Most women know that because of their menstrual cycle, it’s a good idea to take iron supplements to replenish the minerals lost during that time of month. Otherwise, their deficiency could lead to anemia as well as other symptoms. What women should also realize though is that iron deficiency is a big factor in causing postpartum anemia as well.
When you give birth, you are immediately thrown into a chaotic new schedule, added responsibility, and the constant task of taking care of a very fragile new human being. Of course, as the child’s mother, you no doubt find great joy in this responsibility, but that doesn’t make it any less exhausting. If your iron levels after giving birth aren’t where they should be, that exhaustion can be a lot worse. Iron deficiency can cause people to feel exhausted, to have low endurance for physical activities, to struggle with short-term memory, to find themselves unable to focus, and to feel depressed and irritable. When a mother gives birth, it puts a lot of stress on her body, which can cause imbalances and a decrease in iron levels in particular. This is why it’s so important for women to maintain a very different diet when they are pregnant, about to give birth, and breastfeeding. A study in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing states very clearly that, “the increased iron requirements of pregnancy cannot be met by the typical US diet or the iron stores of most women. Therefore, if women are left unsupplemented during pregnancy, they bear a considerable risk of developing iron deficiency,” which in turn increases their risk of postpartum anemia. Other factors that can increase that risk include short intervals between pregnancies, because they don’t allow a woman’s body time enough to recover, and cesarean deliveries, which usually include more blood loss.
If you’ve ever been through a pregnancy, you know just how much it takes out of you. This can make it difficult to determine whether you are just “new mom tired” or medically ill tired. This is why it is imperative that you keep your physician as up to date as possible when it comes to exactly how you are feeling, whether physically, mentally, or emotionally. This way, you can work together to make sure your vitamins and minerals stay balanced, along with your overall well-being.
– Yvonne S. Thornton, M. D., M. P. H.