One of the most important tests that a newborn baby does in the hospital is to detect hemoglobin levels. A slight decrease in indicators in adults is not a cause for panic, but here the numbers in the infant should fit into the accepted framework. What is the hemoglobin rate in a newborn baby? We will understand in this article.
Difference from adults
Normally, children's hemoglobin is much higher than adult, because it is thanks to this substance that the necessary saturation of tissues with oxygen and the maintenance of all body systems in an active state are provided. The baby himself cannot consume all the necessary elements with food, lactation has not yet been established, so the hemoglobin protein takes on this function. The norm in the newborn will be discussed below.
In children under the age of one year, the indicator often changes, generally gradually decreasing, which is due to the formation and development of the circulatory, hormonal and digestive systems. The introduction of complementary foods brings the hemoglobin of the baby even closer to adult indicators, as nutrients begin to come from ordinary food.
Hemoglobin in newborns: normal
The table below gives a visual representation.
If there is a slight decrease in indicators, but during pregnancy, the woman did not suffer from anemia caused by a lack of iron, did not lose much blood during childbirth, ate well, and lactation was established on time and in normal volume, then usually doctors recommend only a follow-up retest time.
In this case, taking therapeutic measures is considered premature, since breast milk or a well-selected adapted mixture contains all the necessary vitamins and minerals that restore and maintain the health of the little man.
This is how hemoglobin is important in newborns. The norm (the table is very convenient to use) for each age is different.
A decrease in hemoglobin in the baby’s blood is associated with a lack of iron and often leads to hypoxia - oxygen starvation. Tissues and cells do not receive enough oxygen, the circulatory process is disrupted, and the necessary trace elements are poorly absorbed. How to understand that the hemoglobin rate in a newborn is reduced?
Signs
The following symptoms allow to suggest such a diagnosis:
- lethargy of the child, fatigue, moodiness;
- too dry flaky skin may indicate insufficient intake or assimilation of iron;
- constant low-grade fever, fluctuating around 37.5 degrees;
- frequent colds, infectious and viral diseases;
- pallor of the skin, blue circles under the eyes and severe drowsiness are the first signs of anemia;
- thin brittle nails, which tend to exfoliate, sometimes characterize a low hemoglobin content or a fungal infection;
- decreased appetite, lethargy;
- problems affecting the baby's mucous membranes - stomatitis, smoothing of the lingual papillae, inflamed shiny tongue, seizures, bleeding gums - are also indirect signs of hemoglobin deficiency, but dental diseases can also occur;
- regular colic, combined with disorders of the gastrointestinal tract such as constipation and diarrhea.
All this can provoke a reduced hemoglobin rate in the newborn.
If such symptoms are detected, it is necessary to show the child to the pediatrician as soon as possible and pass a general clinical blood test. Typically, a drop in hemoglobin is associated with other health problems, which will be reflected in the results of the analysis.
How to treat a child?
It is unacceptable to begin treatment without examining the baby by a doctor and receiving his recommendations. No folk remedies and methods in this case are unacceptable, since the body of the baby is too fragile and susceptible.
It is necessary to pass an analysis for hemoglobin. The norm in the newborn or deviation from it is easily detected.
If the pediatrician determines the diseases that provoke a drop in hemoglobin parameters, then an appropriate set of therapeutic procedures is prescribed. If the influence of such factors is not established, then general instructions are given to correct the situation:
What should a nursing mother do?
A woman who is breast-feeding a baby should review the diet by adding foods fortified with iron and contributing to its absorption:
- beef, veal, pork, chicken, turkey, rabbit and any liver;
- tomatoes and other vegetables, fruits and berries containing vitamin C;
- oily fish, especially red fish.
Thus, the hemoglobin rate in newborns can be obtained.
If after a couple of weeks the control analysis shows minor changes, the doctor will prescribe iron-containing drugs. They are not very well absorbed by the child’s body, they can irritate the gastric mucosa, so they try not to use them unless absolutely necessary.
How to help a baby if he eats a mixture?
A baby who feeds on a mixture will have to choose a more suitable one, containing iron and other trace elements and vitamins that help its absorption. If the baby has already begun to eat complementary foods, then more meat, buckwheat, vegetables and fruits, beans, lentils are introduced into the diet. In the absence of allergies, the use of pomegranate and carrot juices, strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, and currants will be extremely useful.
It is highly recommended for all children with diagnosed anemia to walk outside for as long as possible, fresh air and the sun are indispensable helpers in the fight against this ailment.
Iron preparations can be prescribed directly to the child, if all the measures taken have not yielded results. Medicines are available in the form of drops that are convenient for use.
Reasons for the increase and corrective therapy
As can be seen from the table, the normal hemoglobin content of the newborn is on average from 140 to 230 g / l.
Hemoglobin, greatly exceeding the upper limit of the norm, is even more dangerous for the health of a little man, especially if he keeps about the same values. In this case, additional tests and examinations will be required to exclude:
- heart failure and heart defects;
- poor lung function and respiratory system diseases;
- partial bowel obstruction;
- various diseases of the blood and circulatory system, including oncological problems.
In these cases, hemoglobin rises. The norm in a newborn should be at most about 230-240 g / l. All that is above is already some kind of pathology.
A clinical blood test can also show a very high level of red blood cells and platelets, and thrombocytosis is extremely dangerous at such a tender age, because drugs that help reduce blood viscosity are strictly prohibited for infants.
Treatment
They try to look for a way out, adjusting the baby's diet to therapeutic needs. The main emphasis is on cereals, except buckwheat, fruits and vegetables, cottage cheese and kefir. Products containing a lot of iron are minimized, if possible it is advisable to exclude them altogether for a while. From plant foods, iron is absorbed in microdoses, so it is usually left.
The child should drink enough water, for which he will have to drink it. The air in the house should always be sufficiently humidified, this can be done using special appliances or home methods. Long walks in this case are also very useful. If it is possible to go to the sea, it is definitely worth doing.
In case of detection of diseases that provoke an increase in hemoglobin, they immediately begin to treat them, simultaneously using both methods of drug therapy and physiotherapy and other manipulations, up to surgery if necessary.
We have examined in detail such an indicator as hemoglobin. The norm in the newborn is shown, and options for deviations from the norm are also described.