Can You Donate Blood While Breastfeeding
Although the Red Cross won’t bar you from donating if you’re six-weeks postpartum, you may want to wait until your baby has weaned to be extra safe. Breast milk and blood share one key ingredient: water. After you give blood at a drive, your body might scramble to produce enough milk for your baby.
WHO doesn’t recommend making a donation if your baby still relies on your breastmilk. Instead, take it easy and allot a three-month gap between weaning and giving blood. Those who decide to donate regardless should drink plenty of water to support milk production.
Donating Plasma During Pregnancy
The reason why you should refrain from donating plasma during pregnancy is two-fold. Dr. Adams explains that there are proteins in the body called Human Leukocyte Antigens which are markers attached to most of the body’s cells. HLAs help the body recognize which cells belong to your body and which do not. Your baby gets half the HLA from the egg and half from the sperm.
“The pregnant mom then makes antibodies to the HLA from the dad because they do not recognize those proteins,” says Adams. “If a pregnant mom gives plasma with those HLA antibodies, the recipient of the transfusion may have a transfusion reaction called TRALI . This is one of the more serious transfusion reactions that can lead to death.”
After the American Red Cross discovered that the majority of TRALI cases were associated with female-donated plasma between 2003 and 2005, they began distributing plasma from only male donors in 2006. By 2008, they found there was a substantial decrease in reported TRALI cases since the implementation of that guidance.
Currently, the Red Cross will ask questions of new platelet donors regarding their pregnancy history. If they have been pregnant in the past, they will test their platelets for the antibodies known to cause post-transfusion complications. If you have not been pregnant, this isn’t an issue.
How To Prepare Yourself Before Donating Plasma#
Eat enough proteinsStay hydrated Get enough sleepAvoid foods that are high in fats and cholesterolDont smoke before donatingAvoid alcohol and caffeine at least one night before donating
Conclusion
Donating plasma is a great way to help others and yourself. However, pregnant people and other factors shared above cannot donate plasma. Please contact the donation center and discuss your uncertainties if you are unsure. There are plenty of benefits to donating plasma, such as saving lives and improving your life. To have the best-donating experience, ensure that you do plenty of research on what to prepare before and after donating, as well as the donation center you plan to undergo your plasma donations at. ..
Donating plasma can be a painless experience, but some people may feel a pinch. ..
Most people report feeling only a minor level of discomfort when using the device. ..
Donate to a certified and trusted center to help you achieve your goals.
Yes, you can donate plasma during your period.
Some people believe that donating blood when youre not in your period is a good way to help the blood supply. ..
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I Need To Talk To Someone About My Debit Card
Although Octapharma Plasma issues the prepaid card to donors, you will need to contact the associated debit card provider directly for questions specific to your card. Debit card providers are able to help with, but are not limited, to the following:
- How do I check my card balance?
- My card is lost or stolen. How can I get a replacement?
- Can I add money to my card?
- Who do I talk to about charges on my card?
- I forgot my pin number. How do I reset it?
We have two debit card providers. Here is contact information for each:
Northlane Debit Card
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Related: 7 Sneaky Signs Your Blood Sugar Is Too High
When you picture donating, you probably think of volunteer organizations like the American Red Cross that travel around to collect your blood for free. And while thats a totally feasible way to donate, there are also other opportunities across the country where you can get paid for your plasma. Each collection facility sets its own donor compensation rates, which can vary based on the amount of plasma donated and time spent donating. For example, at a company called Grifols, a plasma donor receives compensation on a Grifols prepaid debit card thats refilled after each donationand she can earn up to $200 a month. At another for-profit center, , plasma donors also get a debit card but can earn something called OPI Rewards+ points as part of a customer loyalty program.
Find out what you MUST do the next time you go to the doctor:
When Can I Donate Blood Or Plasma Again
You are not supposed to donate blood or plasma until you are at least six weeks postpartum. This means that you have to wait until six weeks after you have given birth to donate blood or plasma.
This is because your body needs those same vitamins and nutrients to help itself heal. In addition to that, you can lose a lot of blood when pregnant. If you already do not have enough blood in your body, it can be dangerous to donate blood.
Its important to note that this is according to the Red Cross. Other blood and/or plasma donation centers may require that you wait longer than six weeks after giving birth. Its important to call and ask if you are going somewhere other than the Red Cross.
