Being anemic can increase your chances of hemorrhage?

[rmzbm]

True? Never really gave it much thought but I've just been warned about it. And *IF* it's true...do you think, at 35 weeks, I have time to rectify this?

TIA!

[nashvillemidwife]

I've not heard of a cause/effect correlation (can't say there isn't one), but being anemic means that a hemorrhage can have a more profound effect on your body. When your hemoglobin level is low, that means your blood isn't carrying as much oxygen around your body as it should. When you lose a lot of blood that was oxygen deficient to begin with, you're losing a higher percentage of blood oxygen than someone who had normal levels.

No, it's not too late to rectify, but you need to do it through diet and natural supplements. Floradix tonic is good, nettle tea, yellowdock tincture. Chloryphyll is good but I think it's nasty. Those prescription pills will mainly just give you constipation.

[jengacnm]

:

Anemia doesn't predispose to hemorrhage, it just means there is less cushion if you do.

[mendomidwife]

35 weeks isn't too late to try.....I find that Fluordix, a Swiss liquid iron supplement made from herbs works great.

"Severe anemia is a recognized cause of maternal death but the role of mild to moderate anemia is controversial. However, they may contribute to maternal deaths by limiting the ability to withstand hemorrhage including the usual blood loss associated with normal delivery. Anemia may also increase the risk of puerperal sepsis and the ability to recover from it. Similarly, both hemorrhage and septicemia may worsen anemia."

Carla

[rmzbm]

Thanks! Yeah, I have heard good things about Floradix...gunn'a head to the coop and see if they have any there...should!

[rmzbm]

Oh, also...how long would you expect it to take to see a change after taking it?

[MsBlack]

I'm curious--

Just what is 'anemia' for you, Marie?

Do you have a hemoglobin and/or hematocrit to share with us?

And apart from numbers, are you feeling anemic? Having any signs of anemia...or is this more about a number?

Hoping not to be too nosy...but I do know that different providers judge anemia differently by sign and number...so I'm curious, if you're willing to share.

thanks!

[Charmie981]

Yes, I was going to ask too, what is "severe" anemia and what is anemia?

I had a hemoglobin of 6.2 (and yes, I was symptomatic) in my last pregnancy and I know I'll probably have the same issues this time. I'm chronically anemic (HGB of 10-11) to the point that I wondered if it was a more serious problem and I had some iron studies done. We did find that it's iron-deficiency anemia and my hemoglobin apparently just never catches up after the hemodilution at 28 weeks.

At what point would you other midwives worry about a HGB or HCT number? I'm more forgiving than the tradtional "10" and "30" if there aren't symptoms (pallor, fatigue, etc) because I know my numbers are often low when I still feel fine.

[MsBlack]

I usually consider hgb of 10 to be a sort of cutoff-- but a woman's signs and symptoms are more important. So, if she IS symptomatic at 11, then treatment is discussed. And if she is NOT symptomatic at 9, I don't really worry. Well--I don't worry much! but probably will strongly suggest some form of iron enhancement by way of diet if not also supplements.

I am a huge fan of Yellow Dock, by the way--which in itself does not have a lot of iron but it apparently does have components that greatly aid iron absortption. It works really fast to elevate hgb. So whatever else a woman takes by way of iron, I usually suggest Yellow Dock along with it (unless she tends toward loose bowels, because YD will most always loosen the bowels some).

[rmzbm]

11, I am told.

I have always been anemic. In other pregnancies I have tried iron pills, does NOTHING. He says to triple what I am taking (which is nothing at this point ) but...eh...I KNOW it won't help. And I have a horrid gag reflex & they are MASSIVE, I just can't see any point...

When NOT pregnant I just live with it, but now - especially in the last month - it's getting hard to deal. I know I will feel better after but now it is very difficult to walk, I have to get up SLOWLY or I get very lightheaded and have to lay down. Sometimes when I DO lay down I feel like I need to lay down and like I am *still* pushing myself, if that makes any kind of sence.

My biggest concern is not having it in me, stamina wise, to handle labor. Walking up the stairs in my house...eh, sometimes I have to stop and sit halfway.

I have enough stacked against me right now, birthwise...THIS is something I may be able to do something about. Will go to the coop Monday AM and pick up the Floradix, I hope it helps in time!

