Anemia after childbirth, called postpartum anemia, happens when your blood can’t carry enough oxygen because of low hemoglobin. Often caused by blood loss at delivery, there are treatment options.
Anemia after childbirth, called postpartum anemia, happens when your blood can’t carry enough oxygen. It happens when the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen, hemoglobin, decreases after you give birth. It is very common, some research suggests that worldwide, it affects as many as 50% to 80% of people after they give birth.
Many things can cause postpartum anemia, such as blood loss during delivery or low iron intake during pregnancy.
Read on to learn more about postpartum anemia.
The main reasons you may have anemia after giving birth are blood loss during or after delivery and low iron levels in your blood.
You get iron from the foods you eat. Iron deficiency during and after pregnancy is common worldwide. According to the
Blood loss during and following delivery can lead to anemia. More serious blood loss will cause more significant anemia.
Other causes of postpartum anemia may include:
- infection
- inflammation
- vitamin B-12 deficiency
- folate deficiency
Anemia can affect many systems within your body, so having anemia after childbirth may cause many different symptoms.
Symptoms of anemia after childbirth include:
- skin that is a lighter color than usual for you
- weakness or low energy
- decreased appetite
- breathlessness
- headaches
- cold hands and feet
- dizziness
- rapid heartbeat
- increased risk of infections
- tiredness
- reduced milk production
- postpartum depression
- reduced immunity in both birthing parent and infant
- impaired cognitive development in infants after birth
Postpartum anemia is diagnosed by blood tests and a physical exam. Your doctor will review your symptoms, and you will have blood tests to measure how much iron and hemoglobin are in your blood.
Blood tests that may help diagnose postpartum anemia include:
- Complete blood count (CBC): measures the number of different types of blood cells in your blood as well as things like hemoglobin
- Serum ferritin and serum soluble transferrin, which measure iron levels, may be most accurate for diagnosing postpartum anemia within a week of delivery.
You may also have repeated blood tests to monitor your iron levels and assess the effectiveness of your treatment. If your anemia isn’t improving, your doctor may change your treatment by adding iron supplements or other treatment options.
There are several treatment options for treating anemia after childbirth. Your doctor or healthcare professional may recommend options, such as:
Iron supplementation
For mild postpartum anemia, you may need to take iron supplements — 80 to 100 milligrams (mg) per day of oral iron tablets for 3 months.
If you have more severe postpartum anemia, you may also need intravenous (IV) iron supplementation. That’s iron given directly into your bloodstream through a vein.
It’s important to speak with your doctor or healthcare professional before taking any iron supplements.
Dietary modifications
According to the
- red meat, such as beef and liver
- tofu
- poultry
- dark green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and watercress
- dried fruits such as prunes and raisins
- iron-fortified cereals and breads
The most common risk factor for developing postpartum anemia is blood loss during delivery. Other conditions that may put you at a higher risk of anemia after childbirth include:
- placenta previa
- preexisting anemia
- anemia diagnosed during pregnancy
- having multiple pregnancies
- bleeding late in pregnancy
There are several things you can do to help prevent anemia during and after pregnancy. One is to take prenatal vitamins. Since they contain iron, prenatal vitamins may help prevent anemia after delivery. If you are concerned about anemia, ask your doctor if you need additional iron while you are pregnant.
Eating well during pregnancy can also help. Foods that
- lean red meat
- poultry
- fish
- shellfish
- iron-fortified breakfast cereals
- dark green leafy vegetables
- dried beans and peas
It’s generally easiest for your body to absorb iron from meat and other animal foods. If you are consuming iron from plant sources, taking vitamin C supplements, eating citrus fruit, or drinking citrus juice may help your body absorb more iron from these sources.
Since there is effective treatment for anemia following childbirth, the outlook for most people who experience postpartum anemia is good.
If your postpartum anemia is a result of blood loss during or following delivery, you may have additional conditions and may need further treatment.
If you have anemia that developed during pregnancy and continued following delivery, your anemia may resolve as your blood volume returns to your typical levels in the weeks following delivery.
If your anemia persists, it can lead to health complications, chronic fatigue, and for some people, depression.
Anemia after childbirth is a very common and affects many people who have just had a baby. It may be caused by blood loss during or just after delivery, or by anemia that is present before or during pregnancy.
Treatment options like taking iron supplements or eating foods that contain more iron may help, but some people may need additional treatment.
Most people recover from postpartum anemia, but for some people, it can lead to additional complications and treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms like fatigue, cold hands or feet, depression, confusion, or other symptoms of anemia, contact your doctor immediately.