1. Increased Blood Volume Can Cause Anemia
Anemia refers to any significant decrease in the amount of red blood cells circulating through the body. When pregnant, a woman's blood volume increases by about 50 percent. This is a normal process in pregnancy. Blood consists of liquid plasma and various types of blood cells that float within plasma. Plasma volume increases at a faster rate than your red blood cell count. Because of this difference in rates of increase, pregnant women can end up with a disproportionate amount of plasma to red blood cells.
2. Danger is Iron Deficiency
The main problem anemia causes in pregnant women is a decrease in iron. Iron is carried by red blood cells. When there is more plasma circulating through the body and fewer red blood cells, blood carries less iron throughout the body. Lab tests can determine whether a woman is experiencing an iron deficiency.
3. Symptoms of Anemia
Due to a variety of physiological factors, symptoms of anemia are distinct. Things you will likely notice include paleness, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, exhaustion, dizziness and fainting, ringing in the ears and headaches. You may experience dimmed vision, decreased appetite, nausea or vomiting. Though lab tests are necessary to confirm the existence of anemia, a notable physical manifestation of the condition is paleness throughout the body. Notably, the palms often seem white when a person suffers from a lack of red blood cells.
4. Treat as Soon as Possible
When anemia is present, it must be treated. If you are experiencing a combination of these symptoms, visit the doctor's office for lab work. If ignored, an anemic mother can go into heart failure. Babies born to anemic mothers are at risk for premature birth, low birth weight and death.
5. Anemia is Easily Treated
With modern medicine, it is simple to test for anemia, determine that it is present and subsequently treat it. The low levels of iron that affect pregnant women with anemia can be treated with a prenatal vitamin containing iron. If this turns out to be an insufficient amount of iron, there are iron supplements available in multiple forms.
