Are you in the anemia category during your pregnancy? Did you know that nutritional anemia is very common? I always had borderline anemia during my pregnancies and tried to handle it as naturally as possible.
Anemia happens in pregnancy due to the increased blood volume. It has a huge effect on the mother causing a lot of fatigue. This could take a toll on other areas in the pregnant woman life causing her to not really enjoy her pregnancy. Revamping the mother’s diet can cause a huge shift in anemia levels. There are some things that you can look at in terms of a diet change, that can improve your anemia. It’s important to do your own research but also equally important to speak with your midwife/doctor about the diet changes right for you.
Some Foods To Consider
When looking at the change in diet a good starting point is, what are you eating now? Are you getting:
• enough fresh fruits
• enough vegetables
• protein
• seeds and nuts
• whole grains
If you are just starting out on this anemia journey, a simple way to tell what types of food you are getting is to make a journal. Do this for a week and then discuss it with your doctor/midwife to see where you can make changes. Most midwives will try to stay away from iron supplements that are available since they can be toxic in large quantities, but that depends on your own anemia levels. So make sure you check out the options you have available to you.
Some Iron Rich Foods
“Just eat some streak,” is what my doctor told me when I had low HCT/HGB levels. But there are also other foods that are rich in iron that you might like.
• dark green leafy vegetables
• sunflower seeds
• pumpkin seeds
• beans
• raisins
• prune juice
• beef liver
• sesame seeds
• molasses
To make sure you are getting iron in, the simplest way is to blend up your favorite greens in a smoothie.
See how you are feeling after about a week within the change in your diet. Are you feeling less tired? Experiment with foods that you enjoy to make it fun.
I hope some of these foods can help you during your motherly journey. For my own pregnancies, I found that paying attention to my foods changed my levels alone. That might not be the case for you though, especially if you are dealing with a different type of anemia. Ask your healthcare provider about which type you are dealing with to help you gain more knowledge.
Stay healthy, stay happy, be rested.
Much love,
Krystina RN,BSN, CBE
Coach Mentor Trainer
