In order to prematurely not panic, each mother should know what the normal level of hemoglobin should be in her baby, and at what values it is considered low.
Values
Thus, the level of hemoglobin in a newborn baby is 145-225 g / l. Apparently, this is a rather high concentration. However, approximately already at 2 weeks of life, its level decreases and takes the value of 120-200 g / l, and by 30 day - 100-170. Hemoglobin in infants, who are only 2 months old - 90-135 g / l. After that, its decrease, in the norm, should not be noted. If this does happen, it is necessary to suspect a pathology.
Causes of a decrease in hemoglobin
Perhaps the most common cause of low hemoglobin in infants is heredity, that is, if in pregnancy mamma has iron deficiency anemia, the likelihood of anemia in a baby is very high. Therefore, every future mother simply has to constantly monitor the hemoglobin level in her blood.
Due to a lack of iron in the body of a pregnant woman, the fetus can not normally form a so-called blood depot, from which, after the birth of the baby, hemoglobin is formed. Scientists have found that about 80% of all hemoglobin in newborns is the fetal form, which after birth is actively disintegrating. Instead of it, the same hemoglobin is formed, as in an adult.
Less common, indirect, causes that lead to the development of anemia in infants , can be:
- premature delivery;
- multiple pregnancies;
- intoxication;
- infection.
Often, the decrease in hemoglobin in infants is due to premature bandaging of the umbilical cord, that is, before it stopped pulsating.
Just like in adults, lowering hemoglobin levels can be the result of past bleeding or surgical operations.
Signs of decreased hemoglobin
As a rule, with low hemoglobin in the baby, symptoms (signs) are few: lethargy, pastose, decreased appetite. Therefore, for timely diagnosis, it is necessary to make a baby a general blood test, which will establish a diagnosis.
Treatment of the problem
The process of treatment of low hemoglobin in the baby is very long and consists in the intake of iron-containing drugs. Duration of admission should be 3-6 months in a dosage prescribed by a pediatrician.
In addition to drug treatment, apply a special diet, which consists in eating foods with a high content of iron (apples, gooseberries).
Prevention of anemia
So that the young mother does not have a question: "Why does my baby have a low hemoglobin?", She must take care of preventing this disease before she gives birth.
Throughout the period of a normal pregnancy, a woman should use a vitamin complex, which necessarily includes iron. In this case, there is a small feature. It should be ensured that the tablet contains iron II, not III.
Thus, an important moment in the fight against latent anemia is timely diagnosis and prevention. Therefore, if a woman has a low level of hemoglobin, the parents should immediately take action, and seek advice from the hematologist, who will determine the true cause of the decline. Perhaps this is a temporary phenomenon associated with the imperfection of the hematopoietic system in the newborn.