P61.2: Anaemia of prematurity

Too little red blood pigment was measured in the child's blood after a premature birth.

Blood is made up of a liquid part and different blood cells, among other things. The blood cells include the red blood cells, the white blood cells and the platelets. The red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs throughout the body. Red blood cells contain the red hemoglobin that gives blood its color. This pigment is important for carrying oxygen in the blood.

The placenta forms in the mother’s womb during pregnancy. The placenta consists of cells from the mother and cells from the unborn child. The umbilical cord connects the child to the placenta.

A birth is premature if the child is born before the end of the 37th week of pregnancy. There are various reasons why a premature child might have too little red blood pigment. After the birth there is still blood in the placenta. This blood may still be flowing, via the umbilical cord, in the child's circulatory system before the umbilical cord is cut. If the blood does not get from the placenta into the child's circulatory system, the child can have too little red blood pigment.

Another cause may be that premature babies have low iron reserves when born. Iron is required to form red blood pigment. It may be that the child is releasing too few of a particular messenger. This messenger stimulates the body to produce new red blood cells and red blood pigment. Taking a lot of blood samples for blood testing can also cause a shortage of red pigment in the blood.

When there is too little red pigment in the blood, the child may show a variety of indications. The child might be pale and have breathing problems. The heart may beat faster than usual. The child might have a sucking weakness and grow more slowly than is normal.