{"id":60402,"date":"2023-09-18T16:32:15","date_gmt":"2023-09-18T20:32:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=60402"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:31:31","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:31:31","slug":"anemia-in-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/anemia-in-pregnancy\/","title":{"rendered":"What you should know about anemia during pregnancy"},"content":{"rendered":"

During pregnancy, your body’s need for nutrients like iron, folate, and vitamin B12 increases significantly, and it can be difficult to keep up. When those needs aren’t met, you can develop a mild case of <\/span>anemia<\/span><\/a> in pregnancy, which is fairly common among pregnant people. In some cases, though, anemia in pregnancy can become severe and put your developing baby at risk.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

That’s why physicians recommend pregnant individuals get tested for anemia in pregnancy and diligently treat any signs of the condition. Here, we’ll cover everything you need to know about anemia in pregnancy, including causes, risk factors, symptoms, treatment, and prevention.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is anemia? <\/span><\/h2>\n

Anemia occurs when you have a <\/span>hemoglobin<\/span><\/a> deficiency, <\/span>according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)<\/span><\/a>. Hemoglobin is a protein in your red blood cells responsible for delivering oxygen throughout your body. When your hemoglobin is low, your organs and tissues receive less oxygen, which can lead to symptoms like dizziness and exhaustion and<\/span> health complications<\/span><\/a> like heart issues and developmental delays in infants and children. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Approximately <\/span>3 million Americans<\/span><\/a> have anemia. There are several types of anemia; the <\/span>most common<\/span><\/a> of which is iron deficiency anemia. Anemia can range from mild to severe, depending on the type, but it’s a particular concern during pregnancy because it can put the <\/span>pregnancy at risk<\/span><\/a> of  preterm birth, low birth weight, and developmental delays. <\/span><\/p>\n

But anemia in pregnancy doesn’t only affect the fetus; it can also increase <\/span>your own risk<\/span><\/a> of cardiac issues and immune system dysfunction and cause potential issues after your baby is born because of the blood loss during childbirth. <\/span><\/p>\n

“Birth is normally an event that occurs with a large amount of blood loss, so along with the greater requirements for oxygen in the blood to make the baby, the person’s body needs to be able to withstand a great amount of blood loss at the time of the birth,” says <\/span>P. Fadwah Halaby<\/span><\/a>, CNM, a certified nurse midwife and founder of Midwife360. “The higher [your] hemoglobin and hematocrit are during pregnancy, the lesser the effects of the blood loss at birth.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Who is at risk for anemia during pregnancy? <\/span><\/h2>\n

Simply being pregnant<\/span><\/a> can cause an increased risk of anemia. In fact, anemia is one of the most common conditions affecting pregnant people, <\/span>according to the CDC<\/span><\/a>—though it’s worth noting, that a study published in the <\/span>International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics<\/span><\/i><\/a> found a significant difference in how the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) measure anemia in pregnancy, resulting in vastly different reported rates (10.9% according to the former agency and 22.9% according to the latter).<\/span> That said, the study noted, “anemia during pregnancy remains an important public health issue,” even if the “magnitude may be overestimated.” <\/span><\/p>\n

You can develop anemia at any point during your <\/span>pregnancy<\/span><\/a>, but “the most common trimester for anemia-related issues is usually the third trimester,” says <\/span>Michael Green, MD<\/span><\/a>, a board-certified OB-GYN in Lake Arrowhead, California. This is because blood volume steadily increases throughout your pregnancy, reaching a peak in the third trimester. “As a result, the demand for iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid (essential nutrients for healthy red blood cell production) increases, making pregnant individuals more susceptible to anemia during this time,” Dr. Green says.<\/span><\/p>\n

While anyone can become anemic during their pregnancy, certain people are at higher risk than others, <\/span>according to the American Society of Hematology<\/span><\/a>. These include:<\/span><\/p>\n