Haemophilia
is a blood disorder that causes defect in blood.
It's because of this that blood doesn't clot much. So, there is an increased risk of bleeding or bruising without or with minor injuries. In acquired haemophilia, there is formation of antibodies against own proteins called as auto-antibodies. They begin to attack a specific clotting factor.
Clotting factors are basically proteins in blood that work with platelets to form blood clots which then help to control bleeding. The expert shares that low clotting factor levels increase bleeding risk. Haemophilia usually occurs because the body doesn't make enough protein to help blood to form clots.
A woman with haemophilia may not have enough clotting factors, so they may have really heavy menstrual periods apart from getting bruised easily.
Haemophilia and pregnancy
Fortunayely haemophilia doesn’t stop you from getting pregnant. But Women with inherited bleeding disorders, including carriers of hemophilia A and B have an increased risk of bleeding during pregnancy , miscarriages, preterm delivery, postpartum haemorrhages etc.
The unborn child may also be affected by the bleeding disorder for which specific measures have to be considered. This requires a multidisciplinary approach, with a team that includes a hematologist, a pediatric hematologist and an anesthesiologist. An optimal approach includes pre-pregnancy genetic counseling and a treatment plan for delivery for both the mother and child.
Recent retrospective studies show that even if strict guidelines are followed, these women are still at risk of postpartum bleeding. This occurs even if coagulation factor levels are normalized, either due to the pregnancy-induced rise of factor levels or by infusion of coagulation factor concentrates at the time of delivery.
Tips to ensure smooth pregnancy
All you need is a good management that will help you to deliver a healthy baby, says the expert. However, it is important to plan and prepare for the safe journey during pregnancy. Here's what to do: