Approximately 14-62% of women in developing countries experience anemia during pregnancy. Besides the risk of causing depression in the mother after giving birth, anemia during pregnancy can also have a negative impact on the fetus, such as premature birth or maybe death.
When a woman is pregnant, her body will naturally form more red blood cells to meet the oxygen and nutritional needs of the fetus. The production of red blood cells and hemoglobin requires various components, such as iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12. When the body does not have enough of these substances, anemia (lack of red blood cells) can occur.
Symptoms of anemia in pregnant women can include fatigue, tiredness, pale skin, palpitations, shortness of breath, difficulty concentrating, dizziness, and even fainting. There are many causes of anemia in pregnant women, ranging from a lack of iron and vitamin B12 intake, bleeding, or an unhealthy diet. In addition, other factors, such as excessive caffeine or coffee intake, are also said to increase the risk of pregnant women for anemia.
Dangers of Anemia in Pregnant Women
The following are some of the dangers of anemia, both to the health and safety of the pregnant mother and her fetus:
1. Postpartum depression
Postpartum depression is depression experienced by mothers after childbirth. Experiencing anemia during pregnancy can increase the risk of postpartum depression.
2. Fatal risk if bleeding occurs during delivery
If a pregnant woman experiences anemia during childbirth, it will endanger her safety when bleeding occurs. In addition, anemia can also make it more difficult for a pregnant woman's body to fight infection.
3. Babies born with low weight
Research shows that anemia during pregnancy is closely related to the birth of a low birth weight baby, especially if anemia occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy. Babies are said to have low birth weight if they are born weighing less than 2.5 kilograms. Babies born with this condition are more at risk of experiencing health problems than babies born with normal weight.
4. Babies born prematurely
Premature birth is a birth that occurs before the due date of delivery or before the 37th week of pregnancy. In addition to a number of health problems, babies born prematurely are also at risk of developing developmental disorders. Research shows that anemia in the first trimester of pregnancy increases the risk of preterm labor.
5. Babies born with anemia
Anemia in pregnancy can cause the baby to be born with anemia. This condition can increase the risk of the baby experiencing health problems and impaired growth and development.
6. Fetal death
Several studies have shown that anemia in pregnancy can increase the risk of fetal death before and after delivery.
To overcome anemia during pregnancy, you can increase your intake of iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12, either in the form of supplements given by your doctor or in the form of foods that you consume daily. Examples of foods rich in iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12 are red meat, dark green leafy vegetables, eggs, beans, chicken, and fish.
To prevent anemia and treat it as early as possible before causing various dangers of anemia in pregnant women as mentioned above, pregnant women are recommended to have regular check-ups with a gynecologist.
Written by:
dr. Irene Cindy Sunur