[JunipersMom]

Your symptoms seems a bit much for a hgb of 11? Is there something else going on besides anemia?
I'm 32 weeks with a hgb of around 9 ~ with no symptoms of anemia. Of course it can be different with every person, but I have to think there is something else happening here?

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by JunipersMom

Your symptoms seems a bit much for a hgb of 11? Is there something else going on besides anemia?
I'm 32 weeks with a hgb of around 9 ~ with no symptoms of anemia. Of course it can be different with every person, but I have to think there is something else happening here?

Ya know...I wonder...check this out, lol...

When I was pregnant LAST time I was told I had SEVERE hypothyroidism. Well, ok...I wasn't kidding when I said I can't take pills, and the Levo. is nearly microscopic...can't. So I didn't. Let it go. THIS time around they noticed the enlarged thyroid and ran the test. Came back totally normal. Color me confused. It was my understanding it doesn't really resolve itself like that...and I chalked alot of the fatigue (and I can't stress enough it IS extreme fatigue) up to that. So I have no idea if there's anything else. I've been fatigued my whole life really - when I was a kid everyone told me I was lazy. Caused me alot of stress and wondering what was wrong with me, so I just started to think I WAS really lazy. But I don't accept that anymore, I know there's something going on, just can't say what.

[mwherbs]

you know I am going to have to hunt down the info because I think it is something that can increase bleeding that anemia lends it's self to hemorrhage, no matter if you are pregnant or menstruating.

here we go the info is in some hematology handouts I have that are written by Dr. T. DeLoughery (at OSU)

" Anemia. Anemia leads to increased bleeding by two mechanism. One is that anemia blood is less turbulent and platelets have less opportunity to interact with damage vasculature. Also red cells contain enzymes which augment platelet function. "

there may be some time to bring your numbers up. I would recommend Flordix and chloraphyll as well as some sublingual B vitamins (liquid total B will work)

[rmzbm]

Thanks! And I am not sure if I am mixing #'s up or am just confused (or both?) but this AM at the doctors I asked for a finger stick cuz I was thinking about this. It was 9.5 - again, means nothing to me, but in case that changes anything...???

[DoomaYula]

Could it be a type of Thalassemia? I always tested with low iron and finally discovered I was a carrier.

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by DoomaYula

Could it be a type of Thalassemia? I always tested with low iron and finally discovered I was a carrier.

Never heard of it...off to search!

[Defenestrator]

Originally Posted by rmzbm

Thanks! And I am not sure if I am mixing #'s up or am just confused (or both?) but this AM at the doctors I asked for a finger stick cuz I was thinking about this. It was 9.5 - again, means nothing to me, but in case that changes anything...???

I find that finger sticks often read lower than blood taken from a vein. I think that most people squeeze the finger to get more blood and that causes more serum to be mixed in than would be otherwise.

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by Defenestrator

I find that finger sticks often read lower than blood taken from a vein. I think that most people squeeze the finger to get more blood and that causes more serum to be mixed in than would be otherwise.

Interesting...and yes it was squeezed a few times to fill a really small vile type thing...

[alegna]

Not a professional (but you knew that... )

I would do a mutli-pronged attack at this point.

Get the floridix.

Up your vitamin C (SA would be good...)

Increase iron-containing foods- red meat, cook in cast iron etc.

DON'T eat dairy with your iron - keep it as far away as possible.

good luck!

-Angela

[homebirthing]

You could also have an absorption issue. Make sure that you get Floradix with Iron and Herbs, double to dose and take it with Vitamin C, which will help your body to absorb the iron. It doesn't make sense to triple an iron pill if you body isn't going to take what it needs from the pill in the first place!

Other things that you can do as well:
Black strap molasses (1-2 tbsp a day)
Kombucha

Of course dandelion, yellow dock and nettles are FANTASTIC!! You can add in loose leaf nettles with RRL and make a tea. Throw in some alfalfa too.

Yellow dock tincture or iron tonic is a really good way to boost your blood also.

Foods high in iron are good. Kidney beans, lima beans, soy beans, snow peas, collard greens, spinach, broccoli, turnip greens, squash, asparagus, yam, kelp and kale are rich in iron. Milk can reduce your ability to absorb iron.

Anyway, you have a good couple of weeks to boost your blood!! Let us know how it goes!

Sarah


(Angela - We posted at the same time!!)