The risks of anemia in pregnancy

Chief of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, David Miller, MD, explains what anemia is and how it can affect pregnancy
The Risks of Anemia During Pregnancy - Expert Pregnancy Guide
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The risks of anemia in pregnancy

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What is anemia? And how can anemia affect pregnancy? First of all anemia is a condition that's characterized by a low concentration of red blood cells in the circulatory system. Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen to the vital organs. In severe cases, anemia can result in reduced oxygen delivery to vital organs like the heart or even the uterus and the placenta. Sometimes it can reduce oxygen to the fetus and cause fetal heart rate abnormalities. Anemia is diagnosed by a very simple blood test, called a complete blood count, or a CBC. There are lots of different causes, the most common cause in the United States is probably iron deficiency, but there are other causes like folate deficiency and B12 deficiency and even conditions such as sickle cell anemia, or thalassemia need to be considered. When anemia is diagnosed it's important to look for the underlying cause and treat it appropriately and in rare circumstances, sever anemia might even require a blood transfusion

Chief of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, David Miller, MD, explains what anemia is and how it can affect pregnancy

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David Miller, MD

Chief of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles

David A. Miller, MD, is Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California and Children's Hospital Los Angeles.  He is the Chief of Maternal Fetal Medicine at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and the Director of the CHLA-USC Institute for Maternal Fetal Health, a unique alliance of medical leaders from Children's Hospital Los Angeles and USC, specializing in interdisciplinary diagnosis and treatment of complex fetal abnormalities.  Dr. Miller graduated from USC, attended medical school at the University of Arkansas, did his internship and residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and came back to USC for fellowship training in Maternal-Fetal Medicine (Perinatology).  He has been a researcher, clinician and educator at USC for more than 20 years.  Dr. Miller has published extensively in the area of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and has won numerous awards and honors including Best Doctors in America from 2001-present.

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