Pregnancy Discomforts

Anaemia
 

Can be caused by a shortage of iron due to a loss of blood, or merely from a poor diet. There is also the inherited blood disorder, "Sickle cell anaemia", which is found among some people of Middle Eastern and African descent.

Women of childbearing age tend to have lower stores of iron, as a result of their menstrual blood losses, thus making Iron-deficiency anaemia the most commonest form. Pregnant women are particularly at risk because, although they no longer have monthly menstrual losses, they do have a growing baby which will exert an even greater drain on their iron reserves and therefore will tend to become anaemic more quickly if their iron losses exceed their iron intake.

Symptoms of anaemia include:  dizziness, tiredness, headaches, the inability to sleep and a general overall 'run-down' feeling.

Try and restructure your diet to include more iron-rich foods, such as dark green leafy vegetables, raisins, parsley, apricots, liver and kidneys.

Vitamin C significantly improves iron absorption, so try and have a citrus, guava or mango fruit just before or after your meal.
Ask your doctor to prescribe an iron supplement

 

Iron is an outstanding energy nutrient. Unfortunately iron is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world. 95% of all women between the ages of 20 and 45 are iron deficient. 90% of all children under 2 are also iron deficient.

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