Anemia During Pregnancy: Causes, Symptoms, Risks & Safe Treatments
Anemia during pregnancy is a common condition that occurs when a pregnant person doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. This can impact both maternal well-being and fetal development. Therefore, early detection and effective care, including treatments for anemia during pregnancy are essential.
What Is Anemia in Pregnancy?
During pregnancy, your blood volume increases significantly, up to 30% higher, to support the growing baby. Unfortunately, this expansion can outpace your body’s ability to produce red blood cells, especially if iron and key vitamins are low. As a result, many pregnant individuals develop anemia, most often due to iron deficiency.
What Are The symptoms?
While there are treatments for anemia during pregnancy, you first need to know if those are the symptoms you are experiencing. When you have anemia, you may feel dizzy, tired, and weak. You may also feel your heart pounding or feel short of breath. It may be hard to focus and think clearly. Cravings for nonfood items such as dirt, ashes, clay, or chalk can be a sign that you don’t have enough iron in your blood (iron deficiency anemia).
How Is It Diagnosed?
As a routine part of your prenatal visits, your obstetrician at Riverwalk Women’s Heath, we will take some of your blood to test. Tests may include a complete blood count (CBC) to look at your red blood cells. The test results and your medical history are beneficial in helping us to determine which treatments are best for your anemia during pregnancy.
Safe Treatments for Anemia During Pregnancy
Nutritional Support
A cornerstone of treatments for anemia during pregnancy is improving dietary intake. This includes iron-rich foods like red meat, poultry, fish, beans, and dark leafy greens. Plus, vitamin C enriched foods to help iron absorption.
Prenatal Vitamins & Supplements
Most prenatal vitamins include iron and folate, but your provider may suggest additional iron or B12 supplements based on your lab results. Some take them separately from calcium-rich items which can reduce iron absorption.
Oral Iron Therapy
Oral iron tablets or capsules remain the most common initial treatment. They help raise hemoglobin levels. If you can’t tolerate iron supplements in the form of a pill, you may need to have iron intravenously administered.
Working With Your Healthcare Team
Regular prenatal care is key. Most providers check blood counts early in pregnancy and again later to screen for anemia.
In San Antonio, trusted obstetrics care can support you through anemia screening and management. A local provider like Riverwalk Women’s Health offers prenatal services that help identify and treat conditions like anemia throughout your pregnancy journey.
Discuss any symptoms or concerns with your obstetrician so they can tailor the best plan, including safe treatments for anemia during pregnancy, based on your health and labs.
You may also enjoy reading: Exceptional Maternity Care
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