condition in which blood lacks adequate healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body’s tissues. Iron deficiency anaemia is due to insufficient iron. Without enough iron, your body cannot produce enough of a substance in red blood cells that enables them to carry oxygen (haemoglobin). This can result in you having many symptoms.
What causes iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, you need double the amount of iron that nonpregnant women need. Your body needs this iron to make more blood to supply oxygen to your developing fetus. If you do not have enough iron stores or get enough iron during pregnancy, you could develop iron deficiency anaemia.
Who is at risk for anaemia during pregnancy?
Women are more likely to get anaemia during pregnancy if they:
• Are strict vegetarians or vegans. They are at greater risk of having a vitamin B12 deficiency.
• Have celiac disease or Crohn’s disease, or have had weight loss surgery where the stomach or part of the stomach has been removed
Women are more likely to get iron-deficiency anaemia in pregnancy if they:
• Have 2 pregnancies close together
• Are pregnant with twins or more
• Have vomiting often because of morning sickness
• Are not getting enough iron from their diet and prenatal vitamins
• Had heavy periods before pregnancy
What are the symptoms of iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy?
Many of the symptoms of iron deficiency in pregnancy are similar to the usual symptoms of a normal pregnancy. Some of the symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia during pregnancy include the following:
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Pale skin
• Irregular heartbeats
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Chest pain
• Cold hands and feet
• Headache
Regardless of whether or not you have symptoms, most pregnant women on their first visit to their doctor or midwife during pregnancy would have blood tests to screen for anaemia during pregnancy. If you are concerned about your level of fatigue or any other symptoms, talk to your obstetrician or midwife.
How is anaemia during pregnancy treated?
Treatment will depend on your symptoms, age, and general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is.
Treatment for iron deficiency anaemia includes taking iron supplements. Taking iron with a citrus juice, such as orange, can help your body to absorb it better. Taking antacids may make it harder for your body to absorb iron. Iron supplements may cause nausea and cause stool to become dark greenish or black in colour. They may also cause constipation. If the diagnosis is made late in pregnancy and is very severe other options of treatment might be needed. Your doctor will also treat the underlying cause of your iron deficiency, if necessary.
Complications
Mild iron deficiency anaemia usually does not cause complications. However, left untreated, iron deficiency anaemia can become severe and lead to health problems, including the following:
• Heart problems. Iron deficiency anaemia may lead to a rapid or irregular heartbeat. This can lead to an enlarged heart or heart failure.
• Problems during pregnancy. In pregnant women, severe iron deficiency anaemia has been linked to premature births and low birth weight babies. Certain obstetrical complications, like postpartum haemorrhage, might be worsened by severe iron deficiency anaemia.
Prevention
Good pre-pregnancy nutrition not only helps prevent anaemia, but also helps build other nutritional stores in the woman’s body. Eating a healthy, balanced, diet before and during pregnancy, helps keep up your levels of iron and other important nutrients needed for your growing fetus (baby).
The pregnant woman should choose foods that are iron-rich. These include the following:
• Red meat, pork and poultry
• Seafood
• Beans
• Dark green leafy vegetables, such as spinach
• Dried fruit, such as raisins and apricots
• Iron-fortified cereals, breads and pastas
• Peas.
It is important that all pregnant women see their midwife or obstetrician early in their pregnancy so that iron deficiency anaemia can be detected at an early stage and treated correctly.
Conclusion
Iron deficiency anaemia is one of the more common medical disorders occurring during pregnancy. Anaemia may cause the developing fetus to not grow to a healthy weight. The baby may also come early (preterm birth) or have a low birth weight. Iron deficiency anaemia is usually diagnosed following a screening test when the pregnant woman first makes contact with her midwife or obstetrician. Treatment depends on the severity of anaemia and other factors. Regular prenatal visits are important for the prevention and treatment of pregnant women with iron deficiency anaemia.
Ask Your Dr is a health education column and is not a substitute for medical advice from your physician. The reader should consult his or her physician for specific information concerning specific medical conditions. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all information presented is accurate, as research and development in the medical field are ongoing, it is possible that new findings may supersede some data presented.
Dr Brett Hodge MB BS DGO MRCOG is an obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Family Doctor with over thirty-eight years in clinical practice. Dr Brett Hodge has a medical practice in The Johnson Building in The Valley (Tel: 264 497 5828).
