How To Increase Hemoglobin Level During Pregnancy?

Posted on Sat, 4 Jan 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 4 Jan 2014 Answered on

Sat, 25 Jan 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : My wife is pregnant, and now it is 8 weeks and 3 days old. Today we scanned for the first time and all the readings are with in the limit. We did the blood test Hemoglobin - 11.5%, Sugar with in limit, Thyroid in limit. BUT SHE IS A1 NEGATIVE and am A1 POSITIVE. Doctor suggested to have a special injection in 8th week, since the blood group may create issues. My doubts: 1. How to increase Hemoglobin level 2. What foods need to be taken to increase Hemoglobin 3. Doctor suggested to take another scan to conform the brain structure / function and doctor told its optional. Need your view in this whether we need to do this scan or not. 4. About the blood group issue, kindly explain about this. - (a) What will be the issue - (b) What precaution we need to take for this - (c) Will travel affect the pregnancy at this situation (Can she travel) - (d) What is that injection? will it really help to reduce the effect of blood group issue.

Answered by Dr. Monika Choudhary (12 hours later)

Brief Answer: avoid travel, take iron rich foods and anti-D Detailed Answer: Hello XXXXXXX Thanks for posting your query. As pregnancy advances haemoglobin keeps on decreasing. Right now-11.5 gram is not bad, but to maintain it, take green leafy vegetables, red meat, jeggary, fruits like pomegranates. After 14 weeks onwards she will start taking iron tablet once daily. She is Rh negative & you are Rh positive, there can be possibility of Rh positive fetus & in that cases mother can make antibodies to baby's hemoglobbin. The baby's haemoglobin can be hampered. So to avoid this problem inj anti-D is given to the mother. Travelling should be avoided in first & last trimester, but if it is mandatory journey by train is the safest. You should undergo an ultrasound scan at 11-13 weeks for wellbeing of fetus & to rule out congenital anomalies like down syndrome. I hope your queries have been answered. Regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Monika Choudhary (9 hours later)

Thanks Doctor, 3. Doctor suggested to take another scan to conform the brain structure / function and doctor told its optional. Need your view in this whether we need to do this scan or not - DOCTOR GIVING THIS AS A OPTIONAL SCAN, CAN WE GO FOR THIS. 4. About the blood group issue, kindly explain about this - IS THIS ISSUE SEVERE ? ITS CREATING PANIC WITH IN US. Kindly explain in this, Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Monika Choudhary (1 hour later)

Brief Answer: Wait till 11weeks of pregnancy for ultrasound scan Detailed Answer: Hello XXXXXXX Welcome back. At 8 weeks of pregnancy it is very difficult to detect brain structure you should wait till 11 weeks of pregnancy & then should go for scan. Blood group issue can be severe if she is having multiple pregnancy with previous kids of Rh-positive blood group or previous history of blood transfusion. If she is having first pregnancy & no previous history of blood transfusion then there is no need of getting panic. Consult your doctor regularly & take anti-D as advised by her. Thank you.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Monika Choudhary (13 hours later)

Thanks DOctor. This is her first pregnancy. Thanks for the info..

Answered by Dr. Monika Choudhary (8 hours later)

Brief Answer: Take care Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanx for your feedback Take care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar