How to Prevent Anemia While Pregnant

How to prevent anemia during pregnancy is important to know. Because anemia is quite common in pregnant women, and at risk of causing various health problems in pregnant women and fetuses. This condition can even be fatal.

Preventing anemia during pregnancy is actually very simple and easy to do. Anemia in pregnancy generally occurs because there is an imbalance between the level of need and intake of nutrients to form red blood cells.

During pregnancy, nutritional requirements for red blood cell production will increase. This is because more red blood cells are needed to carry oxygen throughout the body, including the uterus to support fetal growth.

If these nutritional needs are not balanced with adequate intake, anemia will occur in pregnancy. Anemia in pregnancy can be iron deficiency anemia, vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, and folate, or maybe a combination of both.

How to Prevent Anemia While Pregnant

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common anemia during pregnancy. So, one of the main ways to prevent anemia during pregnancy is to meet the daily iron needs of pregnant women, which is as much as 27 mg every day.

But remember, iron is not the only nutrient needed to form red blood cells. Intake of folic acid (vitamin B9) and vitamin B12 are also needed to prevent anemia during pregnancy.

Now, here are some ways to make sure you get the vitamins and minerals your body needs to produce red blood cells:

1. Consumption of prenatal vitamins

Prenatal vitamins usually contain iron and folic acid which is good for the blood. Taking prenatal vitamins 1 time a day is an easy way to get essential nutrients to support the body producing red blood cells.

Usually, this vitamin will be given every time you control pregnancy at a doctor or midwife. Therefore, make sure not to miss your obstetric examination schedule.

2. Take iron supplements

If your blood test results show low iron levels, your doctor may prescribe additional iron supplements outside of your daily prenatal vitamin.

When taking iron supplements, you are advised to avoid high-calcium foods or drinks, such as dairy products, egg yolks, coffee, and tea, because these foods can reduce iron absorption in the intestine.

In addition to high calcium foods, antacid drugs can also interfere with the absorption of iron by the body. So if you take this medicine, make sure you take iron 2 hours before or 4 hours after.

3. Proper nutrition

The need for iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12 during pregnancy can actually be fulfilled by eating the right foods. The following are some foods that you can consume to prevent anemia during pregnancy:

• Fish
• Poultry, like chicken or duck
• Lean red meat
• Nuts and seeds
• Green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, broccoli, and cabbage
• Fruits, such as bananas and melons

In addition to eating the foods above, you are also advised to consume foods high in vitamin C, such as tomatoes, strawberries, kiwi, or oranges. Vitamin C is needed by the body to absorb iron better.

Preventing anemia during pregnancy can begin early or before pregnancy because some women are at higher risk for anemia, even before pregnancy. For example, women who have had many children before or women who have hookworm infection.

Women with a vegetarian diet are also more likely to experience vitamin B12 deficiency anemia because this vitamin is generally obtained from meat.

Therefore, it is better to check your health condition before planning a pregnancy. If indeed you have anemia, your doctor can provide treatment to overcome it before you get pregnant. That way, the condition of your body will be better prepared for pregnancy.

However, remember, do not take iron supplements without a prescription and the right dosage from your doctor, because taking too many iron supplements can cause a variety of side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea.

If you are pregnant or are following a pregnancy program, make sure your intake of iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12 is properly fulfilled. The simplest and safest way is to do regular pregnancy control to the doctor and take prenatal vitamins as recommended by the doctor.

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