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What Will My First Visit Be Like
As a first-time donor, a staff member will greet you at the front desk and check your required documents. You will watch a brief educational video, take a free health screening and answer a medical questionnaire to assure safety, and then you can begin donating if you are determined to be suitable to donate. Please allow for up to two hours for your first visit. After a successful donation, you will be compensated for donation time. You can return for your second donation after 2 days. For a more comprehensive explanation of what to expect as a first-time donor, visit our Donation Experience Page.
Whats Next For Plasma Donation
The good news is that we have started collecting plasma for antibody medicines that help people with rare diseases.
Thousands of patients in the UK rely on them. There is a growing need for plasma for medicines and a worldwide shortage of donors.
Until now, plasma for these medicines had to be sourced from overseas but we are now able to collect plasma from UK donors to help provide life-saving and life-enhancing medicines for patients being treated in the NHS.
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When Can I Resume Donating Plasma
It’s currently up for debate when and if a person with a history of pregnancy can donate plasma. As Dr. Adams mentioned, it’s recommended that you wait until you are at least six weeks postpartum to donate and, at that time, the collection center will likely test your plasma for those HLA antibodies.
If you have plans to breastfeed, Kim Langdon, MD, an obstetrician and gynecologist with nearly two decades of clinical experience, advises against trying to donate plasma during this period of time.
“Its probably not a good idea because plasma donation may decrease your milk production,” says Langdon. “Adequate milk production depends on adequate hydration. It is not unsafe but you will feel fatigued afterward.”
She encourages donors to wait until they have finished breastfeeding before they attempt to donate again, cautioning that if these HLA antibodies continue to be detected they will not be able to use the donation.
Dangers Of Pregnancy And Plasma Donation
For some people, donating plasma can be an emotionally rewarding experience, and a great way to bring in some extra money. Earning money to prepare for a new baby can be stressful for new moms. Sometimes additional money can be hard to come by without a strenuous job.
Although donating plasma can be an easy way to get a little extra money, it could affect the recipient of your plasma. Sometimes, a reaction called TRALI can be fatal to those who receive plasma donations.
Although TRALI is extremely rare, it can come from human leukocyte antigens antibodies that sometimes form during pregnancy. A fetus gets its HLA from both parents sometimes, the mothers body will make antibodies against the fathers HLA. This interaction generally doesnt harm anyone except in the cases of plasma donation and transfusion.
Sometimes, the plasma of pregnant women contains HLA antibodies in it. If someone is exposed to these antibodies during a transfusion, they can interact with the HLA in the recipients lungs and cause TRALI.
For these reasons, many donation centers do not allow pregnant women to donate their plasma as there is a remote chance that it could harm recipients.
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What Happens If You Accidentally Donate Blood Or Plasma While Pregnant
You went in for a blood donation before you realized you were carrying. Even though your donation was made with the best intentions, you’re now concerned about the effect that donation could have on your health.
As long as you’re attending your prenatal appointments, any iron deficiency won’t fly under the radar. Let your doctor know that you donated blood he or she will check that your hemoglobin and ferritin levels are healthy. If you do need more iron, you may receive a prescription for a supplement or even an IV.
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Why Some Pregnant Women Are Asked To Give Blood
This only happens in one scenario, if the doctor thinks you might need a blood transfusion during your delivery. Women under high-risk pregnancy fall into this category. Also, there are cases where women develop risks of severe anemia and bleeding during conception. Once a doctor realizes this, they will ask you to donate some beforehand. Its for your own good after all!
Why Do Some People Need Plasma Donations
Although plasma is essential to healthy living, some people struggle to make it.
Traumatic injuries or chronic illnesses can compromise peoples ability to produce enough plasma in their blood.
Some people rely on plasma donations because they are an essential ingredient in medications that treat many chronic conditions. Some of which include
- And liver disease
In contrast, some people need to donate plasma to generate additional income. After an initial session, the complete process of donating plasma takes a little more than an hour, allowing donors to resume their normal activities after a short observation period.
How much a donor can earn depends on their location, the donation center they visit, and how often they donate. The average amount a plasma donor can make comes out to between $30 and $50 a session.
Also, some centers run special promotions that can add an extra incentive for donors to come in more frequently. Some incentives can include
- Monthly Bonuses
- Entrance into raffles for prizes
- Awards for high donation rates
- Large payouts to first-time donors
- Referral bonuses
The available incentives and average earnings vary between donation centers as many have specific pay scales to compensate donors.
