Most common in adolescent pregnancies.
Types of Anemia:
- Iron deficiency - characteristically microcytic (small-sized RBC) hypochromic (less hemoglobin than the average RBC) anemia when Iron is unavailable; usually associated with low fetal birth weight and premature delivery.
- Megaloblastic/ Folic acid anemia - RBC is enlarged due to low level of folic acid; responsible for physical defects, early abortion or abruptio placenta.
- Sickle cell anemia - a recessively inherited hemolytic anemia; RBC is irregularly shaped and does not carry much hemoglobin.
May cause fetal death, maternal respiratory infection, asymptomatic bacteriuria resulting to pyelonephritis.
Clinical manifestations:
- fatigue
- shortness of breath
- activity intolerance
- pallor
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Nurse Implication:
- Explain the side effects of iron preparations, emphasize that they are dose related.
- Iron supplements can be taken with meals or reduce dose at tolerable level.
- Taking the iron with meals can decrease absorption.
- Ideally, between meals doses are preferable.
- Foods that reduce iron absorption are: Oregano, cereals, cheese, coffe, milk, tea, whole grain breads, yoghurt.
- Foods that enhance iron absorption are those rich in Vitamin C.
