Anemia in pregnancy: symptoms and treatment
A very common problem is the development of anemia during pregnancy . In this situation, it's important to start treatment with supplements, as left untreated it can lead to complications. Dr. Isabel Rodríguez Piñero , a gynecologist at the Women's Unit , explains this in her latest Instagram video , the key points of which we've summarized here.
Symptoms of anemia during pregnancy
There are cases where anemia during pregnancy is asymptomatic. However, it can also cause symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, headache, etc.
The diagnosis will be made through a complete analysis, and also requires a study to rule out secondary causes and determine the type of deficit.
Thus, 50% of cases of anemia in pregnancy are due to iron deficiency (called iron deficiency anemia), but it can also be due to a deficiency in folic acid, vitamin B12 or hemoglobinopathies (what we call thalassemias).
Treatment for anemia during pregnancy
The recommendation for any pregnant woman is to supplement with 30-40 mg of iron per day , which is already included in almost all vitamin supplements taken during pregnancy.
However, if anemia needs to be treated during pregnancy, 60 mg-100 mg of iron is supplemented.
Thus, there are two different types of iron. It is recommended to begin treatment with ferrous salts , which have greater bioavailability but are not always well tolerated by the stomach (Ferbisol, Ferro Sanol, etc.). On the other hand, there are ferric salts, which have lower bioavailability but are better tolerated (Ferplex, Profer, etc.).
It's very important to know that when taking iron supplements, you should separate them from certain foods (cereals, milk, spinach, etc.) and certain medications, such as Eutirox, used to treat hypothyroidism and taken by many pregnant women. It's recommended to separate iron intake by about two hours.
Finally, ferrous salts are taken on an empty stomach and are best absorbed with citrus fruits (juices, fruits, etc.), while ferric salts can be taken 1-2 hours before a meal, but also during or after the main meal.
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If you found this article interesting and would like to be seen by a specialist in Gynecology and Obstetrics, the Women's Unit at Ruber International Hospital has a specialized department in this area. You can request more information by calling 91 387 51 72/73/74 or schedule an in-person appointment with top specialists.