Anemia After Pregnancy: Causes, Symptoms, and Tips for Recovery

Postpartum Health and Recovery: Taking Care of Yourself After Birth

Welcome to the exciting journey of motherhood. Pregnancy and childbirth can be transformative experiences for most women. However, they often bring challenges, and postpartum anemia is one of them.

Now, if you ask, what is postpartum period and how is anemia related to it, just stick to our blog till the end.

So, What Is Postpartum Anemia?

It’s a condition of iron deficiency during the postpartum period. If a new mom has insufficient red blood cells or hemoglobin after childbirth, she is diagnosed with this condition. Severe anemia after pregnancy can be risky. So, proper diagnosis and treatment are necessary for new mothers like you.

Signs and Symptoms of Postpartum Anemia

Postpartum iron deficiency or anemia can manifest with different signs and symptoms, like:

• Fatigue or tiredness
• Pale skin and nails
• Shortness of breath
• Frequent headaches
• Irregular heartbeat
• Inadequate breast milk supply
• Depression
• Dizziness
• Irritability
• Mood swings

Remember, not all women may not experience these symptoms altogether due to low hemoglobin postpartum. If you have any of these symptoms, see a gynaecologist at Newmi Care. With proper postpartum care plans, it is possible to manage these symptoms and avoid complications. Online psychological counselling is also there to improve your mental health.

What Causes Anemia after Childbirth?

Several factors contribute to iron deficiency postpartum development and they include:

Blood Loss During and After Childbirth:

Mothers, who had excessive bleeding during delivery or post-pregnancy period, may have low iron postpartum symptoms.

Poor Diet:

The lack of essential vitamins and minerals, like vitamin B12, folate, vitamin C, etc., can cause this health problem. If you have excessive blood loss after delivery, it’s a must for you to eat foods containing enough amounts of iron. A well-balanced postpartum diet helps you not only manage anemia symptoms but also produce breast milk.

Certain Medical Conditions:

Pre-existing health conditions and intestinal diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, thalassemia, etc., may cause anemia after c-section. Consult gynaecologists and prioritize your health to avoid complications during and after childbirth.

What Are the Effects of Severe Anemia During Post-Partum Period?

If not diagnosed and treated on time, this medical condition can increase these risks:

• Poor concentration
• Inability to perform day-to-day tasks due to fatigue and depression 
• Premature childbirth and complicated pregnancy in the future

So it is always advisable to go for preconception counseelling for health assessment to avoid miscarriages, premature childbirths, and like problems.

Tips on How to Manage the Symptoms of Postpartum Anemia

With post-pregnancy diet plans by expert nutritionists and lifestyle changes, new moms can prevent and treat this condition. Here are the key tips to take care of yourself after childbirth:

• Take iron supplements recommended by your doctor
• Add iron-rich foods, like beans, peas, green leafy vegetables, chicken, beef, etc. to your diet chart
• In severe cases, consider replenishing blood cells and hemoglobin as per your gynaecologist’s suggestion
• Consume vitamin C-rich foods 
• Consider high fluid intake to improve blood flow and prevent constipation
• Manage your pre-existing medical condition that causes low hemoglobin postpartum
• Go for regular postpartum check-ups to monitor whether you have normal postpartum hemoglobin levels 

Frequently Asked Questions on Postpartum Anemia

Does Anemia Affect Milk Supply?

Yes, anemia and breastfeeding are related since this condition can lead to inadequate breast milk supply. Be prepared with these breastfeeding tips.

Can Prolonged Breastfeeding Cause Anemia in Mother?

Yes, as per the latest study, women who breastfeed exclusively for 6 months or more can be at risk for iron-deficiency anemia.

What Is Normal Hemoglobin Level After Delivery? 

At one week postpartum, if the hemoglobin level is less than 110 g/L, postpartum anemia happens. Likewise, if the hemoglobin level is less than 120 g/L at the 8th week, women can have this condition. The normal ranges are anything higher than these.

Dealing with anemia post-pregnancy symptoms can be hard for moms. Recognizing the symptoms, proper medical care and dietary adjustments help in treating this condition. So, take care of yourself and enjoy the motherhood moments.