Preventing Anemia in Pregnant Women

Anemia is a condition where the blood has a lower than normal number of red blood cells and lacks hemoglobin, which carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. The lack of red blood cells and hemoglobin can bring about serious health problems.

In pregnant women anemia is very common. According to the American Medical Association, AMA, eighty percent of pregnant women experience anemia. This can be because pregnancy can alter the digestive system and because the unborn child consumes a large portion of the nutrients needed to prevent anemia. The effects of anemia on pregnant women can cause serious physical and mental problems for them and their babies.

What Causes Anemia
Anemia is a nutritional problem. It results from the deficiency in Iron, Vitamin B12, and Folic acid. Pregnant women are deficient in these nutrients because they must share them with their unborn child.

Iron
The deficiency in iron effects the production of hemoglobin in the red blood cells. When enough hemoglobin is not produced the red blood cells cannot carry oxygen throughout the body and brain. This results in tiredness, weakness, pale complexion, irregular heart beat, irritability in personality, poor appetite, and dizziness.

Vitamin B12
A deficiency in vitamin B12 can cause nerve problems, such as numbness and tingling in the hands and feet. The deficiency also causes mental problems, bringing about confusion, irritability, and severe dementia. This may lead to post pardum depression.

Folic Acid
A deficiency in folic acid, a B vitamin, can cause the same problems as an iron and vitamin B12 deficiency. In addition a folic acid deficiency can cause developmental problems in the brain and spinal cord of the fetus.

Preventing Anemia In Pregnant Women
To prevent anemia a pregnant woman must place close attention to her diet since the cause of the condition is nutritional related.

A List Of Food With Iron
The following foods are a good source of iron:

Meat
Liver, lean red meat, chicken, and turkey

Seafood
Oysters, clams, tuna, salmon, and shrimps
Beans
Kidneys, limas, navy, black beans, pinto beans, soy beans, and lentils

Vegetables
Collard greens, kale, mustard greens, spinach, turnip greens, broccoli, Swiss chard, asparagus, parsley, watercress, and Brussel sprouts

Others
Egg yolk, raisins, prunes, dates, and apricots

Foods With Vitamin B12
The following foods are a good source of vitamin B12:

Seafood
Clams, trout, salmon, and tuna

Meat
Beef Liver, beef meat, pork, and chicken

Dairy
Milk, eggs, and cheese

Other foods
Fortified bread and fortified cereal

Vitamin B12 is found naturally in animal food product. If a woman is a vegetarian, she should consider eating some meat products such as seafood or dairy, to get more B12 in her diet, and /or she should take a B12 supplement.

Foods Folic Acid
The following are foods that are a good source of folic acid:

Meat
Liver, chicken, kidney, egg yolk

Legumes
Dried beans, lentils, split peas, soy products, nuts

Starches
Whole grain breads, potatoes, sweet potatoes

Fruits and Vegetables
Spinach. Beet root, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, bananas, oranges, peaches

In addition to an improved diet a pregnant woman should take Iron, B12, and Folic Acid vitamin supplements. She should have her doctor to suggest and prescribe a good prenatal vitamin supplement to take daily. She should also have her doctor to periodically test her for anemia during her pregnancy and after her pregnancy.

It is important for a pregnant woman to have the proper diet insure that she and her unborn child have good health. An expecting mother should work closely with her doctor to monitor her diet and periodically run tests to insure that she does not develop anemia.