Maintaining a hemoglobin level is crucial during pregnancy, as low levels can result in anemia and lead to tiredness and other complications for both mother and the baby.
So, when you’re expecting a baby, it is important to monitor your hemoglobin levels. This helps to make your pregnancy journey safe and healthy.
If your hemoglobin levels are low, there is nothing to worry about because you can naturally increase hemoglobin levels.
Just make sure to eat the recommended foods. Without further delay, let us know about such foods and add them to your diet.
Causes of Low Hemoglobin Levels During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, your body works for both you and your baby. So, your body needs more blood to supply oxygen to your baby.
The body makes the RBC proteins using iron. If you don’t have enough iron, it could result in anemia or low hemoglobin levels during pregnancy.
Some medical conditions could be the reason for a reduced amount of iron in your body. The serious diseases include chronic kidney diseases, vitamin deficiency anemia, thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, chemotherapy, enlarged spleen, and bleeding in the digestive tract.
Make sure you check the iron levels during pregnancy at regular intervals. It helps to identify low hemoglobin levels very early and treat them with either foods or iron supplements.
Natural Ways to Increase Hemoglobin Levels
Women with low hemoglobin may require hospital treatment to improve their blood count. However, trying some natural ways effectively helps pregnant ladies to increase their hemoglobin levels and promote their overall well-being.
So, they can consume foods rich in vitamin C, folate, iron, vitamin B12, and other nutrients to enhance hemoglobin levels during gestation.
Iron-Rich Foods to Include in Your Diet
Iron is the key component of hemoglobin that helps to produce more red blood cells so that more oxygen will be transported throughout the body. So, include these iron-rich foods in your daily diet to help make more red blood corpuscles.
List of iron-rich foods
- Jaggery
- Chicken liver
- Eggs
- Beans
- Moringa leaves
- Leafy vegetables, such as broccoli and spinach
- Strawberries, watermelons, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and whole wheat bread.
- Cashews, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, raisins, figs, dried apricots, and beetroot juice.
Importance of Vitamin C for Iron Absorption
Vitamin C plays a pivotal role in the growth and repair of tissues and hemoglobin formation in your body. It is essential for collagen protein, which provides structure and support to your muscles, connective tissues, skin, and bones.
It increases the iron absorption in your body and improves overall well-being. So, add these foods rich in vitamin C and enhance the hemoglobin count.
Foods Rich in Vitamin C
Different varieties of citrus fruits, such as lemon, orange, grapefruit, etc. Bell peppers, dark green leafy vegetables, melons, and strawberries
Role of Folic Acid in Your Diet
Folic acid is a form of B vitamin that helps your body to make new cells. Women planning to conceive should get 400mcg of folic acid per day. Therefore, including it daily prevents neural tube defects, a severe congenital disability of the spine and brine.
Benefits of Folate-Rich Foods
Some of the notable benefits of eating folate-rich foods during the gestation period.
- It helps to make new healthy cells, RNA, and DNA (genetic material).
- Research says folate content can reduce the risks of different types of cancers.
- Folate-rich foods can also prevent post-partum depression. So you can consume asparagus, spinach, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, whole grains, beans, peanuts, and sunflower seeds.
Essential Nutrients Supporting Hemoglobin Production
Do you know about the other nutrients supporting hemoglobin production? You can explore these vitamins and nutrients in detail in the following sections.
Vitamin B12 and Its Role in Hemoglobin Formation
This is a mandatory element that your body needs. B12 aids in brain function, the formation of red blood cells, the production of DNA, anemia prevention, a healthy nervous system, and boosting cognitive function and energy levels.
Well, how is vitamin B12 important in hemoglobin formation? Vitamin B12 combines with folate (vitamin B9) to make red blood cells and help iron work better in your body.
Top Foods with Vitamin B12
Some common food items rich in vitamin B12 are listed here. If you’re in the gestation period, you must check and discuss with your doctor whether you can intake them.
- Meat
- Salmon
- Cow’s milk and dairy products
- Eggs
- Strawberries, bananas, and plain yogurt
- Spinach and kidney beans
Additional Nutrients (Copper and Zinc)
Adequate amounts of copper and zinc potentially contribute to improved hemoglobin levels. Consuming Zinc supplements can improve HGB levels in chronic anemia patients.
Copper is one of the needed components to make red blood cells and for the energy production cycle of cells. So, add oysters, beef, nuts, seeds, and organ meats (liver and kidneys) to your diet and increase zinc and copper levels in your body.
Before changing your diet, discuss it with your healthcare provider to get personalized advice and avoid harmful reactions during pregnancy.
Importance of Monitoring Hemoglobin Levels
Monitoring hemoglobin levels is quite important during pregnancy. So, visit the hospital at the right time. Okay, how is this an apt time to check hemoglobin levels? Here you go.
When and How to Check Hemoglobin Levels
Generally, you need to check hemoglobin during the initial stages of pregnancy. Following this, doctors suggest a particular duration for checking the hemoglobin levels. So, don’t miss any of the follow-up appointments.
Apart from this, you can visit the hospital to check hemoglobin levels if you experience symptoms of anemia.
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Pale skin and gums
- Shortness of breath
- Irregular or fast heartbeat
- Dizziness
- Cold feet and hands
How to check hemoglobin levels
You can only check the hemoglobin levels at the laboratory or hospitals. Doctors usually do a complete blood count CBC test to measure every element in the blood.
It includes Red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets. Doctors will take a blood sample from your vein through a small needle to check the hemoglobin count.
Conclusion
Increasing hemoglobin during pregnancy is achievable with these nutritious-rich foods. So, fill your plates with vitamin C, folate, iron, and other edibles that boost hemoglobin levels and enhance your baby’s health. And, consult your fertility expert to get a diet plan according to your reproductive health.
FAQs
Yes, low hemoglobin levels or anemia can affect pregnancy outcomes. Particularly, if you’re anemic during the first two trimesters, then it increases the health risks for both mother and baby.
It can cause pre-term delivery or a low-birth-weight baby and increase blood loss during labor.
A Full Blood Count (FBC) will be performed at the early stages of pregnancy. Then, it is repeated between 24 to 28 weeks of gestation period.
This is to check whether a woman is anemic or healthy. If a pregnant lady has anemia, she must increase iron-rich foods and start taking iron tablets to improve pregnancy outcomes.
Consider taking the above-listed iron-rich foods and prevent iron deficiency and anemia during pregnancy. It’s because the National Institutes of Health states that the daily iron intake for pregnant women is 27 mg.
