7- Normal pregnancy and labour (common issues and breastfeeding)) Flashcards
when are women screened for anaemia in pregnancy
Booking clinic
28 weeks gestation
causes of anaemia in pregnancy
- Dilutional anaemia: due to increased plasma volume and relative reduction in haemoglobin conc due to RBC not increwasing
- Iron deficiency anaemia (microcytic):
o Fetal requirement for iron
o Menorrhagia
o Previous pregnancy
o Poor diet
presentation of anaemia in pregnant women
Often anaemia in pregnancy is asymptomatic. Women may have:
Maternal effects
- SoB
- Pallor
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Immunosuppression
- Poor conc
- Low mood
- Increase peripartum bloos loss risk
inves
foetal effects of anaemia
Fetal effects
o Preterm delivery
o Low birth weight
o Increase anaemia in first 3 months
o Impaired psychomotor development
normal ranges for Hb during pregnancy
which value of an FBC can be used to indicate cause of anaemai
- Low MCV may indicate iron deficiency
- Normal MCV may indicate a physiological anaemia due to the increased plasma volume of pregnancy
- Raised MCV may indicate B12 or folate deficiency
haemoglobinopathies which can cause anaemia
thalassaemia
sickle cell
investigations for anaemia
FBC
haeoglobinopathy screening
other blood tests: ferritin, B12, folate
Management of anaemia
Dietary advice
- Red meat, green leafy veg, nuts
If iron deficient- iron supp required
- Take on empty stomach, 1 hour before food wit fresh OJ (vitamin D helps absorption)
- Not with tea or coffee- tannins prevent iron absorption
- If not tolerated or limited time- IV ferinject
- Continue 3 months postpartum
why can b12 be low
The increased plasma volume and B12 requirements often result in a low B12 in pregnancy.
if low B12 women should be tested for
pernicious anaemia (checking for intrinsic factor antibodies).
management of low B12
- Intramuscular hydroxocobalamin injections
- Oral cyanocobalamin tablets
women with low folate
started on folic acid 5mg daily.
all women should be taking 400mcg
briefly describe thalassaemia
- 2 types: defects inalpha and beta chains (alpha thalassaemia vs beta thalassaemia)
- both autosomal recessive
- pathophysiology: defective chains mean RBC more fragile-> spleen clear destroyed cells and this causes splenomegaly. Bone marrow expands -> increased risk of fractures, pronounced forehead and cheekbones
- signs and symptoms: microcytic anaemia, fatigue, pallor, jaundice etc
- Diagnosis: FBC (micro), Haemoglobin electrophoresis, DNA testing
iron overload and thalassaemia
resutls due to faulty creation of RBC, recurrent transfusions and icnreased absorption of iron in response to anaemia
management
- limit transfusion
- iron chelation
Iron overload in thalassaemia causes effects similar to
haemochromatosis:
Fatigue
Liver cirrhosis
Infertility and impotence
Heart failure
Arthritis
Diabetes
Osteoporosis and joint pain
overall mangement of thalasaaemia
- monitoring of FBC and iron
- transfusion
- iron chelation
- splenectomy
- bone marrow transplant (can be curative in type A)
types of thalassaemia
- Alpha -thalassaemia
- Beta-thalassaemia
- Minor - mild anaemia
- Intermediate - more signfiicant anaemia
- Major- severe anaemia (failure to thrive)
thalassaemia in pregnancy