ABSTRACT
Anaemia is the most common medical disorder of pregnancy. Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anaemia in pregnancy. Anaemia is a pathological condition in which the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells is insufficient to meet the body’s needs. World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the Hb concentration should not fall below 11 g/dL at any time during pregnancy. Recombinant human erythropoietin analogues are mainly used for the anaemia associated with erythropoietin deficiency in chronic renal failure, but can also be used to increase the autologous production of blood in normal individuals. Prevention of iron deficiency is usually possible with a good balanced diet in the absence of ongoing blood loss. Serum cobalamin levels drop significantly during pregnancy despite normal tissue levels and so a standard vitamin B12 laboratory assay is of low diagnostic utility. Virtually all diets that contain animal products will supply enough vitamin B12 during pregnancy, although strict vegans may become deficient without supplements.
