Blood pathologies that appear during the carrying of a baby are extremely unfavorable and dangerous. They can be identified using simple laboratory tests.
Purpose of the study
To function, the baby growing in the tummy of his mother needs a daily supply of nutrients and oxygen. All this he receives through the blood flow system shared with the mother. These biologically active substances are transferred by red blood cells called erythrocytes.
There is hemoglobin inside these cells. This is a special protein that contains an organic component and iron. It is this composition that allows hemoglobin to provide the entire range of its actions. It not only transfers organic components to the internal organs of the mother and baby, but also participates in many processes as a natural catalyst.
When carrying a baby, situations are often encountered when hemoglobin falls. Such physiological processes develop, as a rule, at the end of the 2nd trimester and in the 3rd trimester. This is due to the physiology of the developing organism of the baby. The increased need also leads to the formation of anemia in the distant weeks of intrauterine development.
The degree of the pathologies that have arisen is different. This division became the basis for the classification of anemia, which is used by doctors of different specialties when interacting with expectant mothers. This determines the tactics of treatment and further observation.
A mild severity of anemia is accompanied by a decrease in the indicator below 110. This condition quite often manifests itself in expectant mothers at 36-38 weeks of pregnancy. In the 1st trimester, such violations are quite dangerous and require a mandatory visit to a therapist for advice.
With a decrease in hemoglobin from 90 to 70 g / liter, experts speak of an anemic condition of moderate severity. This is already a more unfavorable condition. In no case should this clinical sign be ignored. Failure to provide medical care at this stage can lead to the development of very dangerous pathologies for the life of the fetus.
If hemoglobin drops below 70 g / liter, then this symptom can already be considered a manifestation of a severe course of anemia. In this case, the pregnant woman is hospitalized in a hospital for intensive treatment. In such a situation, as a rule, the appointment of iron-containing drugs, which are injected by injection, is already required.
Reasons for downgrading
A variety of causes can lead to a decrease in hemoglobin in the blood of a pregnant woman. In some cases, anemia is present in the expectant mother even before pregnancy. It should be noted right away that if left untreated, this condition will only get worse. The prognosis for the development of pathology in this case is unfavorable.
Physiological decrease in hemoglobin can develop not only in the late stages of pregnancy. Also, this condition is quite common in expectant mothers who are carrying twins or triplets. During multiple pregnancies, the need for oxygen and nutrients increases by 40%.
Doctors identify quite a few different pathologies that are accompanied by a decrease in hemoglobin. Pregnancy is a special time. During this period, diseases of both the mother and the pathology of the intrauterine development of her baby can lead to the development of an anemic state.
The tendency to anemia is quite often congenital. If a woman who is carrying a baby has problems with low hemoglobin, this means that her daughter is likely to have similar problems. This feature is largely due to genetic memory and the peculiarities of the hematopoietic system.
Vegetarianism
A vegetarian diet often leads to the development of an anemic condition. It is worth noting right away that women who exclude animal food from their diet before pregnancy may not suffer from anemia before conceiving a baby. The first symptoms appear in them, when the fetus is already beginning to actively grow and develop. To compensate for this condition, medications and a mandatory revision of the eating style will be required, at least for the period of bearing the baby.
Diseases
Stomach
Chronic stomach diseases are common causes that lead to the development of an anemic condition.
Especially dangerous in this case gastritis or enteritisflowing in an erosive form. The fact is that these diseases occur with the development of microbleeding. During them, a small amount of blood is regularly lost, which leads to a decrease in erythrocytes and hemoglobin in the blood.
An exacerbation of gastric ulcer or duodenal ulcer can also contribute to the development of anemia in a pregnant woman. Most dangerous erosive options... To prevent the exacerbation of these pathologies during pregnancy, doctors will recommend the expectant mother to take special medications.
Intestine
Bowel disease can also lead to a decrease in hemoglobin in a pregnant woman. This is facilitated by a violation of the absorption function of this organ. Ultimately, this leads to impaired absorption of essential nutrients that are necessary for the synthesis (formation) of iron in the body. In such situation after a few weeks, anemia begins to form.
Dysbacteriosis
Violation of the intestinal microflora, which is called dysbiosis, can also contribute to the development of an anemic state in the expectant mother. This happens due to insufficient intake of all necessary vitamins and minerals.
Usually, dysbiosis or irritable bowel syndrome develops in women with various diseases of the internal organs.
Liver and hematopoietic organs
Chronic pathologies of the liver and hematopoietic organs can also lead to the development of an anemic state in the expectant mother. In this case, many metabolic processes are disturbed.
Diseases of the spleen can contribute to the excessive destruction of red blood cells in the mother's blood, which also provokes the development of her anemia.
