Controlling Anemia In Pregnancy
A Critical Complication
An anemic pregnant woman has less safety margin at the time of birth.
If the anemia is severe, even a bleeding of less than 500 cc can have a fatal outcome. Detecting moderate and severe anemia during pregnancy is important both to treat and follow up the anemia during the remainder of pregnancy, and also to discuss with the woman where it is best to give birth.
A higher level facility should be able to monitor for, prevent and treat PPH better than a more resource-strapped one.
For those anemic women’s whose hemoglobin is less than expected (7-11g/dl), care centers must provide supplementary iron tablet by mouth once daily for 6 months. Iron reach diets have also proven to be effective, so providing sufficient advice and information regarding those diets should be expected. Facilities should also anticipate conducting an early referral of those mothers who are anemic and risk of having PPH to higher facilities so that they can have easy access for transfusion and any other medical care.
The Role Of Birth Planning
Most cases of PPH are impossible to predict, but some factors do raise the risk of dangerous PPH.
Apart from anemia, discussed above, there are additional risk factors, such as:
- a very big fetus
- twins or triplets
- hydramniosis
- previous PPH
- any bleeding in the last trimester of pregnancy
It is important that community leaders, village health volunteers, families and pregnant women themselves are aware of these risk factors, so that proper planning for the best birthing care can be done.
