What to do if ESR is increased during pregnancy?

Changes in blood tests in pregnant women are extremely important. They can not be ignored. A condition in which an ESR increases can be extremely dangerous during pregnancy.

In the course of carrying the child, the future mom gives a lot of different blood tests. One indicator that includes these lab tests is erythrocyte sedimentation rate or ESR. Many mummies are interested in what this laboratory criterion means.

For the first time, scientists started talking about the importance of studying this indicator as early as the beginning of the 20th century. In 1926, the first method appeared, allowing to determine the sedimentation rate of red blood cells. The scientists decided to leave its name together with the name of the researcher who proposed this method. From then until now, this clinical criterion is determined by Westergren.

Red blood cells in the body are very important. With their help all organic substances and oxygen are carried through the body. They are extremely important for the life and development of the body.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate is a laboratory criterion. Blood is used to determine it. During a certain time laboratory technicians evaluate this indicator. The results are measured in mm / hour. This is accepted by international medical regulations and is determined in almost all countries.

Doctors identify a lot of causal factors leading to a high ESR. Quite often, various viral and bacterial infections lead to a situation where ESR is elevated. Even banal colds can cause an increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

When any infection in the blood increases the number of leukocytes, the indicators in the leukocyte formula at the same time are shifted. Such a comprehensive assessment of the resulting violations allows physicians to determine the severity of the resulting violations.

Interesting but also after recovery, the ESR indicators may remain slightly elevated. It may take several weeks to normalize this indicator. During this time, the work of red blood cells is restored, blood clotting is improved.

Many anemic conditions are accompanied by an increase in ESR. The most common anemia in pregnant women is iron deficiency. The more pronounced the impairment and the reduced hemoglobin, the higher the level of ESR in the blood. To normalize these indicators requires the appointment of iron-containing drugs. In order for ESR to return to normal, it is necessary to use them for a fairly long period of time.

Chronic diseases of upper respiratory tract, according to statistics, are also a fairly common cause leading to an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Otitis, sinusitis, or inflammation in the paranasal sinuses can cause the ESR to remain elevated for quite some time. In this case, it is required Mandatory consultation with an otolaryngologist and selection of the necessary treatment tactics.

Doctors say that even ordinary caries can lead to increased ESR. Untreated teeth become a source of various infections. Quite often it happens that caries in pregnant women begins to progress. This is largely due to an imbalance in the calcium balance during pregnancy. In order to reduce the likelihood of caries, the expectant mother should eat a sufficient amount of products which contain calcium.

Pathologies of hemostasis, accompanied by bleeding disorders, are also the cause leading to an increase in blood ESR. Such diseases include various types of thrombophlebitis, varicose veins of the lower extremities, and lymph diseases. In this case, the increase in ESR becomes persistent and significant.

During pregnancy, the values ​​of this indicator gradually increase. This is largely due to changing hemostasis rates. Already by the second trimester of pregnancy, the blood of the expectant mother becomes thicker. This results in an increase in the concentration of fibrinogen in the blood. By the third trimester, the concentration of this substance in the blood is maximum. It is at this time and the ESR indicators are the highest.

In each period of childbearing, the norms of this indicator differ. Doctors use a special table. It contains all the normal values ​​of this indicator for different periods of pregnancy. Such a table is provided below:

When using this table is very important to remember about the period of pregnancy. Thus, an increase in ESR up to 40-45 mm / hour is an extremely unfavorable sign in the first weeks of carrying a baby. In the third trimester, this situation is the absolute norm.

An increase in blood fibrinogen concentration contributes to the fact that the level of ESR rises to 23-33 mm / hour. In this case, no medical correction is required. If in the second trimester of pregnancy, the ESR is 42 mm / hour or more, then this requires an already obligatory treatment to the therapist.

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate is currently determined during a general blood test. It is very convenient. The future mother does not need to repeatedly prick a finger or take venous blood.

You can take this laboratory test both in a regular clinic and in a private medical laboratory. Come to the study must be on an empty stomach. Before taking the test, you can drink some water if you are thirsty. Special training is not required.

The technique involves blood sampling in several ways. For quite a long time, this analysis was performed only by the capillary method. For this, a finger is punctured with the help of a special medical instrument. It should be noted that according to statistics, this method is worse tolerated, as it is more painful and traumatic.

Currently, in almost any medical institution, blood is taken by venous access. For this, as a rule, special vacuum tubes are used. Through their use, the method has become very common. It is easier tolerated and causes much less discomfort.

After blood collection, it is placed in a special tube. In order to begin the process of sedimentation of red blood cells, it adds a special chemical substance - anticoagulant. It is with his help that erythrocytes do not stick together, but begin to settle.

The study is conducted within an hour. During this time, the blood splits into two different density fractions - plasma and shaped elements. After the time allotted for research, the technician measures the thickness of each layer. He also records the result of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. This indicator is measured in special units - mm / hour.

Any deviations from the normal values ​​of ESR during childbirth should be a significant reason for going to the doctor. The future mommy, who has such violations, should immediately contact the therapist. This specialist will conduct a clinical examination and will recommend that she undergo additional diagnostics necessary to establish the cause of such changes.

Women whose doctors have detected ESR changes be sure to recommend carefully monitor the regime of the day. Pregnant women can not worry and be nervous. Stress leads to changes in the body and exacerbate many chronic diseases. Any psycho-emotional impact should be excluded or simply do not respond to them.

Improve well-being will help complete sleep. Expectant mother should sleep at least eight hours a day. If she is very tired during the day and feels the need to sleep, then she should definitely rest. Especially carefully it is necessary to monitor their regime of the day for mothers who are carrying twins or triplets.

Good nutrition with the obligatory use of a sufficient amount of protein is an integral part of any medical recommendations. In order to get all the necessary amino acids into the female body, the expectant mother should eat different sources of protein. Too fat food should still be excluded.

Drinking regimen plays an important role in the normalization of various blood parameters. The most optimal drink that should be consumed in sufficient quantities is plain water

Drink less than a half liters per day is impossible. The exception is women suffering from various pathologies of the kidneys and urinary tract, as well as having heart failure. In this case, drinking regime is necessarily discussed with your doctor.

If various infections have become the cause of increased ESR, then herbal teas and infusions are suitable as healthy drinks. You can make them from chamomile, lingonberry leaf, lime blossom and other medicinal plants. It is important to remember that such herbs can cause an allergic reaction. Before they are used, the future mom should always consult with her doctor.

If the cause of the resulting increase in ESR became teeth affected by caries, you should immediately contact your dentist. Afraid of visiting the doctor is not worth it. Currently, doctors in working with pregnant women use special methods of dental treatment, which are painless and do not cause harm to the baby.

Choose a doctor who has sufficient clinical experience in working with expectant mothers. Before you choose a doctor, be sure to read the real reviews of women who have already undergone such treatment.

Often the cause of increased ESR are exacerbations of various chronic diseases of internal organs. For correction of violations in this case, mandatory therapy of these pathologies is required.

To this end, the doctor will recommend the future mother a whole range of therapy, including the use of various groups of drugs. As soon as the exacerbation of the disease will be "removed", the ESR is gradually normalized.

Timely intervention of specialists will help to cope with the disease and significantly improve the well-being of the future mother. Normal values ​​of ESR are necessary for the full growth and development of the baby.

Next, we recommend to watch the introductory video, in which Elena Malysheva talks about an increased indicator of ESR in the blood during pregnancy.