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Hemoglobin in Pregnancy

9/15/2021

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What is Hemoglobin?
Hemoglobin is found in your red blood cells.  It is a protein your body makes from iron, and is what holds oxygen to transport it around your body to cells and organs.

How do I get the iron my body needs to make hemoglobin?
Food is the best source of the iron your body needs to make hemoglobin.  Remember being told as a kid you should eat liver?  Well, pregnancy is the time to take that advice.  For those who just can't handle liver (including me), red meat such as beef, buffalo, venison etc are the next best source.  Dark chocolate is a good source too.  The darker the chocolate, the higher the iron content.  Lots of foods have iron, so read labels and do some research online.  Be mindful that calcium will block iron absorption, so if you are needing to increase your hemoglobin, think twice about adding cheese to your hamburger.  On the other hand, Vitamin C will increase iron absorption so you can feel good about enjoying some dark chocolate covered strawberries.  Make sure you have are getting folate since iron needs this as well as Vitamin C to do its job.  If your iron has dropped at around 30 weeks gestation, good job expanding your blood volume!  You have time to get your hemoblogin back up to a healthy level before birth. 

What should my hemoglobin level be?
In the first prat of pregnancy, hemoglobin levels should be 12-15 g/dL.  As your blood volume expands, this number drops, usually by 2 g/dL.  This drop is due to your iron being diluted by the increased amount of blood in your body.  I prefer my clients have a hemoglobin level of at least 11 g/dL before the baby is born.  This will help Mom handle blood loss from birth well and lets baby build iron stores.  Iron transport accross the placenta to your baby is highest in the last 4 weeks of pregnancy.

How will I know if my hemoglobin levels are low? 
You may notice fatigue, brittle nails, pale skin, dizziness, shortness of breath and heart palpitaiton or rapid pulse.  I like to check hemoblogin at around 30 weeks gestation so we can see how much of a change there is, and so there is time to get it back into a healthy range.  

What should I do if my hemoglobin levels are low?
I recommend my clients focus on iron rich food while being mindful that sources of calcium will block absorption and vitamin C will increase absorption.  Depending on what lab work indicates, I sometimes recommend supplemental forms of iron and sometimes Folate to help raise levels.  It takes about 2 weeks before any increases will shop up in labwork, although often clients will notice an increase in energy, or a lower heartbeat after just a few days  of working to raise iron levels.  Depending on how much the level has dropped and how a client is feeling after working to raise levels,  I may check it again around 36-37 weeks gestation.

​Hemoglobin is critical for your baby, and for your body.  I expect hemoglobin to drop in pregnancy, and I actually find it more concerning when the level doesn't drop. Monitored through your pregnancy,  hemoglobin levels are very easy to address with simple changes in diet.
 
               



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My List of Things To Do In and Around Manhattan With Kids

9/1/2021

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Manhattan, Kansas is a highly mobile community.  With college students and military familes here, there is always someone leaving the area and someone who just got here.  In working with my clients, I realized that even lifelong Manhattanites sometimes need some fresh ideas of things to see and do in the area.  After doing a prenatal with a client who arrived a month ago who was still learning about the area, I realized I could help her by making a list of places to go and things to do.  

Travel guides are helpful.  Whether in book form, or online they can give you ideas that may appeal to your family.  I have found though that often they are repeating publicity information from the place itself, or rehashing what was in a travel guide from years ago.  We all appreciate hearing personal experiences and I find those more helpful.

Being married to a Soldier, my family has lived all over the place.  Once thing we realized early on is that sooner we started exploring, the sooner we started having fun.  One of my favorite ways to explore was to drive around and get lost.  Often this would be helpful when out with the hubby and realizing I'd been lost there before and knew my way around.  We loved checking out the local museums and trying to find the things to do that were off the beaten path.  

I've made my list of things to do and want to share it here.  I've been to every place on the list except two, but included them based on my friend's experiences.  I share my opinions about what age range the place is better suited for and things my family really enjoyed about it.  I hope you and your family enjoy exploring these places as much as mine did.  Please share my list and let me know your experiences and other places I should add.  Remember to check on any Covid related changes or restrictions at each place before you go. You can get the list here.
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    Author

    Gail Webster, CPM

    Gail is a Certified Professional Midwife serving Manhattan, Junction City, Fort Riley and other areas in Kansas.  


    When Gail is not occupied with birth work, she enjoys reading, quilting, baking, riding her motorcycle and spending time with family.
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