PREGNANCY-BIRTH Messages for January, 2001: Re: Transfusion after birth

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Re: Transfusion after birth

From: Lynn D. Montgomery, MD (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed, 31 Jan 2001 17:27:59 -0600 (CST)

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In reply to: AP: "Transfusion after birth"

At Wed, 31 Jan 2001, AP wrote: >
>I had a normal deliver with my son--no extensive bleeding, no hematoma
>(so they said)just a 3rd degree laceration. However, 2 days after he
>was born my hematocrit was 20 and I was passing out due to low blood
>levels. They decided I needed a transfusion and I got 2 units of blood.
>My question: What criteria do they use to decide when a woman needs a
>transfusion? Is a 20 hematocrit so low? What can I do the next time to
>prevent needing a transfusion? I was slightly anemic before giving
>birth--would that have been enough or did I lose more blood than they
>thought?

There really isn't any absolute hematocrit at which a transfusion is undertaken. It is more whether or not the patient is symptomatic, i.e. passing out. There is really nothing you can do to prevent this except optimize your blood count prior to delivery with vitamins and iron therapy... Lynn

--
Lynn D. Montgomery, MD
Director, Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Rocky Mountain Perinatal Center
Missoula, Montana

**Note:  Opinions expressed here are for educational purposes only and, as such, do not constitute a physician-patient relationship.  This information is not intended to supplant the need for you to consult with your physician prior to choosing therapeutic options and/or interventions.

**Private e-mails cannot be entertained due to time constraints, consequently no private e-mails will receive a response.

**Thank you for your understanding ;-)

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