Anemia in Pregnancy Flashcards
A condition in which there is a lack of enough
healthy red blood cells in the body to carry
adequate oxygen to the body’s tissues.
ANEMIA
TYPES OF ANEMIA
● Iron Deficiency Anemia
● Folic Acid Deficiency Anemia
● Sickle Cell Anemia
● Most common anemia of pregnancy
● A microcytic, hypochromic anemia
● ↓ hematocrit: <33%
● ↓ hemoglobin: <11g/dl
● Confirmed by: low serum iron <30 ug/dl & ↑
iron-binding capacity
IRON DEFIENCY ANEMIA
CAUSES
● Increase in demand (growing fetus/infant);
pregnancy (2nd & 3rd trimester)
● Socioeconomic status; vegetarian-poor iron foods
● Low iron stores
MANAGEMENT
Oral iron supplements should not be ingested
w/ milk or milk products, coffee, tea & egg.
○ Include in the diet food rich in Vitamins B9, B6,
B12, ascorbic acid, copper & zinc.
Daily supplement of 30 mg elemental iron is
recommended by many caregivers
Collaborative Management:
● “Megaloblastic Anemia”
● Importance: Prevents pre-eclampsia, enhance RBC
production, repair of DNA / DNA synthesis
FOLIC ACID DEFICIENCY ANEMIA
necessary for the normal
formation of RBCs in the mother as well as being
associated with preventing neural tube & abdominal
wall defects in the fetus.
FOLIC ACID
● Most common cause of megaloblastic anemia
● Occurs most often in women with:
○ Multiple pregnancies
○ Secondary hemolytic illness
○ Hydantoin use
○ Oral contraceptive use
NTDs
Recessively inherited hemolytic anemia caused by
an abnormal amino acid in the beta chain of
hemoglobin.
The majority of RBCs are irregular or sickleshaped.
SICKLE CELL ANEMIA
● Painful episode that occurs in people who have
sickle cell anemia
● Happens when sickle-shaped red blood cells block
the blood vessels
● Blood & oxygen cannot flow to the tissues causing
pain
SICKLE CELL CRISIS
A woman with sickle cell disease may normally have
a hemoglobin level of
6 to 8 mg/ 100 mL;
hemoglobin level can fall 5 or 6 mg/ 100 mL.
Sickle Cell management
Antibiotics, Hydration fluids (Hypotonic / Isotonic),
bed rest, analgesics - pain control.
