Pregnancy places an astonishing metabolic demand on a woman's body. One of the most dramatic changes is that your total blood volume increases by up to 50% to support the growing baby. This means you need a massive amount of iron to manufacture the extra hemoglobin (the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen).
\n\nIf you don't have enough iron in your diet or reserves, you will develop Iron Deficiency Anemia. This is incredibly common in India, affecting over 50% of pregnant women.
\n\nThe Risks to Mother and Baby
\n\nMild anemia will make you feel exhausted, dizzy, and short of breath. But severe, untreated anemia is dangerous. It increases the risk of:
\n- \n
- Premature birth \n
- Low birth weight for the baby \n
- Postpartum depression \n
- Severe complications during delivery due to blood loss \n
Testing and Treatment
\n\nYour obstetrician will order a Complete Blood Count (CBC) at your first prenatal visit, and again in the second and third trimesters, specifically to monitor your hemoglobin. If your levels drop, you will be prescribed high-dose iron supplements.
\n\nIf oral iron causes severe nausea or constipation, or if the anemia is profound near your due date, doctors often prefer IV Iron Infusions for rapid correction. BookMyPatho provides safe, at-home CBC and Ferritin testing to help you and your doctor keep your iron levels exactly where they need to be.
