How to increase hemoglobin in pregnancy?

One of the main microelements necessary for human life is iron. This microelement is present in proteins (hemoglobin, myoglobin) and various enzymes. Hemoglobin is a complex protein that is part of red blood cells, with its help the transportation of carbon dioxide and oxygen to all organs from the lungs occurs.

As is known, pregnant women necessarily undergo the procedure of passing a huge number of tests, and a clinical blood test is no exception. One of the main indicators that the doctor pays attention to during the examination and consultation of the expectant mother is the level of hemoglobin in the blood. And the problem of increasing this indicator in the expectant mother is very relevant, because during this important period the beautiful half of humanity experiences an increased need for iron.

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Indications

As for any healthy person, the hemoglobin norm for which is 120 - 140 g / l, for pregnant women this indicator should be at a similar level. But during the gestation period, a deficiency of this indicator (iron deficiency anemia) very often occurs due to the fact that the body consumes significantly more iron. The problem of anemia is more often found in pregnant women living in large cities, where poor ecology, a lack of natural foods rich in vitamins and microelements have an effect. If a decrease in hemoglobin occurs before the 16th week of pregnancy, it is worth paying serious attention to anemia, because its appearance in the mother entails a lack of oxygen in the child.

Low hemoglobin in women preparing to become a mother can be caused by physiological characteristics and external factors to which the woman is exposed. Here are some of them:

• Low blood pressure;
• Various diseases of internal organs;
• Stressful situations;
• Bleeding;
• Improper nutrition;
• Lack of vitamin B12 in the body;
• Lack of appetite;
• Digestion is impaired;
• Frequent colds;
• Tachycardia occurs;
• Constant feeling of tiredness and drowsiness.

At first glance, it seems that it is very easy to increase hemoglobin during pregnancy - correct your diet by including foods rich in iron. But this is not always enough and you have to take drastic measures, i.e. take iron-containing drugs, and in some cases administer parenterally or intramuscularly.

Depending on how much the hemoglobin level is reduced (the degree of anemia), it can be increased in pregnant women in various ways:

• Drug therapy (drugs containing iron together with folic acid and vitamin C)
• Folk methods
• Increased consumption of certain foods

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The treatment protocol

How to increase hemoglobin during pregnancy quickly?

A quick way to raise the hemoglobin level for women expecting a baby is, of course, intravenous and intramuscular administration of iron-containing drugs. Such strict measures are used when the anemia rate is very high. Another way to increase hemoglobin in the blood is to take drugs in tablet form. Iron-containing drugs in tablet form are divided into ionic and non-ionic. They contain components that improve the absorption of the main substance. Naturally, this type of therapy must be prescribed and monitored by a doctor. Let's list some drugs that allow you to quickly get rid of iron deficiency in your body.

1. Venofer is a drug that contains iron hydroxide. It is intended for the treatment of patients suffering from anemia. It is administered intravenously by jet stream. When used correctly, the drug is well tolerated. But it is important to know that it is strictly prohibited for use in the first trimester of the gestation period and can only be prescribed by the attending physician from the second trimester. In this case, the ratio of risk to the fetus and benefit is taken into account. It is prescribed with caution to expectant mothers suffering from bronchial asthma, impaired liver function.
2. Ferrum Lek is a drug produced in the form of an injection solution, chewable tablets, and syrup. It is used in the following cases:
   • Iron deficiency anemia;
   • Latent iron deficiency;
   • Severe anemia due to significant blood loss;
   • Incorrect absorption of iron in the digestive organs;
   • Prevention of iron deficiency in pregnant women;
   • Prevention of iron deficiency during lactation.

It should be noted that it is harmful to take the drug ferum lek for people who have an allergic reaction to the drug, excess of the element "iron" in the body, with non-iron deficiency anemia, as well as if there are problems with the absorption of iron in the body, or kidney infections are present. Also, the first trimester of the gestation period is a contraindication.

Treatment of low hemoglobin during pregnancy with medications

Although the absorption of iron-containing products is individual for each organism, there is still a limitation - the amount of iron absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract is only 2-2.5 milligrams per day. Even if the intake of iron-containing products is very large, iron is still not absorbed in large quantities.

Therefore, in many cases, treatment of low hemoglobin with iron-containing drugs is indicated. In case of correct prescription and combination, when using drugs, iron can be absorbed 15-20 times more.

The list of varieties of iron-containing drugs is quite large, let's focus on some of the most common ones.

1. Fenuls is a drug that maintains the required level of hemoglobin even with high consumption of the iron element, such as in pregnant women. It is available in the form of tablets, drops, capsules. Future mothers can use this drug throughout pregnancy, as well as after the birth of the baby, during breastfeeding.

The composition of the drug includes the following active components: iron sulfate, ascorbic acid (used for better absorption of iron), as well as B vitamins (to normalize metabolism).

It is recommended to take Fenuls after meals to minimize irritation of the gastric mucosa and to avoid stimulating signs of toxicosis.

Side effects may include: general weakness, headaches, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, ulcerative lesion of the esophagus. Contraindications are hypersensitivity to individual components of the drug, exacerbation of gastric ulcer, hemosiderosis, hemochromatosis.

