Anemia complicating pregnancy
Anemia during pregnancy is when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to your body and your growing baby.
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When you are pregnant, your body produces much more blood than usual to help your baby grow, which requires a lot of extra iron and vitamins. Anemia happens when your blood does not have enough hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen, to meet these increased needs.
This condition primarily affects your circulatory system, which is the network of blood vessels throughout your body. Because your heart has to work harder to pump this thinner blood to both you and your baby, it is a very common and manageable part of prenatal care.
Common Symptoms
- Feeling unusually tired or exhausted
- Looking pale, especially on your lips, inner eyelids, or fingernail beds
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- Having a fast or irregular heartbeat
- Feeling short of breath during simple activities
- Having cold hands and feet