Iron deficiency during pregnancy can harm the health of mother and fetus. An infant's iron deficiency anemia can have a lasting effect on brain development and its consequences can further impair a child's learning ability.
What is the cause of iron deficiency during pregnancy?
Iron deficiency during pregnancy causes anemia in pregnant women and fetuses
Associate Professor Dr. Vu Ba Quyet - Director of the Central Obstetrics Hospital said. Iron deficiency in pregnant women is an important public health problem in many countries.
According to WHO statistics, 42% of pregnant women have anemia worldwide, 90% of them come from developing countries. A survey by the National Institute of Nutrition shows that 36.8% of pregnant women in Vietnam have anemia and 75% anemia in pregnant women is due to iron deficiency.
Associate Professor Quyet said that the cause of anemia, iron deficiency in pregnant women is due to the need for more iron to supply the fetus. Iron demand increases most in the second and third trimester of pregnancy, increasing 5-7 times.
The concentration of hemoglobin in the blood of the mother can drop very suddenly due to the growth needs of the baby. The increase in blood volume during pregnancy also causes anemia because the hemoglobin concentration decreases due to dilution compared to normal. Your risk of anemia is higher if you're pregnant with multiple pregnancies.
Signs pregnant mother is lacking iron need supplementation
Iron deficiency during pregnancy is often without obvious signs. Especially when there is only mild deficiency. Therefore, the pregnant woman must go through a blood test to be able to determine it.
The most common signs of anemia in many women encounter during pregnancy are:
tired
feeling weak, working hard to concentrate
dizziness, headache
pallor (especially at the fingertips, under the eyelids, lips ...)
feel your heart beating fast, breathing fast, trouble concentrating ...
If you see the above symptoms, the woman needs to go to a doctor, blood test to be confirmed and have directions to promptly intervene. These tests measure the amount of red blood cells to determine the ratio of red blood cells in the blood plasma. The remaining test (hemoglobin) determines the number of grams of hemoglobin in the blood.
How to treat anemia during pregnancy to be safe for mother and fetus?
Pregnant mothers need to supplement these foods to prevent iron deficiency during pregnancy
Pregnant women need to eat iron-rich foods such as:
red meats (beef)
fish
liver
yolk
beans and beans
green vegetables
Ripe fruits rich in vitamin C support iron absorption (oranges, tangerines, mangoes, guava ...).
Due to the high demand for iron in pregnant women but the diet is difficult to meet, WHO recommends: Pregnant women should take iron supplements in the last 6 months of pregnancy, in areas where there is over 40% pregnancy must continue to be supplemented 3 months after birth. Associate Professor Quyet said that iron III complex form should be chosen more easily absorbed than iron sulfate. Pregnant women should adhere to the correct dose, should not supplement more than the recommended dose of iron.
After about a month of treatment it is likely that the anemia during pregnancy will go away. However, pregnant women still need iron supplements for the next few months to increase the amount of iron stored for the upcoming birth.
Vitamin C helps pregnant mothers absorb iron better, prevent iron deficiency during pregnancy
Notes to help pregnant mothers absorb iron in the best way
- For best iron absorption you should drink iron on an empty stomach.
- Vitamin C in orange juice helps to absorb iron better.
Note before and after drinking iron you should not drink tea, coffee or milk because it will interfere with iron absorption.
Iron supplemented in high levels can cause gastrointestinal upset. Usually it leads to constipation. The best solution for you now is to drink prune juice. Prune juice provides iron and helps to deal with constipation.
Iron-deficiency anemia in pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight, and more severe, stillbirth or death of the infant. You may also lose a lot of blood at birth or have postpartum depression.
Do not eat liver for iron supplements. Liver is best avoided during pregnancy as it contains unsafe amounts of vitamin A, which can cause birth defects in the fetus.
see more
How to prevent and treat iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women
Iron and folic acid supplementation before pregnancy to reduce the risk of pregnancy complications
Anemia pregnant - you get all the consequences after giving birth!
When should pregnant women take Iron and Calcium to be the most effective for the fetus?