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Why Pregnancy Anemia & What to Do

anemia healthy pregnancy pregnancy
Why Pregnancy Anemia & What to Do

TIPS FOR PREGNANCY ANEMIA 🩸🪫

If you’re trying to conceive and want to avoid pregnancy anemia (again), you might be wondering why it occurs in the first place. So why does it happen?

*A few reasons both natural & unnatural:

〰 Hemodilution: Our body’s blood volume naturally increases 50%. There’s only so many red blood cells to go around.

〰 Estrogen: Our naturally high Estrogen levels, which peak in the 3rd trimester when pregnancy anemia is usually most prevalent, also dilutes the blood.

〰 Nutrient Transfer: In the 3rd trimester, we start transferring nutrients and fat to baby, outpacing our ability to replace them.

〰 Poor Digestion: If our digestion is suffering, we’re not going to be able to assimilate all the nutrients we need for blood-building.

〰 Missing Co-Factors & Nutrients: Nutrients like Vitamin A, Copper, Folate, B12, Zinc are key for the proper utilization of Iron in the body and to make new red blood cells.

〰 Deficiencies Going Into Pregnancy: Honestly, most women today are going into pregnancy with deficiencies that become more obvious during pregnancy.

*Foods & Supplement to Incorporate:

〰 Pregnancy-safe digestive bitters

〰 Liver & other organ meats (desiccated supplements are okay too, I like Perfect Supplements - code INNATE for a discount)

〰 Cod liver & cod liver oil (I like Rositas, code INNATE10 for a discount)

〰 Red meat (beef, lamb, bison)

〰 Shellfish (oysters, mussels, clams, shrimp, lobster - cooked)

〰 Citrus fruits, tropical fruits, berries

❔What’s your pregnancy anemia story? Feel free to share below!

Learn more about navigating pregnancy anemia by tuning into Episode 5 of The Innate Wisdom Podcast with Morley Robbins of the @therootcauseprotocol. And learn more about how to build up nutrient stores for pregnancy in my eCourse, Conscious Conception, relaunching spring/summer 2023. Get on the waitlist here so you don't miss any updates!

___

Not medical advice.

References:

American Pregnancy Association. Anemia During Pregnancy. Retrieved from: https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/pregnancy-concerns/anemia-during-pregnancy/.

Burton, G.J. (2011). Oxidative Stress. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3101336/.

Cao, C. Fleming, M.D. (2016). The placenta: the forgotten essential organ of iron transport. Retrieved from: http://europepmc.org/article/PMC/5059819#nuw009-B78.

Cartner, A.M. (2012). EVOLUTION OF PLACENTAL FUNCTION IN MAMMALS: THE MOLECULAR BASIS OF GAS AND NUTRIENT TRANSFER, HORMONE SECRETION, AND IMMUNE RESPONSES. Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anthony_Carter2/publication/232278000_Evolution_of_Placental_Function_in_Mammals_The_Molecular_Basis_of_Gas_and_Nutrient_Transfer_Hormone_Secretion_and_Immune_Responses/links/0046352780784b5ed8000000/Evolution-of-Placental-Function-in-Mammals-The-Molecular-Basis-of-Gas-and-Nutrient-Transfer-Hormone-Secretion-and-Immune-Responses.pdf?origin=figuresDialog.

Cartwright, G.E. Krammer, A. Wintrobe, M.M. (1954). The Anemia of Infection : XIX. Studies on Free Erythrocyte Coproporphyrin and Protoporphyrin. Retrieved from: https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/9/2/183/45598/The-Anemia-of-Infection-XIX-Studies-on-Free.

Chen, H. Attieh, Z.K. Syed, B.A. Kuo, Y.M. Stevens, V. Fuqua, B.K. Andersen, H.S. Naylor, C.E. Evans, R.W. Gambling, L. Danzeisen, R. Bacouri-Haidar, M. Usta, J. Vulpe, C.D. McArdle, H.J. (2010). Identification of Zyklopen, a New Member of the Vertebrate Multicopper Ferroxidase Family, and Characterization in Rodents and Human Cells. Retrieved from: https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/140/10/1728/4689064.

Frass, K.A. (2015). Postpartum hemorrhage is related to the hemoglobin levels at labor: Observational study. Retrieved from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090506814001158.

McArdle, H.J. (2008). Copper and Iron Transport Across the Placenta: Regulation and Interactions. Retrieved from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1365-2826.2008.01658.x.

McArdle, H.J. (2011). Role of the placenta in regulation of fetal iron status. Retrieved from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2011.00428.x.

Nichols, L. (2018). Real Food for Pregnancy. United States.

Peat, R. (2006). Iron’s Dangers. Retrieved from: https://raypeat.com/articles/articles/iron-dangers.shtml.

Santos, M.T. Eiroa, A.M. Aznar, J. (1991). Enhancement of platelet reactivity and modulation of eicosanoid production by intact erythrocytes. A new approach to platelet activation and recruitment. Retrieved from: https://www.jci.org/articles/view/115032/pdf.

Schuschke, D.A. (1997). Dietary Copper in the Physiology of the Microcirculation. Retrieved from: https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/127/12/2274/4728677.

Shanahan, C. (2017). Deep Nutrition: Why Your Genes Need Traditional Food. Flatiron Books Publishing.

Steer, P. Alam, M.A. Wadsworth, J. Welch, A. (1995). Relation between maternal haemoglobin concentration and birth weight in different ethnic groups. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2548871/.

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Remember: this post is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here. While the owner of this website tries to keep the information up to date, there may be things that are out-of-date and out of their control.