Symptoms & Risk Factors for Anemia In Pregnancy

The first symptoms will be:

• Tiredness
• Paleness (especially of the fingernails, underside of eyelids, lips)
• Breathlessness

Occasional symptoms:

• Palpitations - the awareness of the heartbeat, breathlessness and dizziness can occur, though they are unusual.
• Pica- Cravings for non-food substances like clay, chalk, ask, paper etc. or an abnormal appetite for foods such as cornstarch, tomatoes, lemons, and ice.
• Forgetfulness
• Inflamed, sore tongue
• Jaundice (it is a rare condition)
• If the anemia is severe (less than 6g/dl), it may cause chest pain or headaches

Certain factors put pregnant women at a higher risk of acquiring anemia in pregnancy and include:

• Twin or multiple pregnancy
• Poor nutrition (iron/multivitamin/protein deficiency)
• Smoking (it reduces absorption of essential nutrients)
• Excessive alcohol consumption (it leads to poor nutrition)
• Use of anticonvulsant medications
• Morning sickness severe enough to cause frequent vomiting
• Spacing between two pregnancies is short
• Heavy menstrual flow before pregnancy