B12

Iron & Folate Deficiency Anemia In Pregnancy – Causes, Types, Symptoms and Treatment

A pregnant woman, as well as her growing baby and developing placenta, need extra iron to support a rapidly increasing blood supply. Hemoglobin carries oxygen to body tissues via the red blood cells. Low amount of red blood cells in the body your body does not get oxygen from blood. It is the most general problem faced during pregnancy in women. It can cause severe complexities in the baby if it is not diagnosed and treated properly.
The fetus is dependent on the mother’s blood and anemia may be associated with poor fetal growth, preterm birth, and low birth weight. The volume of blood increases in pregnant women by almost 50% and this may result in a drop in the percentage of red blood cells which leads to anemia.

Symptoms of Anemia

- Tiredness.
- Dull.
- Dizzy.
- Rapid heartbeat.
- Paleness.
- Breathlessness.
- Headache
- Nausea
- Forgetfulness
- Abdominal pain
- Trouble in concentrating.
- Rapid pulse.

Causes of Iron Deficiency and Folate Deficiency

- Alcohol abuse.
- Poor diets.
- Impaired absorption because of intestinal dysfunction.
- Prolonged drug therapy.
- Loss of blood.
- Diet and digestion.

Types of Anemia in pregnant women

- Iron Deficiency Anemia : The baby starts using the iron that is stored in mother’s body for his/her own growth. If the mother has sufficient iron then she can meet the increased demand but if she has less iron that is necessary to produce red blood cells then she will develop anemia. It can also be caused because of poor diet, loss of blood in pregnancy and excessive use of antacids.
- Vitamin B12 Deficiency : Vitamin B12 to synthesize proteins and to form red blood cells. Including animal foods in the diet such as milk, cheese, yogurt meats, eggs, and poultry can prevent vitamin B12 deficiency. Strict vegans may receive supplemental vitamin B12 by injection during pregnancy.
- Folate Deficiency : It is a B-vitamin that works with iron to help with cell growth. Both folate and iron are essential for red cell production and during pregnancy there is an increased need to supply both the mother and the developing infant(s). Folic acid may help reduce the risk of having a baby with certain birth defects of the brain and spinal cord if taken before conception and in early pregnancy.

Risk From Anemia in Pregnant Women

- Twin or multiple pregnancy.
- Results in pre-term delivery, retarded physical growth of the baby and cause low birth weight.
- Tired and fatigued.
- It can cause serious defects in the brain and spinal cord of the baby.

Treatment of Anemia

- Iron deficiency anemia is treated with iron tablets.
- Pregnant women fail to ingest or absorb adequate amount of iron and may need to be treated with intra-muscular iron injections.
- Folic acid deficiency anemia is treated with folate tablets.
- Vitamin C intake should be increased to help in better absorption of iron.
- Good sources of iron include meat, green vegetables, dried fruit, pulses, such as chick peas and lentils, foods that are fortified with iron, such as some breakfast cereals and bread.

NOTE: Iron supplements may cause nausea and cause stools to become dark greenish or black in color. Constipation may also occur with iron supplements.

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Spina bifida (“cleft spine”) – types, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, prevention and treatment

Spina bifida is a birth defect of the spine (backbone). Spine consists of spinal chord which is like a closed tube made up of nerves. Babies with spina bifida have an opening in the tube because it
has not completely closed. It happens during first month of pregnancy.
A spinal cord that’s damaged may not be able to do the important job of getting messages to and from the brain. These messages may not be able to get through if a person has spina bifida.

Different types of Spina Bifida
Every unborn baby’s spine is open when it first forms, but it normally closes by the 29th day following conception. In Spina Bifidas, the backbone never closes completely. There are four types of spina bifida:
- Occulta: In this, one or more vertebrae are malformed. The opening in the spine, is covered by a layer of skin.
- Closed neural tube defects: These are spinal defects in which the spinal cord is marked by a malformation of fat, bone, or membranes. It can cause incomplete paralysis with urinary and bowel dysfunction.
- Meningocele: The meninges protrude from the spinal opening, and the malformation may or may not be covered by a layer of skin.
- Myelomeningocele: The most severe condition and occurs when the spinal cord is exposed through the opening in the spine, resulting in partial or complete paralysis of the parts of the body below the spinal opening.

Causes of Spina bifida

- Folic acid deficiency.
- Genetics also seems to play a role.
- Spina bifida also can occur as part of a syndrome with other birth defects.

Symptoms of Spina Bifida

- Protrusion on the mid to lower back of the new born.
- Weakness of the hip, leg or feet of a newborn.
- Tuft of hair at the sacral area (back part of the pelvis) or dimpling of the sacrum.

Complications of Spina Bifida

Complications of spina bifida can range from minor physical problems to severe physical and mental disabilities. Severity is determined by the size and location of the malformation, whether or not skin covers it, whether or not spinal nerves protrude from it, and which spinal nerves are involved.
- Loss of sensation and paralysis, another neurological complication.
- A rare condition Chiari II malformation in which the brainstem and the cerebellum, or rear portion of the brain, protrude downward into the spinal canal or neck area. This condition can lead to compression of the spinal cord and cause a variety of symptoms including difficulties with feeding, swallowing, and breathing; choking; and arm stiffness.

Diagnosis of Spina Bifida

- A screening blood test, called an alphafetoprotein test (AFP), is done using the pregnant mother’s blood when she is about 15-17 weeks into the pregnancy.
- If the results are abnormal, a detailed (Level II) ultrasound is done which can show the presence of spina bifida.
- An amniocentesis (sampling of the amniotic fluid in the womb) may be done to recheck the AFP level or do other tests.

Prevention of Spina Bifida

- Folic acid can help prevent spina bifida before your baby is born.
- Women should realize that it is important that they consume the vitamin every day, whether they are planning a pregnancy or not.

Treatment of Spina Bifida

There is no cure for SB because the nerve tissue cannot be replaced or repaired.
- Treatment for the variety of effects of SB may include surgery, medication, and physiotherapy.
- The opening in the spine can be closed surgically either before or after birth, and this will reduce its effects on the body.

TYPES OF VITAMINS -

Vitamins fall into two categories :-

1. fat soluble
   
2. water soluble

The fat soluble vitamins — A, D, E, and K — dissolve in fat and can be stored in your body.

The water soluble vitamins — C and the B-complex vitamins (such as vitamins B6, B12, niacin, riboflavin, and folate) need to dissolve in water before your body can absorb them.

Because of this, your body can’t store these vitamins. Any vitamin C or B that your body doesn’t use as it passes through your system is lost (mostly when you pee). So you need a fresh supply of these vitamins every day.