Endocrine system
Inadequate work of the endocrine system can also contribute to the development of anemia in the expectant mother. The most dangerous are diseases that a woman has before pregnancy. In this case, a mandatory consultation of an endocrinologist is required to draw up the optimal treatment tactics.
Reproductive organs
Diseases of the reproductive organs can also lead to a decrease in hemoglobin. It is most unfavorable if such pathologies are often exacerbated during the entire period of pregnancy.
As a rule, various cystic formations of the ovaries or myomatous nodes lead to the development of an anemic state. If education data continues to grow during pregnancy, then the decrease in hemoglobin against this background can be very significant.
Toxicosis
In the first half of pregnancy, anemic condition may also occur. In most cases, this leads to persistent toxicosis. For some mothers, this unpleasant and exhausting condition can last until the end of pregnancy.
Toxicosis, accompanied by severe vomiting, leads to metabolic disorders and anemia.
Stress
Strong psychoemotional stress quite often leads to metabolic disorders in the body of the expectant mother. If a pregnant woman is constantly nervous and worried about trifles, then the work of her nervous system is disrupted. This contributes to the progression of any pathological conditions that are present in her body.
Taking medications
Some drugs have an adverse effect on hematopoietic tissue. The constant forced intake of such funds during pregnancy will help reduce hemoglobin below normal values. Most often, such manifestations provoke taking immunosuppressive and some hormonal drugs.
Repeated labor within 2 years
Previous childbirth can also lead to a decrease in hemoglobin. In this case, less than two years should elapse between the birth of two babies. An exhausted female body for the first pregnancy in such a situation simply does not have time to prepare for the next one. This contributes to the fact that the woman has signs of anemia.
Other reasons
A decrease in hemoglobin in late pregnancy is in some cases an extremely unfavorable sign. It may indicate the development of placental abruption or other pathologies in the fetus. In this case, urgent medical attention is required. In some situations, an urgent delivery may even be required due to the threat to the baby's life.
Symptoms of low hemoglobin by degrees
The anemic condition during pregnancy is very nonspecific. The mothers' reviews indicate that for a long time they did not even suspect that their body was deficient in iron.
This violation is detected, as a rule, very suddenly - during a general blood test.
Easy
The expectant mother practically does not feel the initial manifestations of the anemic state. Her behavior and appearance do not change in any way. A woman with mild anemia continues to lead a fairly active lifestyle. Many expectant mothers in this state even go to yoga for pregnant women or perform other physical activities without experiencing any adverse symptoms.
Average
With the development and aggravation of anemic pathology, a woman has negative clinical signs. She gets tired faster. When doing the usual physical activity, she may feel that she needs to rest. After a quick walk or climbing 1-2 stairways, such a woman appears shortness of breath and heart palpitations.
Subsequently, a rapid heart rate begins to bother the expectant mother, who has moderate anemia, even at rest or after a little stress. Some women may also have arrhythmias - an episode of irregular heartbeat.
Anemic condition is often accompanied by the development of constipation. This is a consequence of disturbances in the functioning of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract. Expectant mothers with anemia of this severity complain to their doctors that they cannot visit the toilet for several days without a special diet.
Soreness in the abdomen is characteristic of a more severe anemic state. The intensity of the pain syndrome is usually insignificant. It may increase somewhat after eating a dense meal. Many women with signs of anemia complain of pain spreading below the navel.
Even during the normal course of pregnancy, a woman can experience various taste preferences. Quite often it happens that before the period of carrying the baby, the expectant mother did not like any particular food product, and during pregnancy she constantly uses it.
Similar eating disorders occur with anemia. However, they get pretty special. A vivid manifestation is an inexplicable desire to gnaw chalk. Doctors note that patients with anemia may like the pungent smell of paint. Such disorders are usually associated with a violation of many of the cellular reactions in the body that occur due to anemia.
Drowsiness increases throughout the day. A woman can be constantly sleepy. At night, there may be significant difficulty falling asleep or sleep duration. Some women have nightmares. Constant lack of sleep leads to a deterioration in mood and a tendency to cry.
Severe degree
Severe forms of anemic condition already lead to a change in appearance. The skin becomes very pale. The woman looks constantly tired, even if she did not perform any physical activity. The area of the nasolabial triangle and the area under the lower eyelids become blue.
Quite often, severe chilliness of the arms and legs develops. In some cases, the limbs become constantly cold to the touch. The skin on the legs and arms turns pale. The nails become more brittle and peel off easily. A woman may also complain of severe hair loss and dryness.
Diagnostics
In order to detect a decrease in hemoglobin, a fairly simple laboratory test is required. This is called a complete blood count. During pregnancy, this study is carried out many times.
In addition to regular screening examinations, this laboratory test is prescribed for any pathologies that arise during the bearing of a baby. A complete blood count also allows you to monitor the development of the condition against the background of prescribed therapy.
