Low Iron in Pregnancy

Have you been feeling weak and exhausted during your pregnancy? If so, it maybe a symptom of low iron in pregnancy. When you’re pregnant, you must produce more blood to support your developing baby. This requires around 50% more red blood cells to carry oxygen to your tissues and those of your baby!

When iron deficiency is significant, you might become anaemic, where your blood may contain fewer red blood cells than normal. Or, the red blood cells you have may not have sufficient haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is an iron-rich protein which is responsible for carrying oxygen throughout your body. As your iron levels drop, you may be unable to produce enough red blood cells to meet your body's requirement - causing anaemia.

Don’t worry though, iron-deficiency anaemia is surprisingly common during the second and third trimesters. And it is usually easily fixed. By introducing some supplements and minor dietary changes, you can have a stress-free pregnancy.

Growlife Medical are experienced in treating anaemia in pregnancy. Please contact us today for advice.

Anaemia in pregnancy occurs when your body struggles to produce sufficient red blood cells to support your developing baby. Each pregnancy requires around 1000mg of iron, contributing to the production of around 50% more red blood cells, and your baby's growing body. Remember, your baby will weigh around 3kg, and your blood volume expands significant to meet the requirements of your uterus and placenta, and prepare for birth. This high requirement, and a cap on the amount of iron your body can absorb each day, means your iron levels can fall. If you suffer from low iron levels, you may be unable to produce sufficient red blood cells - leading to iron deficiency anaemia.

Iron deficiency anaemia is the most common anaemia type experienced by pregnant women. It is commonly seen in the second or third trimesters. Iron deficiency can be detected on a simple blood test during pregnancy, and is best assessed by looking at the Ferritin level. Anaemia is detected in a routine antenatal blood test called a Full Blood Count. Your full blood count may show fewer red blood cells than normal, or your red blood cells may not contain adequate haemoglobin levels. The best way to assess for anaemia is by looking at the Haemoglobin level, often referred to as Hb. Haemoglobin is an iron-rich protein which carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body, and iron contributes to many cellular processes. Iron is important to your health, and your baby's health. However, with some dietary changes and vitamin supplementation, you can still have a healthy pregnancy.

Anaemia is extremely common during pregnancy. The leading causes of anaemia in pregnancy are due to a mismatch between intake and the nutritional demands of your pregnancy. Deficiencies can affect the number of red blood cells your body produces and how healthy they are. There are three main causes of anaemia among pregnant women. These include:

Iron deficiency – If you’re pregnant, the total volume of blood in your body increases by over 50 per cent. This ensures there is an adequate supply for you and your growing baby. If you suffer iron deficiency anaemia, your haemoglobin levels decrease due to a diminished iron supply.
Vitamin B12 deficiency – Vitamin B12 helps produce healthy red blood cells. B12 deficiency anaemia occurs when you don’t consume enough Vitamin B12 or have difficulty processing it. Vitamin B12 deficiency is commonly seen in those with a Vegan diet.
Folate deficiency – Whilst anaemia from folate deficiency is uncommon in pregnancy, higher folate intake is essential for a healthy pregnancy. Folic acid is a vitamin vital for preventing neural-tube defects (spina bifida), and all women are recommended to take supplementary folate prior to falling pregnant. If you’re at higher risk of your baby having a neural tube defect, your doctor will recommend taking a higher dose folate supplement before you fall pregnant. This is most commonly those taking epilepsy medication or with a history of having a baby with a neural tube defect.

Whilst low iron commonly develops in pregnancy and commonly causes fatigue, one wouldn't generally consider it a sign of pregnancy. However, there are some signs which may indicate you are expecting. One obvious sign is a noticeable increase in fatigue. As fatigue is a common sign of both pregnancy and iron deficiency, the way you feel might be quite similar. Later in pregnancy, you might experience a decrease in iron levels. Low iron can manifest itself in different ways. Symptoms can include:

Fatigue
Extreme malaise (i.e. weakness)
Pale skin
An irregular heartbeat
Shortness of breath and more

There is significant overlap between the symptoms of pregnancy and those of iron deficiency. Fatigue is the most obvious. Constipation is a symptom of pregnancy, and also a side effect of oral iron supplements. A faster heart rate and shortness of breath are symptoms of both pregnancy and iron deficiency. Changes in food preference are also symptoms of both. Read more about symptoms of pregnancy and how to manage them.

