Anemia is very common during pregnancy due to the increased blood flow in a woman’s body.  Your doctor will test your blood during your first prenatal visit to ensure that you aren’t anemic at the beginning of your pregnancy.  When a woman is pregnant, her body will produce up to 50 percent more blood than before pregnancy.  Without iron in your blood, your body is unable to produce enough hemoglobin.  Many women have plenty of iron stored up in their body; however, the demands of pregnancy increase your need for additional iron during your second and third trimester and starts depleting your iron reserves rapidly.  Once all of the iron is depleted from your body you will become anemic.

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