In this article:
What Causes Severe Anaemia During Pregnancy?
Severe anaemia during pregnancy seldom develops without any previous indication, often resulting from a combination of the following risk factors:
- Iron deficiency
- Folate or vitamin B12 deficiency
- Haemoglobinopathies
- Chronic illness
- Multiple pregnancies
- Poor nutritional intake
- Closely spaced pregnancies
How Does Severe Anaemia Affect the Mother?
The effects of severe anaemia are quite severe and will profoundly affect you during pregnancy:
- Fatigue and extreme weakness
- Breathlessness
- Heart strain
- Dizziness and fainting
- Increased susceptibility to infections
- Pre-term labour
- Excessive bleeding during delivery
How Does Severe Anaemia Affect the Baby?
The baby relies completely on the mother's blood supply to provide it with essential oxygen and nutrients. If this supply is dangerously poor, the baby will be affected by:
- Foetal growth restriction
- Low birth weight
- Premature birth
- Foetal distress during labor
- Stillbirth
Signs You Should Watch Out For
Although severe anaemia can become critical, it rarely appears without any warning signs. It is essential to be vigilant for the symptoms which, although you might previously have dismissed as "feeling tired", are indications that need professional medical assessment.
- You become breathless when sitting completely still or upon very light activity.
- You feel that your heart is beating very quickly, irregularly or powerfully, even when not exerting yourself.
- You feel lightheaded or feel that you might faint whenever you stand up.
- Your skin, inner eyelids, lips or gums look paler or more washed out than usual.
- You have extreme tiredness that persists throughout the day, and you feel that no amount of sleep makes it better.
- Your ankles or legs have become swollen to an unusual extent in pregnancy.
- You feel fewer foetal movements than usual.
- You have a tightness in your chest or feel some chest pain.
- You feel that your extremities are noticeably colder than usual, irrespective of the ambient temperature.
If any of the above signs appear, you must not ignore them; you should contact your GP or visit the nearest emergency unit as soon as possible, rather than delaying until your routine prenatal appointment.
How Is Severe Anaemia Diagnosed?
The tests to diagnose the level and type of anaemia are not invasive or particularly complicated:
- Full Blood Count (FBC): A blood sample will be taken to determine the level of haemoglobin and red blood cell count in the blood.
- Serum Ferritin: This test measures iron stores in the blood; it can identify an iron deficiency that has not progressed so far as to reduce haemoglobin levels and therefore can warn you to take iron supplements to prevent this from happening.
- Folate or Vitamin B12 Levels: Your doctor will ensure you do not have one of these deficiencies, which will mean that your anaemia is megaloblastic.
- Peripheral Blood Smear: The shape and size of the red blood cells will be examined. In many cases where a haemoglobinopathy such as sickle cell anaemia is suspected, the red blood cells are abnormally shaped.
- Haemoglobin Electrophoresis: This is another blood test, used when a haemoglobinopathy is suspected, as opposed to megaloblastic or iron deficiency anaemia.
Once you have had all necessary blood tests, the results of these will be used to establish an appropriate treatment for the cause of the anaemia.
How Is Severe Anaemia Treated During Pregnancy?
Intravenous Iron Therapy: In extreme cases where a patient's iron levels are critically low or oral supplements have proved inadequate for whatever reason, the blood transfusion may not be the next step. Intravenous administration of iron to patients provides this directly to the blood, bypassing entirely any digestive system difficulties and absorption issues.
Blood Transfusion: If it is not possible to administer blood and iron intravenously due to the mother or baby being at immediate risk, then a blood transfusion may be the course of action. These can sometimes seem scary or unnecessary, but they are entirely necessary for survival when your haemoglobin levels reach critical levels.
Your doctor will always make these decisions very carefully based on the exact condition of the mother and baby.
Treatment of the Underlying Cause
Nutritional Support:
Despite the availability of other treatment methods and the potentially life-saving administration of blood transfusions and IV iron, nutrition must continue to play its part. It is worth remembering the following:
- Fortified cereals
- Vitamin C-rich foods
- Avoid tea and coffee around mealtimes
- Other iron-rich foods include dried fruits such as dates and figs, spinach and all dark green leafy vegetables.
When Should You See a Doctor?
If you feel that your anaemia may be more severe than mild, do not delay in seeing the physician. You should reach for a medical consultation as early as you can if:
- Symptoms have begun to worsen even after prescribed supplementation.
- Feeling of breathlessness, dizziness or excessive weakness which is preventing from normal daily activity.
- Baby’s movements are changing or decreasing.
- Having a known blood disorder, and you are expecting a baby or planning to get pregnant.
- You have faced previous complications regarding pregnancy caused by severe anaemia.
The outcome of early diagnosis makes a drastic difference to your experience, health, and the baby’s health, and so waiting and hoping is not a feasible solution in such circumstances.
Severe anaemia can be dangerous during pregnancy, but it is treatable with adequate intervention. A safe delivery and a healthy baby are highly possible even with very low haemoglobin levels, provided proper care is taken. You are worthy of it and always know that it is always right to ask for it.
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FAQs on Severe Anaemia During Pregnancy: Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
- Can severe anaemia be cured naturally during pregnancy?
There is a very low possibility of a self-cure when an expectant is suffering from severe anaemia, as iron demands are too high to cope with the changes in the diet. It should be treated medically. - Is Intravenous iron safe during pregnancy?
The therapy is considered safe during the second and third trimesters and is often resorted to when oral medication is ineffective or not tolerable. Intravenous iron is administered under the supervision of a health professional, and most women tolerate it without many side effects. - Will it affect my baby if anaemia is cured during pregnancy?
Most likely, the prompt treatment helps to alleviate the chances of harm to the baby. The earlier the treatment, the greater will be the positive outcomes for both the mother and the baby.