Three Dimensional Midwifery
Deidre D. DeGrado, CPM
Anemia in Pregnancy
There are several kinds of anemia, but the most common is caused by iron deficiency. It is
common in pregnancy as there is an increase demand for iron in order to make the new
blood cells that are completing the dramatically increased blood volume that occurs during
the pregnancy. Usually it is mild and easily corrected with a few dietary changes or
supplementation. Your midwife will be able to tell from your lab work if you need to change
your diet or add an iron supplement. 95% of anemia during pregnancy is due to iron
deficiency.
Symptoms of Anemia in Pregnancy:
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Fatigue after the first trimester
Pale color
Feeling depressed
Having odd cravings, especially for ice
Shortness of breath
Dizziness
Palpitations
Prolonged labor with incoordinate contractions
Clinical Exhaustion
Diagnosis
At several points during your pregnancy we will ask permission to draw blood and to do lab
work. Part of this lab work helps us to analyze the size, shape, and volume of your red
blood cells, the amount of hemoglobin in your blood, and the amount of iron that your body
has in reserve. All of these things give us an overall picture of your iron level as well as the
reasons you might have anemia. If your midwife sees that your iron level is low, she will
determine the cause, confirm that it is not a B12 or folic acid deficiency, and give you the
direction you will need to make the changes that are necessary. Depending on your levels,
this might be by diet alone or by diet and supplementation.
Prevention
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Cook in a cast iron skillet. Some researchers believe that iron deficiency
anemia was not a problem 100 years ago because these skillets were almost
always used in cooking.
Increase our intake of dark leafy greens such as kale, collard greens, Swiss
chard, and spinach. The iron is more accessible if you cook the greens lightly.
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3D Midwifery/Wichita Birth Assistance © 2012
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Consider adding these to your diet: beets, black cherry concentrate,
blackberries, black strap molasses, egg yolks, raisins, beans, soy products,
prune juice, dried fruit, strawberries, watermelon, pumpkin and sesame
seeds, and Brewer’s yeast.
Add more red meat and chicken to your diet, including organic beef liver.*
Eat foods rich in Vit. C with your iron rich foods (Spinach and Strawberry
Salad). Vit. C aides in absorption of iron.
Avoid eating calcium-rich foods, like dairy products when eating your ironrich foods. Calcium blocks iron absorption.
Do not drink carbonated and/or caffeinated drinks as this also blocks iron
absorption
Add herbal teas: nettles and dandelion, especially. Mint, hibiscus, or
rosehips may be added to enhance the flavor. Drink a glass of water for every
cup of tea that you drink as both nettles and dandelion are natural diuretics.
*Vegan mothers need to look for sublingual tablets or fresh juices containing
cyanocobalamin or hydroxocobalamin, and soy products. They should not take fermented
soy products, seaweed, shiitake mushrooms, or spirulina because things can block
absorption.
Affect on Mom and Baby
When you have anemia, you and your baby are not getting the proper amounts of oxygen. It
can lead to complications for the baby like growth retardation. This growth retardation
restricts the amount of fat the baby has which is important for insulation and stress
resistance in the early weeks. It can lead to complications for you, like fatigue during labor,
prolonged labor, postpartum hemorrhage, slow postpartum recovery, increased
susceptibility to infection, or trouble establishing your milk supply. It can also have an
effect on how good you feel during your pregnancy and can be linked to postpartum
depression.
Iron Supplementation
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Ferrous fumarate or gluconate as both are organic irons.
Floridex Iron Plus Herbs-This is an herbal elixir and easily absorbed
For Vegans-Floridex Floravital Iron Plus Herbs.
Avoid Ferrous sulfate is a nonorganic iron and it is very harsh on the body
as well as constipating.
Once you have started an iron supplement during pregnancy, it is important
to continue it through your pregnancy until 3 months postpartum.
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3D Midwifery/Wichita Birth Assistance © 2012