Neonatal Anemia and How it Affects Newborns – A Comprehensive Guide
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Introduction: What is Neonatal Anemia?
A lack of healthy red blood cells, hemoglobin, or both leads to the condition known as anemia. Red blood cells are responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the body via the bloodstream. When an infant develops anemia before the age of 28 days, the condition is called neonatal anemia. Anemia is common in premature infants and may be present at birth; however, in full-term infants, it may not become noticeable until a week or two have passed. Neonatal anemia can have a number of potential causes or contributors. The most common cause of anemia in newborns is blood loss, followed by the rapid breakdown of red blood cells, insufficient production of red blood cells, and premature birth.
What Are the Symptoms of Anaemia in Babies?
Your kid might not be able to perform as well if his or her iron levels are low. Nevertheless, iron deficiency anemia rarely manifests itself until after the fact. In infants, anemia often manifests with the following signs and symptoms:
Paleness: the pinkness of the lips, the insides of the eyelids, and the nail beds fade. This happens due to low levels of hemoglobin.
Fatigue: You may feel very tired, weak, and sleepy more than usual. Reduced oxygen delivery to tissues and muscles drains energy when hemoglobin levels are low.
Cold hands and feet: Because of the reduced blood flow to your extremities, you may experience a heightened sensation of cold in your hands and feet.
Frequent infections: iron is essential for immunity. Due to an iron deficiency, you are vulnerable to different infections.
Unusual cravings: Pica, a condition characterized by an insatiable desire for objects that aren’t food but that one may find comfort in, can develop as a result of an iron deficiency. Desires for inedible substances are characteristic of the mental disorder known as pica.
Additional signs could be:
- Slowed growth and development
- hyperventilation syndrome
- Behavior issues
- To have yellow eyes and/or skin (jaundice)
- The urine of a drab hue
- Inability to keep food down.
Possible symptoms of severe anemia include:
Feeling out of breath
Low hemoglobin levels may be to blame. Your body’s ability to transport oxygen to your muscles and other tissues is impaired because of this low level. As a result, you start to feel short of breath.
Feelings of uneasiness in the chest:
An irregular heartbeat can be a sign that your heart is working harder than usual to meet the increased oxygen demands of your body, a common symptom of anemia. An irregular or rapid heartbeat may result from this. It can also cause heart failure, heart enlargement, or a heart murmur in extreme cases.
Restless legs syndrome: When you have restless legs syndrome, your legs and feet will start to feel strange, like they are crawling or itching, and you will feel an overwhelming need to move them. This symptom typically worsens in the evening and night, making it hard to fall asleep.
Headaches and dizziness: Low hemoglobin levels can lead to headaches and dizziness by reducing the amount of oxygen reaching the brain through dilated blood vessels.
An iron deficiency could be the cause of your baby’s anemia. Newborns and infants between the ages of 9 and 24 months often develop this form of anemia. Some of the signs that a baby may have an iron deficiency are as follows.
- Reduced hunger
- Irritability
- Fussiness
- Inattentiveness
You should talk to your kid’s doctor if you notice any of the above symptoms or if you suspect that your kid isn’t getting enough iron in her diet.
How do doctors deal with infant anemia?
It’s best to take your baby’s doctor’s advice on how to treat his or her anemia, as there are many different types of anemia and each requires a unique approach. Never give baby vitamins, supplements, or any other over-the-counter medication without first consulting with your child’s doctor.
The doctor may prescribe medicine, dietary changes, or nutritional supplements to help treat your baby’s anemia. If the cause of your anemia is determined to be a deficiency in iron, your doctor may recommend an iron supplement in drop form.
Your infant’s iron levels may require periodic visits to the doctor. It is crucial that she is not receiving too much or too little iron from her supplements. Unless your pediatrician tells you otherwise, continue giving your infant the iron supplement.
Your child’s primary care physician may suggest consulting with a hematologist if he or she suspects that your child has a blood cell disorder such as hemolytic anemia, sickle cell anemia, or thalassemia.
Babies who are born prematurely or who are very ill may require a blood transfusion to treat anemia.
Be sure to tell your doctor about any red flags you’ve seen, as well as any history of anemia or bleeding issues in the family, when you call or bring your baby in for a checkup.
The Best Ways to Keep Babies From Getting Anaemia
However, genetic conditions like sickle cell anemia and thalassemia cannot be avoided, and therefore not all forms of anemia can be avoided. However, eating a healthy, balanced diet can ward off anemia caused by iron or nutrient deficiencies.
Here are some potential measures you can take to shield your infant from nutritional anemia:
- When it comes to feeding your baby, wait at least a year before switching to cow’s milk.
- A doctor may recommend an iron supplement for a breastfed infant beginning around 4 months of age and continuing until the infant begins eating iron-rich complementary solids (around 6 months), such as iron-fortified cereals and pureed meats.
- Select an iron-fortified baby formula if you plan to supplement breast milk. Stay away from low-iron baby food.
- When your baby is 12 months old, you can start giving him or her cow’s milk, but only 2 cups per day. More than that and your baby may feel full and refuse iron-rich foods because milk has so little iron.
- Once your baby is used to eating solids, it’s best to introduce iron-rich foods like red meat, egg yolks, potatoes, tomatoes, beans, dried fruit, and dark, leafy greens.
- Eat plenty of vitamin C-rich foods because they improve your body’s ability to absorb iron. Citrus fruits, orange juice, peppers, tomatoes, spinach, and broccoli are all good sources of vitamin C.
Conclusion
Your doctor may prescribe dietary changes, medicine, or supplements to treat your child’s anemia. Your child’s primary care physician may suggest seeing a genetics expert for advice on treatment if it is determined that the anemia is caused by a genetic disorder.
Consult your baby’s doctor if you suspect that he or she has anemia because of symptoms like fatigue and pale skin. Checking your baby’s hemoglobin levels is easy, and he can recommend it to you.
Your baby’s doctor will be able to recommend the best course of treatment after a proper diagnosis has been made, and before you know it, your child will be healthy again.