Hemoglobin is calculated in special units called "g / liter". With a decrease in this indicator below 110 g / liter, doctors already conclude that there is an anemic condition.
Hemoglobin rates differ at different periods of pregnancy. This is largely due to the changing physiology of the fetus.
A decrease in hemoglobin in the blood is often accompanied by a drop in the level of erythrocytes. This situation does not always develop. There are cases when, with a decrease in hemoglobin, the level of erythrocytes remains within normal limits. This leads to various clinical variants of anemia.
Iron deficiency anemia is quite common during pregnancy. This pathological condition is associated with insufficient intake or increased destruction of iron in the blood.
To diagnose this pathology, doctors prescribe a number of additional laboratory tests. These tests include ferritin, TIBC, and serum iron levels in the blood. Only a combination of these criteria allows doctors to diagnose iron deficiency anemia.
Consequences for the child
A decrease in hemoglobin below normal is very dangerous. This pathological condition negatively affects the actively developing fetus. The long course of anemia contributes to the formation of various intrauterine abnormalities. In the future, they can lead to a lag in the physical development of the baby.
Insufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients contribute to the development of hypoxia. This pathological condition threatens the development of formations of various disorders in the development of the baby.
The development of severe anemia in early pregnancy can even lead to disruption of the organogenesis process in the fetus. This is fraught with the development of various defects and anomalies of the internal organs in the child.
Placental insufficiency is another possible manifestation of a prolonged anemic condition. It is very dangerous. In this case, the baby does not receive the required amount of nutrients and oxygen dissolved in the blood. Ultimately, this will negatively affect its development and growth.
Obstetricians-gynecologists note that a severe anemic condition can lead to too early discharge of amniotic fluid. It will inevitably lead to the need for urgent obstetrics.
If early childbirth was carried out much earlier than the due date, then in this case, the birth of a baby is possible, which has significant defects and anomalies of internal organs.
Premature babies born due to a severe anemic condition in their mother may develop anemia immediately after birth. In this case, it will be necessary to prescribe intensive therapy not only to mommy, but also to her born child.
Weakening of labor during labor is another complication, which can develop with an anemic state of pregnancy. This pathology can lead to severe bleeding. Massive blood loss will only make the anemia worse. In this case, the risk of having a baby with hypoxia increases significantly.
Such born babies, as a rule, are underweight. In the future, babies have problems in the functioning of the immune and nervous systems. They develop and grow worse. Such babies can also have congenital malformations.
Dr. Komarovsky will tell you about the danger of a decrease in hemoglobin in the next video.
How to raise hemoglobin without harm to the baby?
Getting tested regularly during pregnancy is very important. Going to the clinic and taking a general blood test is a banal routine procedure that allows you to identify anemic pathologies at the earliest stages of their formation.
If doctors have established a decrease in hemoglobin in this test, they will make up a whole range of different recommendations for the expectant mother. Such a comprehensive treatment will help increase the level of hemoglobin and bring it back to normal.
Observe medical recommendations during the entire period of pregnancy. This will prevent the progression of pathology in the later stages of bearing a baby.
Still, one should not make recommendations at home. Anemia is a very dangerous condition that requires mandatory medical supervision, especially during pregnancy. Only a doctor should monitor the dynamics of the course of the anemic state and determine the prognosis for the baby.
Therapist treats anemia. In the meantime, there is no need to worry about it. ” It is this doctor who, if necessary, sends the future mother to the laboratory so that she additionally passes the tests necessary for making a diagnosis. In some cases, you may need to consult a hematologist. This doctor also deals with the problems of lowering hemoglobin in pregnant women.
Iron boosting foods
A very important method of treating iron deficiency in the female body during pregnancy is diet therapy. With the help of a special diet, which includes a list of iron-containing foods, it is quite easy to achieve a normalization of the hemoglobin level in the blood. With mild anemia, good results can be achieved without prescribing drugs.
Doctors recommend that expectant mothers consume a number of foods that contain active iron. The record holder among them - red meat, you can eat any of its varieties. Perfect fit beef, lamb, pork. You can also use as a source of iron poultry and game.
Expectant mothers shouldn't fry meat. Better to bake it, stew it or grill it. To compensate for iron, eat at least 1 portion of red meat or game per day. This recommendation should be followed regularly.
You can supplement the meat with a vegetable salad. There is practically no iron in the composition of vegetables, but ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is present. This biologically active component allows the iron to be better absorbed in the body. You can use any vegetables for the salad. Better to choose them according to the season.
You can also combine the main meat dish with various cereal side dishes. For this, barley, any types of legumes, as well as buckwheat and oat groats are perfect. These products contain quite a lot of vitamins and minerals that have a beneficial effect on the entire body of the expectant mother.
