The most useful test with which to render a diagnosis of<unk>  is a low RBC count, however hemoglobin and hematocrit values are most commonly used in making the initial diagnosis of<unk> . Testing involved in diagnosing<unk>  in the pregnant person must be tailored to each individual patient. Suggested tests include: hemoglobin and hematocrit (ratio of red blood cells to the total blood volume), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), erythrocyte count (number of red blood cells in the blood), red cell distribution width (RDW), reticulocyte count, and a peripheral smear to assess red blood cell morphology. If iron deficiency is suspected, additional tests such as: serum iron, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation, and plasma or serum ferritin may be warranted. It is important to note that references ranges for these values are often not the same for pregnant women. Additionally, laboratory values for pregnancy often change throughout the duration of a woman’s gestation. For example, the reference values for what level of hemoglobin is considered<unk>  varies in each trimester of pregnancy. - First trimester hemoglobin Differential using MCV MCV can be a great measure for differentiating between different forms of<unk> . MCV measures the average size of your red blood cells. There are three cut off measurements for MCV. If the MCV is 100 fL it is considered a macrocytic<unk> . Some causes of<unk>  can be characterized by different ranges of MCV depending upon the severity disease. Here are common causes of<unk>  organized by MCV. MCV 100 fL - Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency - Drug induced - Liver disease or alcohol use - Hypothyroidism - Myelodysplastic Syndromes Pregnancy Pregnant women need almost twice as much iron as women who are not pregnant do. Not getting enough iron during pregnancy raises risk of premature birth or a low-birth-weight baby. Hormonal changes in the pregnant woman result in an increase in circulating blood volume to 100 mL/kg with a total blood volume of approximately 6000–7000 mL. While red cell mass increases by 15–20% during pregnancy, plasma volume increases by 40%. Hemoglobin levels less than 11 g/dL during the first trimester, less than 10.5 g/dL during the second and third trimesters and less than 10 mg/dL in the postpartum period are considered<unk> .
Anemia in pregnancy
Hypercoagulability in pregnancy
Early pregnancy bleeding
Anemia of chronic disease
Gestational thrombocytopenia
Pre-eclampsia
Pre-existing disease in pregnancy
Acquired hemolytic anemia