Postpartum Anemia – Being Parents

Becoming a mother is one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences. However, you should know that among the possible postpartum complications, anemia is one of the most common in many women.

Postpartum anemia refers to iron deficiency after childbirth. This problem is caused by the fact that at the end of pregnancy a woman’s body uses a lot of iron for the development and growth of the fetus.

This is why it is necessary to take into account some warning signs of this pathology in order to be able to prevent it. Mention may in particular be made of fatigue, weakness or irritability.

Postpartum anemia

During pregnancy, a woman’s body  produces more blood to help the baby grow. If the blood does not have enough iron, the body may not be able to produce the number of red blood cells needed to supply that extra amount of blood.

In any case, mothers who suffer from anemia while breastfeeding should know that there is no contraindication to taking dietary supplements or consuming foods that contain iron.

Several factors can cause postpartum anemia. It can sometimes be difficult to determine the exact cause. However, the most obvious cause is blood loss after birth.

For other mothers, postpartum anemia can be a chronic disorder that can have other causes. In addition, it should be taken into account that postpartum anemia is a disorder that can affect women who  did not suffer from this problem during pregnancy.

Causes of postpartum anemia

In most cases, women suffer from anemia after childbirth because of a combination of the following conditions.

Low iron diet

Anemia after childbirth can be difficult to manage. This is because although mothers get enough iron from their diet,  postpartum hemorrhage can last for weeks. 

Decreased iron absorption

Some women have difficulty absorbing iron due to certain bowel diseases, such as gluten intolerance, inflammatory bowel disease, or Crohn’s disease.

These complications,  combined with the difficulty in maintaining adequate nutrition  right after the baby is born, can cause anemia after childbirth.

Symptoms of postpartum anemia

Be sure to see your doctor if you feel exhausted or if any of these symptoms of anemia become unmanageable for you. Here are the symptoms that can reveal an iron deficiency:

• Sadness or depression.
• Dizziness or lightheadedness.
• Lack of motivation.
• High heart rate.
• Headache.
• Irritability or mood swings.
• Decreased libido.
• Pale skin.

Side effects of postpartum anemia

Anemia after childbirth can cause health problems such as:

• The increased risk of postnatal depression.
• Increased vulnerability to common infections of the urinary tract.
• Excessive fatigue.
• Syndrome of insufficient milk production during breastfeeding.
• Decrease in the quality of breast milk.

Treatment of postpartum anemia

Here are the steps to take to treat anemia after childbirth:

• Make sure to maintain a diet rich in iron. Also, add sources of vitamin C. This stimulates the absorption of iron in the body.
• Also avoid consuming  foods rich in calcium. Indeed, these inhibit the absorption of iron.
• See your doctor and take  iron supplements.
• Your doctor may prescribe intravenous iron for you.
• In the worst case, the doctor may advise you to have a blood transfusion. The treatment will be done on a case-by-case basis, depending on the iron level and the state of health.

Finally, remember that postpartum anemia can be treated with a healthy, balanced diet that is rich in iron and vitamin C. You should know that maintaining the correct iron levels during pregnancy helps prevent it. anemia after childbirth, whether natural or by cesarean section.