Hemoglobin in an infant has indicators that differ significantly from those of an adult. The baby is born with a large supply of this protein in the blood – about 145-225 g / l.
This reserve, which experts call fetal, is extremely necessary for the maintenance of vital activity of all organs and tissues, because the baby is unable to independently obtain nutrients from food, and lactation is only improving.
As soon as the baby starts to apply to the breast, the hemoglobin level will begin to decline. After two weeks, the figures fall to 125–205 g / l, and for a monthly crumb this figure varies between 100–180 g / l.
Hemoglobin in infants: the rate of protein in the blood for each baby is individual. If the mother was carrying the pregnancy normally, the delivery was also successful, and the lactation was managed quickly, then small deviations from the normal values can be ignored. The body itself will replenish the supply it needs, if the mother’s nutrition is complete and balanced, and the child is applied to the chest on demand.
With regard to artificial feeding, then you need to find the right mix with your pediatrician and then there will be no cause for concern. Another thing, if a woman had problems with gestation, underwent a difficult childbirth: lost a lot of blood or suffered any diseases.
A woman still strictly monitors her blood hemoglobin level during pregnancy, because it delivers to the organs and tissues the oxygen they need so much, the lack of which may not in the best way affect the development of the fetus. After the appearance of the baby, these indicators continue to be actively monitored and, if a deviation from the norm is diagnosed, a decision is made to correct
Low hemoglobin – what to do
Low hemoglobin in an infant is dangerous in that it leads to oxygen starvation or hypoxia. Poor quality work of internal organs can lead to a delay in the development of the baby, both physical and mental. Symptoms of anemia are divided into primary and secondary.
The former are expressed in incessant weakness, decreased appetite and increased fatigue. Secondary symptoms are associated with an increase in temperature up to 37.5 ° C, dizziness, circles under the eyes, drowsiness, palpitations, dryness, and unhealthy pale skin.
If low hemoglobin is diagnosed in a newborn, then the mother of the baby who is breastfed must be leaned on foods rich in iron. This is primarily meat and liver, pomegranates, buckwheat, eggs, apples, beans, dried apricots, pumpkin seeds, peas, fish, apricots, nuts, etc. For the artificials it is necessary to choose a mixture additionally enriched with iron. Starting to introduce supplements, you also need to be the first to include in the diet foods in which there is a lot of iron.
The basis of the diet should be meat, fruits and vegetables. If the iron-containing diet does not bring positive results, the doctor may prescribe medication in the form of drops containing iron.
Causes of elevated hemoglobin and nutrition
As already mentioned, in children under the age of the indicators of the number of protein cells in the blood increased. In addition, due to a number of reasons, the body can throw all its forces on the enhanced supply of organs and tissues with oxygen, and then the hemoglobin will increase for a while and then return to normal.
We are talking about burns when damaged tissues are restored with the help of oxygen, or increased physical exertion. Kids living in the mountains also have elevated hemoglobin levels in the blood, but this is normal.
Another thing is if the baby has hemoglobin too much and there is no tendency to decrease. Then we can assume that there are any problems in the work of internal organs. Such unpleasant consequences can cause heart and lung failure, intestinal obstruction, blood disease, oncological diseases and congenital heart disease. Excess blood cells can disrupt the normal circulation of blood, increase its viscosity, and this is a direct way to blockage and the formation of blood clots. All this points to erythrocytosis, developing on the background of any disease. In this case, the baby is examined and proceeds to the treatment of the underlying disease.
At the same time organize its proper nutrition. If hemoglobin is elevated in an infant, then there is no question of taking blood thinners. Bet on doing food and drinking mode. Both artificials and babies need to drink more often with simple water, and even pediatricians are advised to put a humidifier in the children’s room. It is clear that foods rich in iron from the diet of mother and child are excluded completely. The basis of the diet should be vegetable food, cereal.
It is useful to walk a lot with the baby in the fresh air. That’s all the information about hemoglobin in young children. If neither path of the mother nor the child is revealed, then you should not worry about the deviations from the norm: these numbers will definitely return to the proper indicators.
