Aim/Purpose of this Guideline
1.1. The objective of this guideline is to provide health care professionals with clear and simple recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency and anaemia in pregnancy and the postpartum period.
1.2. This guideline also contains recommendations for the initial management of women who present with low platelets in the antenatal period (NEW 2025). Refer to section 2.12.
1.3. This guideline makes recommendations for women and people who are pregnant. For simplicity of language the guideline uses the term women throughout, but this should be taken to also include people who do not identify as women but who are pregnant, in labour and in the postnatal period. When discussing with a person who does not identify as a woman, please ask them their preferred pronouns, and then ensure this is clearly documented in their notes to inform all health care professionals.
1.4. This version supersedes any previous versions of this document.
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2.1.1. Anaemia is common in pregnancy and is associated with adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes (Pavord et al 2019). It is possible to identify and treat it prior to childbirth.
2.1.2. Iron deficiency: in the UK, over 90% of women who are anaemic in pregnancy have iron deficiency anaemia (IDA). IDA remains a significant problem in the developed world: an estimated 30-40% of pregnant women have iron depletion (WHO 2008), as iron stores are often insufficient to meet the increasing demands of pregnancy.
Anaemia and iron deficiency: Diagnosis and Treatment throughout Pregnancy, Labour and Postpartum Period Clinical Guideline V4.3