One of the most specific symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia is frequently overlooked. Unusual food cravings can be a sign of low iron levels. You might lose appetite, or may be craving strange food combinations, for example foods which don’t normally go together. Or, the foods you love may seem revolting to you. In rare cases, pregnant women are even known to desire non-food items, like clay, ice or even dirt. This symptom is known as pica.

It’s important to remember, though, that low iron itself isn’t a clear indication of pregnancy. If you’re concerned, contact your doctor today.

Pregnancy brings about many changes, both physically and emotionally. However, as many of these changes are gradual, they tend to go unnoticed at first. Iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy is a classic example of this. As the volume of blood in your body increases, so too does your requirement for iron and other vitamins needed to make haemoglobin. Many pregnant women do not have sufficient iron stores to cope with the second and third trimesters. When this occurs, anaemia develops.

Due to a lack of iron, many women experience mild anaemia while pregnant. In fact, between 15% and 25% of all pregnant women will experience mild iron deficiency anaemia.

Fortunately, though, it can be easily treated if caught early. Your doctor or health provider can perform simple tests to determine the red blood cells in your plasma and the concentration of haemoglobin in your blood. If anaemia is detected, they can suggest an effective treatment plan.

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While pregnant, anaemia tends to progress slowly, ranging from mild to severe. To be considered to have severe anaemia in pregnancy, the haemoglobin (Hb) concentration of your blood must register at 80 g/L or below. Most women with levels this low will have significant symptoms.

There tell-tale signs which suggest severe anaemia. These include:

General malaise (weakness)
Irritability
Consistent fatigue
Shortness of breath
A frequent sore throat
Headaches (located in the frontal region)
Decreased appetite, and;
Unusual cravings (i.e. non-food items)

The trouble is, during pregnancy, anaemic symptoms tend to progress slowly. This can lead to a delay in investigation and, ultimately, treatment. For this reason, many women do not seek medical attention until symptoms become quite serious.

If you experience these symptoms during your pregnancy, we recommend speaking to your doctor or health care professional. The sooner your anaemia is detected, the sooner you can be properly treated.

If you do develop anaemia while pregnant, don’t worry. There are a variety of treatment options to help increase the production of healthy red blood cells. For the treatment of anaemia in pregnancy, your doctor may recommend several courses of action to treat your anaemia. These include:

Vitamin supplements – While pregnant, your body needs twice as much iron as non-pregnant women to support your baby. This supplement can also prevent and treat diagnosed iron deficiency anaemia. If you require a higher iron intake, your doctor may suggest taking a separate iron tablet. As a general guide, pregnant women need 27 mg of iron each day.
Dietary changes – Improving your iron level is very simple. By making some basic changes to your diet, you can boost your daily iron intake. Common sources of iron include red meat, chicken and fish. The iron from animal products, particularly red meat, is most easily absorbed. If you do not eat meat, leafy green vegetables, capsicum, strawberries and dried beans are also rich in iron. Consulting with our dietitian experienced in pregnancy is a good way to ensure optimal dietary intake. Taking vitamin C helps with the absorption of iron, so having a glass of orange juice with a steak would be a perfect combination!
Considering an iron infusion - If you are already taking iron supplements but have ongoing iron deficiency or anaemia, your GP may recommend and iron infusion. If you have severe anaemia this treatment may even be considered first up. An iron infusion can be the quickest way to fix your iron deficiency, as an infusion can provide up to 1000mg of iron in one treatment - as much as the requirement for an entire pregnancy!
A blood transfusion - we believe this treatment option is best avoided, as it is the most risky. Appropriately detecting iron deficiency during pregnancy and treating via other methods is important. This ensures your levels are good prior to delivery and the blood loss that often occurs.

We Are Anaemia in Pregnancy Experts, with doctors, midwives and dieticians ready to help you through your pregnancy. Please chat to us at Growlife Medical.

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