Diagnostic criteria for anemia during pregnancy

After a woman becomes pregnant, she must develop good habits in terms of diet and exercise. It is best to customize a nutritious diet or exercise plan for herself so that the pregnant woman can maintain a healthy body, which is also very beneficial to the healthy development of the fetus. However, some women’s diet after pregnancy is not as good as before, and the nutrients they absorb are not comprehensive, which leads to anemia. What are the diagnostic criteria for anemia during pregnancy?

1. Diagnostic criteria for anemia during pregnancy

Serum ferritin and hemoglobin examination in pregnant women are the most sensitive indicators. When serum ferritin is lower than 12 micrograms/liter or hemoglobin is lower than 110 grams/liter, pregnant women can be diagnosed with anemia. On the finger blood test report we do in the hospital, we can see a column for hemoglobin content. If it is lower than the standard value, it is anemia, and below 100 is severe anemia.

According to the standards of the World Health Organization, pregnant women with hemoglobin <11 g/dL are considered anemic, and non-pregnant women with hemoglobin <12 g/dL are considered anemic.

2. The hazards of anemia during pregnancy

In the second half of pregnancy, the amount of blood in the mother's body increases rapidly, and there is not enough time to produce red blood cells, so the blood becomes watery and anemia symptoms are likely to occur. If a pregnant woman does not get more iron from food than usual, she may develop iron deficiency anemia. The number of red blood cells in the blood or the amount of hemoglobin in the red blood cells can be used to determine whether there are signs of "anemia". According to statistics, about 25% of pregnant women will experience varying degrees of anemia during pregnancy, and the most common is iron deficiency anemia.

When pregnant women suffer from anemia, they are prone to feeling tired due to insufficient oxygen supply, and may experience symptoms such as dizziness, weakness in the limbs, shortness of breath after activity, and rapid heartbeat. These symptoms are not conducive to the growth and development of the fetus. On the other hand, since the oxygen needed by the fetus comes from the pregnant woman, anemia in the pregnant woman can lead to fetal hypoxia. In severe cases, stillbirth, premature birth and low birth weight of the newborn may occur.

In addition, anemia in pregnant women will increase the chance of complications of infection, directly affect the contraction of the uterus during delivery, and may cause dystocia. Pregnant women with particularly severe anemia may also suffer from heavy bleeding during delivery, posing a life-threatening risk.