1. Sorbifer Durules is a drug for the treatment and prevention of anemia caused by iron deficiency. The active components of the drug are iron sulfate and ascorbic acid. Treatment of low hemoglobin with this drug can be carried out throughout pregnancy, as well as during the lactation period. As with other iron-containing drugs, there are a number of side effects when using it. These are nausea, diarrhea, irritation of the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, allergic reactions, arterial hypertension, sleep disturbance, headaches. If at least one of these signs occurs, the pregnant woman must immediately consult a doctor.
2. Maltofer and Maltofer Fol are two varieties of the same product, the first of which contains iron polymaltose hydroxide, the second - iron polymaltose and folic acid. Only Maltofer Fol is used for use during pregnancy and lactation. It is produced exclusively in the form of chewable tablets. Representatives of the fair sex who are expecting a child and taking Maltofer Fol are recommended to take the drug not only until the hemoglobin level is normalized. It is advisable to drink it until the very birth. Expectant and nursing mothers respond very positively to the drug, since even its long-term use does not give such side effects as nausea, diarrhea, constipation, irritation of the mucous membranes of the digestive organs.

We draw your attention to the fact that when using the listed and other preparations containing iron, it is necessary to take into account the presence of the microelement "iron" in vitamin complexes. When a pregnant woman uses any vitamin complex in parallel with an iron preparation, it is necessary to choose one of them - otherwise an overdose of one of the components is possible.

How to increase hemoglobin during pregnancy at home?

There are many iron-containing drugs that have not been clinically tested on pregnant women. Therefore, most expectant mothers consider it unacceptable and undesirable to take risks. If the decrease in hemoglobin is insignificant (mild iron deficiency anemia), it is possible to cope with this deficiency at home. To do this, use iron-containing foods, various decoctions, infusions, known since ancient times for their properties to normalize the amount of iron in the blood.

How to increase hemoglobin during pregnancy using folk remedies?

The use of folk remedies consists mainly of nutritional supplements to food: juices, fruit drinks, infusions of medicinal plants, etc. Let us give several such examples.

1. Brew blackberry leaves and take as tea 3-4 times a day.
2. Brew dried rose hips, take 3-4 times a day.
3. Make a healthy mixture of dried fruits (dried apricots, dates, raisins), lemon (or lime), walnuts and honey. Take the listed ingredients in equal proportions, for example 100 grams each, grind with a blender or meat grinder and take 1 tablespoon 20-30 minutes before meals.
4. Make a mors from fresh cranberries, add the same amount of apple juice with a small amount of beet juice. Drink the drink before meals three to four times a day.
5. Eat one teaspoon of honey every morning on an empty stomach.

How to Increase Hemoglobin During Pregnancy with Foods

Is it possible to increase hemoglobin with the help of food? This is the main question that almost every expectant mother asks herself after learning about iron deficiency. Let's look at these miracle products, which, if consumed regularly, can help you forget about anemia throughout your pregnancy. Pistachios hold the record for iron content (100 grams contain 60 mg of iron). Modern scientists have come to this unexpected conclusion. The next positions are dried mushrooms (30-35 mg), sunflower halva (33 mg), pork (18-20 mg), quail eggs (3.7 mg), black caviar (2.5 mg). A large amount of iron is found in beef, seafood, legumes and cereals.

The iron content of vegetables is given below:

• leek (greens) – 2.1 mg;
• radish – 0.8 mg;
• pumpkin – 0.8 mg;
• broccoli (cabbage) – 0.73 mg;
• salad (greens) – 0.55 mg;
• rutabaga – 0.52 mg;
• white cabbage – 0.47 mg;
• cauliflower – 0.42 mg;
• kohlrabi (cabbage) – 0.4 mg;
• radish – 0.34 mg;
• onions – 0.21 mg;
• Jerusalem artichoke – 3.4 mg;
• asparagus – 2.14 mg;
• garlic – 1.7 mg;
• beetroot – 0.8 mg;
• celery (root vegetable) – 0.7 mg;
• Potatoes – 0.52 mg.

Berries, fruits and juices made from them deserve special mention. By consuming these light products, expectant mothers not only increase their hemoglobin levels, but also saturate their bodies with other microelements and vitamins that are so necessary in their condition. Naturally, seasonal berries and fruits are the most beneficial, but they can also be consumed frozen. The list of fruits containing the greatest amount of iron compounds:

• Pomegranate;
• Plums;
• Strawberry;
• Feijoa;
• Blueberry;
• Strawberry;
• Raspberry;
• Black currant.

Also, expectant mothers who want to bring their hemoglobin levels back to normal need to focus on foods that do not allow the microelement "iron" to be fully absorbed. Here are some of them: coffee, hard cheese, milk. It is best to exclude them from the diet of a pregnant woman, or consume them separately from iron-containing foods.

In order for the hemoglobin level not to decrease, in addition to a special diet, the fair sex should also pay attention to walks in the fresh air and proper breathing. And in 10-15 days, expectant mothers will be able to evaluate the results of the work done.

We are confident that in this article you have received comprehensive answers to questions about increasing hemoglobin during pregnancy.