©Pregnancy bliss 2008
Anemia in Pregnancy
Hemoglobin (Hb) is the blood pigment that transports oxygen from the lungs to the tissues throughout the body.
Anemia is a condition where the concentration of the hemoglobin in the blood is below normal. It is a common medical problem. In its milder form, many people go about their daily activities, unaware that there is anything amiss.
In pregnancy, anemia is likely to be discovered. Many women are surprised and some a little irritated when they are told that they are anemic. They don't take too kindly to the seemingly overbearing attitude of the midwife or doctor who stresses that they need their iron tablets and that they may need these for the remainder of the pregnancy. Such reactions are readily understandable. These women are feeling well and are not keen on taking tablets for such a long period especially when pregnant.
The truth is, anemia is a potentially serious condition, and mothers-
Contrary to popular belief, iron deficiency is not the only cause of anemia. It is, however, the most common. Sometimes there is a combination of deficiencies where multiple supplements are required to correct the problem. Such a situation is usually but not always associated with eating disorders.
Some people end up being anemic, not because of a poor diet but because they suffer from diseases that make it difficult for iron to be absorbed from the stomach. Then there are those people who have an iron overload in their bodies but are still anemic and chronically so. The prime examples are people with sickle cell disease or thalassemia. All the various conditions associated with anemia are discussed below.
Finally, many people are aware of the fact that folic acid is good for reducing the risk of neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, when taken at the right time. Not so many know that folic acid is a significant player in the prevention of anemia. It is not a substitute for iron; rather, these two "elements" play distinct but complementary roles in a lot of physiological functions, including prevention of anemia.