Types of Anemia That Can Occur During Pregnancy

Anemia is a condition in which the blood has few red blood cells that help carry oxygen to the tissues in the body. Anemia can affect anyone but most commonly affects pregnant women. When you are expecting, your baby is in need of your blood too and that is why, the consequences of anemia can be far-reaching, if not treated immediately.

The major symptoms of anemia include pale skin, lips and under-eye region, fatigue, dizziness and so on. However, there are some main types of anemia that typically occur during pregnancy, because of the changes in the body and the needs of the baby. Here is a list of these in detail.

Anemia of Pregnancy

Anemia is quite common during pregnancy and it is induced by the pregnancy itself. Women who are carrying twins, have conceived frequently or are suffering from some chronic disease are more likely to be affected by this type of anemia. Also, even under normal circumstances, the volume of blood increases during pregnancy, necessitating more iron and vitamins to make more red blood cells. It is usually not considered abnormal unless the red blood cell count drops very low.

Iron-deficiency anemia

This is also listed amongst the main types of anemia during pregnancy. When a woman is pregnant, her baby is using the red blood cells for growth and development especially in the last trimester that is the last 3 months of pregnancy. The body even uses the red blood cells stored in the bone marrow before the pregnancy, during this time. Women who don’t have enough iron to produce enough hemoglobin get affected by this type of anemia. Proper nutrition right from the time a woman is trying to conceive can be effective in building up these stores.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency Anemia

Vitamin B12 plays a crucial and significant role in making red blood cells as well as protein. This vitamin comes from foods such as milk, eggs, meats, and poultry. Improper nutrition, especially lack of animal protein leads to a deficiency of vitamin B12. Women who are vegans suffer from this as one of the main types of anemia during pregnancy. They are often advised to take vitamin B12 shots when expecting a baby.

Folate Deficiency Anemia

Folate, also called folic acid is a B vitamin that works in combination with iron to help with cell growth. Lack of enough folate during pregnancy, therefore, leads to a deficiency in iron and in turn, this type of anemia. Folic acid is an important component that also prevents the risk of certain birth defects, especially with the brain and spinal cord formation of the newborn baby. This anemia during pregnancy demands immediate medical attention and treatment.

Some of these main types of anemia occur during the early days while some affect women at a later stage of pregnancy. All of these can be treated with oral medicines and nutritional supplements, as suggested by a medical practitioner.