Anemia is a widespread medical condition that afflicts Indian women during their pregnancy. Poor quality or insufficient number of red blood cells are the main causes of this condition. Acute iron deficiencyfolic acid and vitamin B-12 in the diet of an expectant woman leads to pathological anemia during pregnancy. The mother’s red blood cells and plasma mass increase by almost 50% during pregnancy. This increased blood volume supports healthy fetal development and optimal placental function. This article sheds light on the causes, symptoms, prevention and treatment strategies to ensure a healthy pregnancy for Indian mothers.
What is Anemia?
Anemia in pregnancy is a medical condition where the hemoglobin level is lower than 11 grams per deciliter (<11 g/dL). Anemia or low hemoglobin in pregnancy leads to fatigue, weakness, and even complications such as premature birth, low birth weight, and even maternal mortality. Anemia is diagnosed with routine blood tests during prenatal visits. The main types of anemia are:
Iron deficiency
This is the most common form of anemia. This disease occurs when the body does not have enough iron to make hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body.
Folic acid deficiency
This type of anemia is caused by severe vitamin B-9 deficiency. Vitamin B-9 is vital for the formation of red blood cells.
Vitamin B-12 deficiency
Insufficient vitamin B-12 prevents red blood cells from dividing properly, causing them to become abnormally large and immature, leading to Megaloblastic Anemia. This type of anemia is often caused by strict vegetarian and vegan diets.
Causes of anemia in Indian pregnant women
A woman’s age, pre-pregnancy health and frequency of pregnancies are some factors that contribute to the prevalence anemia in pregnant women. The following are some common causes of anemia:
Nutritional Deficiency
The Indian diet, while varied, is often vegetarian, which may exclude certain nutrient-dense foods such as meat, eggs, and fish. Deficiencies in vitamin A, B-12, riboflavin, and zinc result in lower red blood cell production. A mostly vegetarian diet lacks heme iron (found in meat), which is more easily absorbed than non-heme iron (found in plants), leading to anemia. Inadequate nutritional intake during pregnancy can lead to complications such as poor fetal development, premature delivery and low birth weight.
Socioeconomic Factors
Expectant mothers from economically weaker sections of society have limited access to prenatal health care and regular health monitoring. This leads to anemia that goes undiagnosed and untreated. In addition, social stigma and dietary restrictions often complicate their pregnancies.
Lack of awareness
Sometimes, expectant mothers may not be fully aware of their need for iron-rich foods, prenatal care, or the importance of regular health checkups. One of the causes of anemia during pregnancy in india is insufficient knowledge about nutrition and health practices. Women often do not complete the recommended series of iron-folic acid (IFA) tablets due to forgetfulness or lack of awareness.
Parasitic infections
Poor sanitation in many parts of India leads to hookworm and other helminth infections or parasitic diseases in the intestines, causing chronic diseases that prevent iron absorption. These diseases have terrible consequences, such as serious anemia of pregnancy, which India fought consistently.
Symptoms and risks of anemia
Anemia is caused by an abnormally low number of red blood cells or a lack of hemoglobin in the body. Hemoglobin is responsible for carrying oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. The common symptoms of anemia in pregnancy occur because the tissues and the developing fetus struggle to get enough oxygen.
- Extreme fatigue and weakness
- Shortness of breath even during normal activities
- Dizziness
- Pale skin and inner eyelids
- Cold hands and feet
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Chest pain
The risks it poses iron deficiency in pregnancy it’s a lot. For an expectant mother, risks may include the following:
- Immunity discount
- Excessive bleeding during childbirth
- Need for blood transfusion
- Increased risk of infection after delivery
A developing fetus goes through undue stress when the mother is anemic. The following risk factors affect a baby born to an anemic mother:
- Unsatisfactory birth weight, less than 2.5 kg
- Premature born before 37u week
- Increased risk of infections in infancy
Measures to control anemia
Anemia is usually detected through routine blood tests to estimate hemoglobin early in pregnancy. A balanced diet including green leafy vegetables, legumes, meat, fortified foods and foods rich in vitamin C ensures improved iron absorption.
The prescribed dose of elemental iron and folic acid supplementation should be taken daily during the second and third trimesters. Adherence to deworming protocols during pregnancy also helps control anemia.
Achieving pregnancy without anemia
Dietary restrictions are one of the main reasons because anemia is common in Indian pregnant women. Eating non-heme iron-rich foods like spinach, lentils, whole grains, almonds, and dates, along with vitamin C-rich fruits like gooseberries, guavas, and limes, help improve iron absorption.
Expectant mothers should avoid tea and coffee during meals because they prevent the absorption of iron. If you are wondering how to increase hemoglobin during pregnancy, the answer is to include foods rich in heme iron such as chicken, fish and eggs.
Conclusion
Diet, awareness and excellent health care can prevent Anemia. A healthy newborn is the best reward of a careful pregnancy journey.