You should not abuse cereals, as they are quite high in calories.
Fruits also contain massive amounts of vitamin C... These excellent natural antidepressants will keep you in a good mood and also help the body absorb iron better.
Doctors recommend that expectant mothers, who have low hemoglobin levels in their blood, eat more green apples, pomegranates and citrus fruits. You should choose only those fruits to which the woman is not allergic.
Berries are not only a great source of antioxidants. This healthy treat contains a huge amount of ascorbic acid. They should be eaten carefully, as they often lead to the development of an allergic reaction. It is better to use berries according to the season. In the winter season, you can prepare compote or fruit drink from frozen raw materials.
Nuts also contain iron. However, its concentration in them is much less than in red lean meat. You should eat nuts in moderation, remembering that this is a very useful, but very high-calorie product. You can supplement your menu with hazelnuts, walnuts and almonds. They will be a great snack and will not harm the female body.
Iron preparations
If diet therapy is ineffective, doctors prescribe drug treatment. For this, they are discharged iron medications... They are necessary to replenish the necessary iron, which must regularly enter the female body.
The treatment regimen is selected individually. For this, the doctor assesses the general condition of the expectant mother, necessarily takes into account her age and the presence of chronic pathologies of internal organs.
The treatment usually lasts several weeks or months. This time period is necessary to optimize the body's work and normalize the level of hemoglobin in the blood.
To assess the effectiveness of therapy, doctors resort to prescribing laboratory tests. As a rule, indicators of a complete blood count are assessed. Positive dynamics is characterized by an increase in the number of erythrocytes in the blood and an increase in hemoglobin.
Hematogen is considered a folk remedy for raising hemoglobin.... It should be noted that such a technique can only become a prevention, but not a treatment for an anemic condition. To normalize the level of hemoglobin in the blood, the appointment of more serious iron-containing agents is required.
Doctors do not prohibit eating hematogen during pregnancy for prevention.
Tablet forms
Iron tablets are the most common dosage forms prescribed to correct iron deficiency in the body. Among the frequently used are the following: "Sorbifer", "Maltofer", "Ferrum-Lek", "Totema"... The dosage, the frequency of use and the duration of the course administration are determined by the attending physician.
When using these drugs, remember that they have certain side effects. So, these agents paint the stool dark. The appearance of this symptom should not scare the expectant mother. The stool will return to its normal color immediately after the drug is discontinued.
"Ferrum - Lek"
"Ferrum-Lek" is a remedy necessary to compensate for iron deficiency. The drug contains a trivalent ferrum. This drug is prescribed, as a rule, in the form of syrup or tablets. Absorption and active assimilation of it occurs in the upper intestine.
This drug is fairly well tolerated. Some women, while taking this remedy, have nausea and soreness in the abdomen. After discontinuation of use, these adverse symptoms completely disappear.
The drug has a good spectrum of action and increases hemoglobin in a fairly short period of time.
Sorbifer
This is another fairly effective drug used to treat anemic conditions, including pregnancy. In its chemical composition contains ferrous sulfate. This agent is characterized by a fairly systematic release of metabolites. At the same time, iron is absorbed well.
Side effects are rare. The most common of these is darkening of the stool and nausea. Some patients also noted a violation of taste and decreased appetite. Also, the disadvantages of this drug include its high cost.
Injection forms
For erosive forms of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, doctors will not prescribe iron tablets. In this case, injectable dosage forms will be prescribed. They are introduced through injections.
Usually, such treatment is carried out in a polyclinic or, more often, a hospital. Also, treatment with iron-containing drugs in the form of injectables is often prescribed with a critical decrease in hemoglobin below 70 g / liter. Do not enter more than 0.1 grams of iron per day. This dose fully compensates for the body's need for this substance.
For parenteral administration, it is very important to adhere to single dosages. This must be done in order to prevent an overdose of the body with iron.
The introduction of injectable iron-containing preparations is tolerated quite easily. Adverse symptoms include local manifestations.
Painful infiltrates often appear at the injection sites. They dissolve over time. The correct technique for performing an injection by a procedural nurse will reduce the risk of developing an infiltrate.
Injectable iron-containing drugs include: "Ferrum-Lek", "Venofer", "Ferkoven" and others. Such funds are prescribed, as a rule, for a course appointment. After a few weeks of taking these drugs, the woman's hemoglobin level begins to recover. If possible, after the injections are given, doctors prescribe iron tablets to the patient.
In addition to drug therapy, doctors recommend future mothers with anemic conditions normalize your daily routine. To do this, they should sleep at least 8 hours a day. Walking in the fresh air every day at a moderate pace will also have a positive effect.
Limiting stress plays a very important role in the prevention of this pathology, especially during pregnancy.
