Symptoms Of Being Anemic During Pregnancy

Anemia is a medical condition in which there are not enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to the tissues in the body.

Symptoms of being anemic during pregnancy. While in most cases anemia is caused by not having enough iron in your diet before and or during your pregnancy less commonly it could be caused by a vitamin deficiency b12 or folic acid blood loss an underlying condition like kidney disease an immune disorder or sickle cell anemia which is why it s so important to see your doctor to get to the bottom of the problem. Most experts agree that anemia in pregnancy is more of a concern if it s severe untreated or lasts a long time. As the condition progresses those affected by the condition may begin to notice fatigue weakness and headache other symptoms of anemia in pregnancy include cold hands and feet pale skin chest pain and irritability. Regardless of whether or not you have symptoms you ll have blood tests to screen for anemia during pregnancy.

It s normal to feel worried about being diagnosed with anemia but mild anemia that s diagnosed and treated early shouldn t pose a problem during your pregnancy. Anemia is common during pregnancy but it can lead to serious problems for your unborn child. Keep in mind however that symptoms of anemia are often similar to general pregnancy symptoms. Anemia is diagnosed when a woman has a low level of red blood cells.

When the tissues do not receive an adequate amount of oxygen many organs and functions are affected. Anemia during pregnancy is especially a concern because it is associated with low birth weight premature birth and maternal mortality. If you re concerned about your level of fatigue or any other symptoms talk to your health care provider.