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Q Can You Donate Blood While Pregnant
Answer:Unfortunately, no. Its like taking food out of your babys mouth. Most of the proteins and nutrients are found in plasma. To protect your health and avoid causing complications to the fetus, doctors advise against it. In addition, you need to give your body enough time to replenish and heal after delivery. Plasma forms a large portion of the healing journey.
Now can you donate plasma while breastfeeding? There are also donation restrictions while breastfeeding as it may lead to the low quality of breast milk. For regular donors looking to get pregnant, its advisable to build and improve iron levels in preparation to meet pregnancy requirements.
All Women Who’ve Ever Been Pregnant Can’t Give Plasma
Contrary to the positive stories about the popular plasma therapy for Covid-19, not all women who have ever been pregnant are eligible for donation of plasma going by the donor eligibility criteria.
As a result, out of the 21,384 women in Bengaluru who have recovered from Covid, only 12 women between the age group of 19 and 33-years were able to donate plasma.
Government sources told DH that out of the recovered women in Bengaluru, 56 registered for plasma donation with the state plasma bank. Only 12 were eligible for donation as the rest may have developed, during pregnancy, antibodies that would result in transfusion-related complications.
Dr Sachin Jadhav, group head of haematology and bone marrow transplant at HCG Hospital where the plasma bank is located, told DH, “When a woman becomes pregnant, she develops antibodies against the fathers genetic material called Human Leucocyte Antigen . The HLA antibody can lead to Transfusion Related Acute Lung Injury . As per current international guidelines, it is recommended not to take plasma from women who have ever been pregnant as there is a slightly higher risk of reaction in the recipient. Any woman who has carried a baby for four to six months and then miscarried will also have the antibodies.”
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Next Steps If You Can’t Find A Good Plasma Donation Site By Yourself
If you cannot find sufficient information on local plasma donation centers online, consider visiting a few locations in-person to assess their requirements. Some sites have strict requirements concerning what new donors must bring. For instance, you may be required to show one or more forms of ID and proof of your current address. If you intend to donate on the same day, you’ll need to have all essential documents on hand.
How Long Does It Take To Donate Plasma
The time it takes depends on your body weight and other factors, and also whether youre a first-time donor. Your first visit can take up to 2 hours because it includes a health screening and in-depth questionnaire to make sure you can donate plasma. After that, each visit takes less time about an hour to an hour and a half.
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Does My Blood Type Matter
Plasma does not have a type, which means your life-saving plasma donation can be used to change the life of any patient, regardless of their blood type. To note, donors in our Anti-D Program might be eligible to earn even more. Enrollment will be determined by your local donation center management and hyperimmune department. You can check if your donation center offers the Anti-D program here.
Why Should You Not Donate Plasma During Pregnancy
As discussed above, it is not advisable to donate plasma during pregnancy. The plasma agency always asks a woman if she is pregnant before starting the plasma donation procedure. But sometimes, in early pregnancy, the mother does not know about being pregnant. So, several checks are carried out on your blood to determine if you are pregnant. According to plasma donation guidelines, plasma agencies cannot take plasma from a pregnant lady.
There are ample reasons which state donating plasma when pregnant is not safe. Each body has a protein called Human Leukocyte Antigens or HLA. These HLAs are unique to a body and are attached to each cell, making your body recognize that these cells belong to you. When a baby is conceived, they get half the HLAs from the father and half from the mother. Since the fathers HLAs are foreign to the mothers body, it develops antibodies against them, which flow in the plasma. So, when this plasma with HLA antibodies is transfused, the receivers body may experience a shock. This shock is called transfusion reaction and may even lead to death. This condition is called transfusion-related acute lung injury or TRALI.
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If I Can’t Donate Blood How Can I Help
Even if you can’t donate now, you can always give later when your body is ready. It’s the healthy choice for you and your baby. That said, there are plenty of options for you to get involved now if you want to:
- Volunteer. Organizations like the American Red Cross keep their operations running through the work of volunteers. Search out local opportunities to help organize or run a blood drive.
- Give a monetary donation. If you’re able, give to a nonprofit organization like the Red Cross. If you’re curious who’s running the closest collection site to you, enter your ZIP code in the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies’ directory.
- Donate cord blood. Look into donating cord blood to a public bank. The cells in cord blood have similar properties to the cells found in bone marrow, and they’re easier to collect. Cord blood treatments can help strengthen the immune systems of cancer patients and other immunocompromised people.Trusted SourceAmerican College of Obstetricians and GynecologistsCord Blood BankingSee All Sources
From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.
