Why anemia happens during pregnancy
Anemia is a disease in blood, happens when the levels of a certain substance which is a protein in red blood called "hemoglobin" is too low, the job of hemoglobin is to carry oxygen from lungs to the rest of the body, and when the levels of hemoglobin is low, the body will not get enough oxygen.
To make hemoglobin the human body needs iron, so if the iron levels are low in the body then this is the reason why anemia will happen as a result.
Pregnancy and low iron levels
During the period of pregnancy your body will make more body to support and share the baby, as the body may make up to 30% of the blood of your body, and the body is not going to be able to make red blood cells needed to make the extra blood if you lack iron, that's why doctors usually recommend pregnant women to take a supplement that contains 30mg of iron each day, since if you don't have good iron levels you will be in risk of developing iron deficiency (anemia).
Factors may increase the risk of anemia during pregnancy
A lot of factors can cause anemia such as having daily vomiting due to morning sickness, also not eating for that are rich enough of iron, in addition women who had two pregnancies after each other may become weak and are in risk of having anemia, also in case of having periods before pregnancy, being a teenage pregnant, also the woman who is pregnant with twins or triples.
Symptoms of anemia
Although anemia can sometimes have no symptoms but if it have then it will be one of these:
• Feeling tired or weak all the time
• Dizziness
• Paleness
• Shortness of breath
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Cold, numb or tingling hands and feet
• Pica: an abnormal craving for things like ice, dirt, paint, or clay
Check and treatment for anemia
You can check for anemia by the blood tests your doctor will ask for in the first parental visit, and usually he will ask again in the second third of your pregnancy, treating anemia is usually by iron bills prescribed by your doctor as you will take those bills for the rest of you pregnancy period, and regular blood tests will be asked from your doctor to check on your levels.
