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What Causes Low Hemoglobin Count During Pregnancy?
Dear doctor, my sister was recently pregnant with her third baby. Due to loss of platelets, she lost the baby. Since then, she hasn t been able to got her dental treatment done because doctors want a rise in plateletes. Currently, she is taking a very bitter Unani medicine which is helping her. But her hemoglobin level has decreased. She has tried every home remedy ranging from kiwis to beetroots. We live in Saudi Arabia, Jeddah, where we don t have hematologists. Could you please suggest something that would give rise to both hemoglobin and platelets? Thank you.
Wed, 16 Dec 2015
HI,
I understand your concern.
* In pregnancy blood Hb% count is decreased due to increased demand of blood for circulation of baby so, sudden increase of blood occurs by dilution - thus making less proportion of red blood cells in blood. This is aggravated by less intake or absorption of iron, folic acid, vitamin B12.
- Bleeding due to any cause may add to anemia of pregnancy.
- It is treated by iron, folic acid, B12 supplementation/ blood transfusion if needful.
*Low platelet count after 6 months of pregnancy is seen in 6%- 8% of patients . & it comes back to normal after delivery.Persistent or early onset of low platelet count needs to be investigated for it's cause. It may be cause related to pregnancy like toxemia of pregnancy / non pregnancy related causes like auto immune diseases, enlarged spleen/ after certain viral fever.
After finding the exact cause , treatment is given to treat the cause/ in form of blood or platelet transfusion/ certain drugs like corticosteroids/ surgical removal of spleen,
* Aplastic anemia or bone marrow depression can cause less counts of all blood cells.
** I would advise you to consult a hematologist ( may be in adjoining town- to assess your health & the advise treatment, for it's not proper to advise blindly in such a case.
Please don't panic, such problems do occur, & are solved with methodical treatment.
Thanks.
I understand your concern.
* In pregnancy blood Hb% count is decreased due to increased demand of blood for circulation of baby so, sudden increase of blood occurs by dilution - thus making less proportion of red blood cells in blood. This is aggravated by less intake or absorption of iron, folic acid, vitamin B12.
- Bleeding due to any cause may add to anemia of pregnancy.
- It is treated by iron, folic acid, B12 supplementation/ blood transfusion if needful.
*Low platelet count after 6 months of pregnancy is seen in 6%- 8% of patients . & it comes back to normal after delivery.Persistent or early onset of low platelet count needs to be investigated for it's cause. It may be cause related to pregnancy like toxemia of pregnancy / non pregnancy related causes like auto immune diseases, enlarged spleen/ after certain viral fever.
After finding the exact cause , treatment is given to treat the cause/ in form of blood or platelet transfusion/ certain drugs like corticosteroids/ surgical removal of spleen,
* Aplastic anemia or bone marrow depression can cause less counts of all blood cells.
** I would advise you to consult a hematologist ( may be in adjoining town- to assess your health & the advise treatment, for it's not proper to advise blindly in such a case.
Please don't panic, such problems do occur, & are solved with methodical treatment.
Thanks.
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