Is It Safe To Give Blood During Pregnancy?
Blood donation is a noble cause .But so is not the case with pregnant mothers. The expectant mother needs to take care of two lives- hers and that of the unborn baby. The developing fetus gets its nutrition from the mother’s body. They get their nutrients through the mother’s blood and that is what keeps them strong. Hence, if the mother donates her blood during pregnancy, it may pose as a problem for the unborn child.
What Is The Risk?
The risks of donating blood while pregnant are many. Since the pregnant woman’s body is now nourishing another life, she cannot really afford to weaken herself. The risks are enumerated as follows-
In a pregnant women the blood count increases in order to nourish the child. If the mother donates her blood that will lead to a decrease in the blood count. As a result, the child will not get enough nutrition. Donating blood deprives the mother’s body largely of the iron and nutrient contents needed for the baby. As a result the mother grows weaker and is not able to provide the requisite nutrition to her child.
This iron depletion can also lead to anemia in the pregnant woman which will without doubt pose as a great threat for the life of both the mother and the child. Hence most blood donating camps do not allow pregnant women to donate their blood.
Exception:
There is just one exception to the above rule. At times there complications like a high risk pregnancy or delivery, in such cases a blood transfusion may be necessary for the mother as she may experience a lot of blood loss later. Only in these circumstances, the doctor may ask the expectant mother to bank some blood for herself; in case she needs it during delivery. This is for the safety for the mother and she is usually given supplements to cover up for this loss of blood.
When Is It Safe To Donate Blood?
Donating blood during pregnancy is totally restricted . According to the medical guidelines, it is safe to donate blood 6 weeks after giving birth, when the mother is healing. Many even say this is beneficial for the mother. There are no restrictions as to breastfeeding mothers. They can safely donate their blood every 6 to eight weeks, even when they are nursing.
Thus, even the most enthusiastic of blood donors should restrain themselves during pregnancy. For a mother, the child should always be her first priority. She can always resort to saving the world postpartum.
