anemia of pregnancy, an Hct < 30% or Hgb < 10g/dL. Physiologic anemia of pregnancy results from dilution because on average there is a 1,000-mL increase in plasma volume and a 300-mL increase in red blood cell (RBC) volume. Iron deficiency anemia is the most common nonphysiologic anemia of pregnancy because endogenous iron stores are insufficient to meet the increased iron requirements of pregnancy. Treatment is exogenous iron supplementation, generally 60 to 180 mg of elemental iron per day. Associated with anemia of pregnancy is a folate deficiency, which increases the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs). Treatment is exogenous folate of 0.4 to 1.0 mg per day.
