(HealthDay News) -- Pregnant women need to produce more red blood cells (to share with the fetus) than when they aren't pregnant. To make this extra blood, pregnant women need to get more iron. Otherwise, they're at risk of iron-deficiency anemia.
The American Academy of Family Physicians mentions these risk factors that increase a pregnant woman's chances of developing anemia:
- Vomiting due to morning sickness.
- Insufficient dietary iron.
- Heavy menstrual bleeding prior to pregnancy.
- Getting pregnant again quickly after a previous pregnancy.
- Having a multiple pregnancy.
- Becoming pregnant during the teen years.
- Loss of blood during a prior surgery or injury.
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