Can iron deficiency in pregnancy affect baby growth?

Can iron deficiency in pregnancy affect baby growth?Can iron deficiency in pregnancy affect baby growth?

Can iron deficiency in pregnancy affect baby growth?

There is a lot to take care of when it comes to pregnancy. Although every pregnancy is different, there are few things that people can expect here. This includes the increasing chances of anemia. Iron deficiency in pregnancy symptoms occurs because of not having enough red blood cells. This leads to less carriage of oxygen in the tissues of the body. Mild anemia can make a pregnant woman feel exhausted. But, it can also be serious if you left the medical condition untreated. Anemia during pregnancy can cause various other high risks. It can lead to premature birth, low weight during birth, and even maternal mortality. If you or anyone you know is going through adverse changes of anemia, you can consider talking to the experts of Manipal Hospital, Yeshwanthpur.

Anemia in pregnancy and related facts

  • Understanding facts and different things about anemia can help you fight the symptoms and lead to treatment problems. This can help you recognize the warning signs so that you can avoid complications.
  • If you have discovered that you have anemia, there is no need to be anxious about the same. You can work with your healthcare provider. This will help you tackle the symptoms.
  • Anemia is the medical condition of too few red blood cells. Four kinds of anemia can affect the growth of the baby and the mother.
  • Anemia can cause your baby not to grow at a healthy weight. Your baby can arrive prematurely and may have low birth weight.
  • Anemia is detected during the routine test of hemoglobin or hematocrit levels.
  • The treatment options for anemia depend on how bad the condition is or what is the severity of the medical condition.
  • Taking good nutrition is the best way to prevent anemia during pregnancy.
  • Iron deficiency during pregnancy is extremely common in developing countries. It is one of the medical conditions that has reached the global stage. Iron deficiency during pregnancy is one of the common reasons for anemia in infants. Many women go through their different stages of pregnancy without receiving proper health care services for anemia
  • Iron deficiency is a global issue affecting nearly 52% of pregnant women. Lack of proper weight during pregnancy is one of the important factors that can lead to iron deficiency.
  • Lower iron stores in the newborn baby can increase the problems of iron deficiency. Premature birth and weaning off breastfeeding are the related factors that can accompany iron deficiency.
  • In conclusion, iron deficiency is crucial for the health of a pregnant woman.

What are the types of anemia and how do they affect pregnancy?

Anemia is common for many people during pregnancy. It is one of the serious issues that can lead to other medical conditions in both mother and baby. When there is a lack of sufficient red blood cells, there comes a lack of oxygen throughout the body. It further impacts the organs and bodily functions. In general, there are more than 400 types of anemia. There can be different causes of each different type but in the end, it leads to a down in the level of red blood cells and health. In contrast, physiological anemia or dilutional anemia is one of the natural processes associated with pregnancy. The overall blood volume increases during the pregnancy. But, in the case of anemia, there is an increase in the liquid volume (or plasma volume) rather than the increase in red blood cells volume.

  • Iron-deficiency anemia

A lack of iron stores can lead to iron deficiency, which is the common culprit for many of the causes of anemia. With this type of anemia, the lower stores of iron lead to reduced production of hemoglobin.

Iron deficiency in pregnancy symptoms can work harder for your right nourishment. It can affect the growth of the baby. Also, during pregnancy, the body works continuously to provide a higher volume of blood which increases by 45%. This is where physiological anemia comes into the picture. In normal cases, the body of a pregnant woman helps to provide the right need for iron and an increase in hemoglobin. This increases the blood volume and causes the presence or production of oxygen supply to the baby. But in case of iron deficiency, it increases the daily fight to provide the requirement to the baby.

  • Folate-deficiency anemia

Folate-deficiency anemia is another common kind of anemia that leads to hemoglobin deficiency. In general, folic acid is water-soluble. It can help to prevent neural tube defects or issues related to cognitive problems during pregnancy. Women need a high level of folate during their reproductive years. This is why it is recommended to have high folic acid supplements even if you are trying to get pregnant.

  • Vitamin B12 deficiency

Vitamin B12 also leads to the induction of the medical condition of anemia. It is primarily found in fortified food and animal products like meat, fish, eggs, and poultry. Women are generally recommended to increase the intake of such food during their pregnancy. This is the reason, the lack of proper food can lead to anemia. Some people develop problems related to difficulty in processing B12. This is generally responsible for the deficiency. Folate deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency often come together. If you think that you may have this kind of deficiency, you can connect with your healthcare provider to understand the symptoms.

  • Aplastic anemia

Iron deficiency in pregnancy symptoms can lead to the formation of fewer new red blood cells. The medical condition can be fatal and can lead to uncontrollable bleeding. It is one of the rare medical conditions that can develop at any stage of life. Aplastic anemia can come slowly, suddenly, and can develop with worsen conditions over time. It can be mild or severe. Aplastic anemia can be treated using medications, blood transfusion, stem cell transplant, or bone marrow transplant. People with aplastic anemia can develop no symptoms. But, the severity of the medical condition can include the symptoms like:

  1. Fatigue
  2. Shortness of breath
  3. Rapid or irregular heart rate
  4. Pale skin
  5. Frequent or prolonged infections
  6. Unexplained or easy bruising
  7. Nosebleeds and bleeding gums
  8. Prolonged bleeding from cuts
  9. Skin rash
  10. Dizziness
  11. Headache
  12. Fever

Aplastic anemia can also be short-lived. But, it can lead to chronic issues once detected. It is one of the severe medical conditions and can be fatal for both mother and baby during pregnancy.

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Bhanu Garg: