Homebirth & Beta Thalassemia Minor

[Lesnah]

Hello,

I am 9 weeks pregnant and was recently diagnosed with Beta Thalassemia Minor with microcytic anemia.

My Lab Test as of 1 week after I conceived was:

Hemoglobin: 11.7 (Low)
MCV: 67 (Low)
MCH: 21.3 (Low)
RDW: 18.5 (High)
Iron Bind Cap: 243 (Low)
HGBa: 89.9 (Low)
HGBA2: 4.3 (High)
HGBF: 5.9 (High)

I am just outside the range of normal towards anemic on most of those but I know a person tends to get more anemic through their pregnancy.

We really desire to have a homebirth and are working with a midwife who does not have experience in Beta Thalaseemia Minor w/ Microcytic Anemia and are trying to do some research.

1. Is there anyone else out there with Beta Thalassemia Minor who had a home birth? What was your experience?
2. Is there any clear documentation on the risks of birth in general with the condition?
3. Does anyone have any perspectives that could be helpful.

Currently we are working with our midwife to try to find what information is available on the topic so we can all make an informed decision.

Also, I'm taking the Rainbow Light Multivitamin. I have read that there are some recommendations not to take much iron with this condition - does anyone else have insight on this?

Thanks,
Lesnah

[Sweetiemommy]

Hi!
My sister and I have the same condition. Usually it goes undiagnosed, but we both became aware of the condition in childhood by a pediatrician who happened to have expertise in the area. Firstly, you will not find much info on this condition. It is pretty rare and you might find better luck searching under the layman's term "mediterrean anemia" (it mostly occurs in people of mediterrean descent). My father has French on his mother's side, but that's our only connection. Anyway, first let me say, as your doctor probably did, that it is totally harmless. Your body simply functions at an anemic level that most people would not be able to survive. Iron supplements/injections/etc will not raise your iron levels. In fact, you shouldn't take iron supplements because they will constipate you. Your body doesn't need it!! Somehow our ancestors evolved or mutated to be able to overcome the other major type of thalassemia (major). In which case the person's body is unable to function without extremely frequent blood transfusion. Your anemia will NOT turn into this. The only downside to this diagnosis is that you carry the genes to pass thalassemia major to your child IF your husband also carries the gene. So I actually spoke to a genetic counselor and she told me that my husband would actually have to be diagnosed with thal minor, just like mine in order to give our child thal major. You have a 1/4 chance of passing your identical condition, thal minor, to your child, but again this is a benign condition that has no side effects. According to every health professional I have ever spoken with, thal minor presents no health concern and is not the same as being anemic. In other words, your "anemia" is NORMAL for you. So a health professional who is uneducated about thal will often tell you that your are anemic and treat you accordingly, this is incorrect. So to make a long story short, you can have a homebirth. I did, my midwife was familiar with the condition and was surprised that I even brought it up as a concern. The only thing you need to do is list it under pre-existing conditions when you meet a new practictioner, so that they don't worry when they see that you appear to be extremely anemic (they often come in the room looking alarmed, thinking that I will passed out on the floor or something

One more thing, my midwife mentioned that anemic mothers sometimes hemmorage although she wasn't sure that a mom with thal would. I did both times, but she just gave me a shot of pitocin and there was no problem. I don't know if my sister hem or not, she already had pictocin in her system (hospital birth). Anyway, good luck with your homebirth, if your midwife is still concerned maybe you can pm me and maybe I can help you find more info! BTW, I also took Rainbow Light vitamins, I really liked them other than the iron, but I couldn't find a prenatal that didn't contain iron (although Rainbow makes a regular iron free vitamin). Sorry for the long post, but you might not find too many others.

[jengacnm]

What sweetiemommy said. :-)

I don't have a lot of experience with beta thalassemia minor, but the risk is no higher than any other kind of anemia.

Also, women who are anemic are not necessarily more likely to hemorrhage, it's just that there's less cushion if they do. My personal comfort level for a planned home birth is a hgb of 10.0 or higher-but every midwife is different.

And finally-aggressive iron supplementation is not only not helpful, but can actually hurt, because iron absorption is not as good in someone with an inherited anemia, so iron toxicity is more likely.

[DoomaYula]

I have alpha thalassemia and I had 2 hospital births and a homebirth.