Anaemia In Pregnancy

Anaemia during pregnancy is a very common complaint seen in nearly all the pregnant women. Care is always taken up by the doctors to test the hemoglobin level regularly in a pregnant lady. If the hemoglobin level is less than 11 grams, it is considered as anaemia.

Types

Iron deficiency anaemia is the commonest type, which is caused by dietary deficiency, worm infestations (which causes undue blood loss) and repeated pregnancies in short intervals.

Other form is Megaloblastic anaemia that results due to the deficiency of vitamin B12 and folic acid in pregnancy.

Thallasemia and Haemoglobinopathy (inherent defect in structure of hemoglobin) may also occur in a pregnant female.

Symptoms

In anaemia there is general body weakness, fatigue, lassitude, vertigo and exertional dyspnoea. Exertional breathlessness and generalized swelling of body may occur in severe cases. If left untreated, heart failure may also occur.

Diagnosis

Hemogram is the main test, which includes hemoglobin, red cell count, red cell hemoglobin concentration, and peripheral blood film. Serum ferritin and Total iron binding capacity levels are specific tests to rule out exact cause for anemia.

Proper diagnosis plays an important role so that the proper line of treatment can be advised.

Management and Treatment

A pregnant lady has to give special consideration to her health and her diet. They should observe healthy lifestyle and take iron rich balanced diet including green leafy vegetables, spinach, eggs, meat, liver, yeast, nuts, dairy products, jaggery, gram flour and chickpea.

Second pregnancy should be planned atleast two years after the first so that iron stores get replenished.

Medication (oral iron tablets) should be taken under physician’s guidance regularly from 4th month of pregnancy and during lactation. Folic acid supplements should also be started from planning to 12th week under physician’s guidance. In severe anemia (hemoglobin less than 6 grams) blood transfusion is the choice of treatment.