Over 9% of pregnant women are faced with Anemia during their 9 month term. Anemia is caused by iron deficiency, which could be for a number of reasons including not having a well balanced diet. A new study published in Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology shows a mother who has iron deficiency puts the baby at risk to have breathing problems.
Previous data showed a baby is three times more likely to have early wheezing problems if the mother is anemic during pregnancy. Fifty percent of children are diagnosed with asthma by the age of 6 when the mother had iron deficiency. In this study 12 percent of the mothers were anemic (most likely due to iron deficiency) which led to 22% of their children having breathing and wheezing problems by the age of one and 17% were diagnosed with asthma by the age of 6. Children were four times more likely to have breathing problems if the mother was anemic and previously had breathing problems herself.
Soon to be mothers should frequently be checking with their doctor if they have breathing problems such as asthma. It is also important to check up with the doctor if the mother is anemic. Your doctor can help with these problems to not only help you, but your future baby as well.
