Have you been told that you're anemic during your pregnancy? You're not alone. Around 42%
of mummas-to-be develop anemia during pregnancy. But, it does need to be treated, and quickly as it
can have some serious consequences for both you and your bubba. In this episode of Nourish I'm
going to share 6 hacks you'll want to know about treating anemia during pregnancy. Stay tuned!
Welcome to Nourish with Melanie.
My name is Melanie McGrice and I'm a pre and postnatal dietitian. I help couples
give their baby's the best start possible with the power of good food. Make sure you connect
with me on my social media... you'll find all the details in the description box below this video.
If you're anemic during pregnancy, it's important that you treat it as quickly as possible.
But, what IS anemia? Anemia is when you don't have enough healthy red blood cells to carry
oxygen around your body. It's measured by a blood test for a protein called haemoglobin.
Being anemic during pregnancy can increase your risk of having a low birth weight baby,
having to deliver your baby early and under-developed, not being able to fight off
infections and not having the energy to care for yourself as well as you'd like to... causing you
to order junk food as you don't have the energy to cook, or turning to sugar for an energy boost.
If you've been told that you're anemic during pregnancy, try these 6 hacks....
Number 1: Ask your doctor if they need to take some additional tests to determine the cause.
There's many different reasons for becoming anemic during pregnancy, however, the most common reason
is that you're not getting enough nutrition to meet you're increased pregnancy requirements.
This is often exacerbated by having two (or more) pregnancies close together,
not optimising your nutritional intake prior to pregnancy or having severe morning sickness
that impacts your dietary intake. However, even if it is caused by a nutritional deficiency,
it's important to know which nutrient or nutrients are causing your anemia,
and it's important to rule out other factors that may also be contributing.
Iron deficiency is the most common cause, but vitamin B12, folate, zinc, copper, vitamin A
or vitamin C deficiencies can also cause you to become anemic during pregnancy.
Number 2: If you haven't done so already, make an appointment to see a prenatal dietitian.
Dietitians are the experts in nutritional deficiencies and your dietitian will be
able to provide you personalised advice on the best strategies to treat your anemia and
prevent it from re-occurring. They'll also review your nutritional supplements to see if there's
anything that you need to add or modify the doses of. For example, you may be taking too many
supplements containing calcium which can reduce your body's ability to absorb iron properly.
Number 3: Cease caffeine. If you are anemic because you are not getting enough iron,
it's essential to cease all caffeine as caffeine will reduce your body's ability to absorb iron.
Number 4: Ensure that you're getting adequate fibre,
fluid and physical activity. One of the most common treatments for anemia in pregnancy is iron
supplements. Unfortunately, iron supplements can cause constipation and nausea during pregnancy.
To help minimise these side effects, ensure that you are consuming at least 28 grams of fibre
and 3.1litres or 100ounces fluid each day, and try to get in at least
30 minutes of physical activity to get the muscles around your bowels working.
Number 5: Swap to wholegrain. Instead of white rice, use brown rice. Instead of white bread,
opt for brown bread. And choose wholemeal pasta instead of white pasta.
Wholemeal versions of grains not only contain more fibre, but they are also richer in nutrition.
Brown pasta, brown bread and wholegrain pasta
are good sources of iron, folate and other micronutrients to help reduce anemia.
Number 6: Eat sesame seeds each day. Sesame seeds are incredibly rich in
nutrients for making new blood cells such as iron, folate and copper. Try sprinkling
a couple of tablespoons over a salad or over your vegetables for some extra crunch.
Feel free to ask any questions in the comments box below,
and if you haven't done so already, download my free pregnancy meal plan
from www.melaniemcgrice.com/pregnancy. Make sure you subscribe and check out some of
my other videos on pregnancy nutrition such as 'are deli meats safe during pregnancy?'.
I'll see you in my next video!