Plasma is the liquid part of your blood and plays various vital roles in your body. The donated plasma is usually used for burn or shock victims and chronic liver conditions. Pharmaceutical companies use plasma for making medications for immune deficiencies and bleeding disorders. Can you donate plasma while pregnant? This question arises due to the specific health risks and guidelines associated with plasma donation during pregnancy.
Thinking about donating your plasma while being pregnant? There are many things that you should be aware of before taking such a step. Especially being pregnant and donating blood or plasma is a kind of decision that must only be taken with proper guidance from your physician. It is frowned upon to donate blood or plasma during this time because it is not good for the donor as well as the recipient. So this article will give you a brief overview of what to expect, the possible outcomes, and aftereffects. And without further ado let us get right into it.
What is Plasma and Why is it Important?
Plasma is the liquid part of your blood. It carries other components of blood like the platelets, red blood cells, and the white blood cells. Plasma makes up 55% of the blood volume. It is over 91% water. The rest comprises proteins, immunoglobulins, and electrolytes. Plasma plays a major role in the transportation of crucial substances like proteins, hormones, and nutrients to the necessary sites. The cells also dump their water into this plasma which is then carried outside of your system. It also plays an important part in blood clotting, immune function, and fluid balance as well.
The Process of Plasma Donation
You will have to contact your nearest donation centers and ask for every document and eligibility requirement to do this process. Before the process make sure that you are well rested, stay hydrated, and eat healthy low-fat meals. It is better to stay away from nicotine, alcohol, and caffeine. The blood is drawn from the arm and it is directed to a high-end machine that separates plasma from blood. The platelets and red blood cells are combined with saline and inserted back into the donor’s body. There is nothing worrisome about the procedures and it barely takes a few minutes longer than the normal blood donation.
General Requirements for Plasma Donation
You cannot just walk into any donation centers and give your plasma. There are several eligibility criteria that you will have to meet to be able to give your plasma.
- Got to be older than 18 years of age
- Should not have any serious or chronic illness
- Should weigh over 50 kilos or 110 pounds
- You must pass the viral screening tests to ensure that you do not have any viral infections like HIV or hepatitis
- You may also be asked for an extensive medical test
- Must not have gotten a tattoo or piercing in the last 4 to 6 months
- People who have transplants might not be qualified
- People with a history of anemia
Pregnancy and Plasma Donation
Plasma donation is a big no-no during pregnancy. There are many reasons why your healthcare advisor might call donating plasma while pregnant a bad idea. The first major reason is that there is not enough research done on the effects of plasma donation and how it may affect the mother and the baby. Few studies hint that plasma donation might put mothers at risk for anemia. Another important factor is that a pregnant woman’s plasma might be fatal for the recipient. Yes, you heard it right. A pregnant woman’s plasm contains some stuff that might put the recipient in a dangerous situation.
The fetus might send some of the father’s genetic material to the mother’s blood. The mother’s body creates specific antibodies. These antibodies are called human leukocyte antigen or HLA. These antibodies are made so that the mother’s immune system does not suppress the father’s genetic material. Now this HLA might not harm the mother or the baby but may be detrimental for the recipient. It may cause Transfusion-related acute lung injury or TRALI.
The Importance of Plasma During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, there is an increase in aldosterone which causes a spike in blood plasma volume. This is very important as low plasma volume is linked with a higher risk of developing gestational hypertension and also may cause preeclampsia and other complications as per the study mentioned in the Journal of Health Population and Nutrition. There is a higher oxygen requirement so the red blood cell production is also higher and to cope with that the plasma volume also improves to meet the additional requirements. Recent medical advancements show that maternal plasma volume is a big indicator of successful pregnancies and it is crucial for the health and well-being of both the mother and the baby.
Plasma Donation After Pregnancy
If you are keen on donating your blood or plasma then the recommended waiting period is nine months after delivery. This is the timeline set by WHO. It can vary from donation centers. If you haven’t carried to term, suffered a miscarriage, or terminated the pregnancy then a wait for six months might be acceptable. Breastfeeding mothers are also not usually encouraged to donate plasma as it might negatively impact milk supply. In some cases, it is allowed but it is better to discuss with your doctor before taking such an action. There might be changes in policy depending on the country and donation centre rules and it is best to adhere to that. But always ensure that you are talking with your medical advisor before donating your plasma especially if you have any other medical conditions or are prone to anemia.
Can You Donate Plasma While Pregnant: Final Verdict
Plasma donation is very helpful for people with trauma, burn, and shock patients as well as for people with some serious liver conditions or who have some blood clotting issues. And it is a really great thing that you could do to give back to society and help people in need. However, there are some criteria that you must meet to be eligible for this process and if you are pregnant then that prevents you from being a possible candidate for donating plasma. Can you donate plasma while pregnant? Pregnancy is demanding on your body and it might not be the best option for both the mother and child as well as the recipient. The aftereffect of accepting a pregnant woman’s plasma might be detrimental to the health of the recipient so it is better to stay away from the donation process at least for a while. Go for it when your doctor gives you a green flag, without compromising on your well-being.
FAQS
You might be putting yourself at high risk of anemia and other pregnancy complications. Plus it might be fatal to the health of the recipient, so the donation centers usually screen for HLA and ensure that the plasma is free of that substance.
No, usually the plasma centers do not conduct any pregnancy tests. However, they might do some other screening, especially for the HLA antibodies in the blood of women who have ever been pregnant in their lives.
No. it is not ok to donate your blood if you are pregnant. Usually, doctors recommend waiting for 6 to 9 months postpartum to donate blood.
During pregnancy, your body is going through several changes. Your blood plasma volume is said to increase a lot, especially in the 34th week. There is also a chance that the platelet count decreases. Certain plasma proteins might be affected by all the hormonal changes that your body goes through.
Children under the age of 18, people with any serious medical conditions, individuals with high or low blood pressure, people who weigh less than 110 pounds, and expecting and nursing mothers.
