how long ago can you donate blood if you were pregnant

If you received a blood transfusion while pregnant, or at any other time, you must wait 12 months before you are eligible to donate. In America and Canada, if you miscarried or terminated your pregnancy, you must wait 6 weeks before you are eligible to donate. For more information, please visit the American Red Cross, or Canadian Blood Services.

Full Answer

Can pregnant women donate blood?

You must be at least 17 years old to donate to the general blood supply, or 16 years old with parental/guardian consent, if allowed by state law. There is no upper age limit for blood donation as long as you are well with no restrictions or limitations to your activities. In-Depth Discussion of Age and Blood Donation.

How long after giving birth can you donate blood?

Nov 11, 2021 · November 11, 2021 Photo credit: Thinkstock / Wavebreak media You aren't eligible to donate blood during pregnancy because it could be unsafe for you and your baby, according to the American Red Cross. The group also recommends waiting at least six weeks after giving birth before donating.

How long after sex can I donate blood?

Feb 24, 2022 · In the US, mothers are allowed to donate blood six weeks after delivery. But you need to think twice before you go ahead. The only reason you may be allowed to give blood while pregnant is if your doctor thinks you might need blood transfusion during delivery.

Do I need a blood transfusion during pregnancy?

Jun 19, 2019 · If you received a blood transfusion while pregnant, or at any other time, you must wait 12 months before you are eligible to donate. In America and Canada, if you miscarried or terminated your pregnancy, you must wait 6 weeks before you are eligible to donate. For more information, please visit the American Red Cross, or Canadian Blood Services.

How long after pregnancy can you donate blood?

The American Red Cross require women to wait 6 weeks after giving birth before donating blood. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) warn against donating blood during breastfeeding. They recommend waiting 9 months after the pregnancy ends or 3 months after the baby is mostly weaned from breastfeeding.Jun 30, 2020

What if you donate blood before you know you're pregnant?

If anemia is severe enough, it could increase your risk for a preterm delivery, intrauterine growth restriction, or anemia in your baby. Some women donate blood before knowing they're pregnant. This is unlikely to cause any problems with your pregnancy, but if you have concerns, check with your healthcare provider.

Can donating blood cause a miscarriage?

Researchers found there was no increased risk of adverse newborn or maternal outcomes in women who donated blood before their pregnancy.Oct 27, 2020

Can donating plasma while pregnant cause miscarriage?

Why You Should Not Donate Plasma While Pregnant You should not donate plasma while pregnant because of the potential complications for the plasma recipient. The potential transfusion reaction known as TRALI can be fatal for the person receiving the plasma.Nov 5, 2021

Can you donate blood or plasma while pregnant?

Unfortunately, pregnant people cannot donate plasma. First, there's not much research about how donating plasma might affect a growing fetus. Some sources suggest that donating plasma (or blood) can put you at a higher risk of anemia. While that's never a good thing, this is especially concerning during pregnancy.Mar 23, 2022

How long do you have to wait to donate blood?

Wait at least 8 weeks between whole blood (standard) donations. Wait at least 7 days between platelet (pheresis) donations . Wait at least 16 weeks between Power Red (automated) donations. First-time male donors may be eligible to donate blood if they have not had sex with another man in more than 3 months.

How long after blood transfusion can you donate?

Blood Transfusion. Wait for 3 months after receiving a blood transfusion from another person in the United States. You may not donate if you received a blood transfusion since 1980 in France, Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar or Falkland Islands.

What is the age limit for blood donation?

There is no upper age limit for blood donation as long as you are well with no restrictions or limitations to your activities. In-Depth Discussion of Age and Blood Donation. Those younger than age 17 are almost always legal minors (not yet of the age of majority) who cannot give consent by themselves to donate blood.

How long after taking aspirin can you donate blood?

Aspirin. Aspirin, no waiting period for donating whole blood. However, you must wait 2 full days after taking aspirin or any medication containing aspirin before donating platelets by apheresis. For example, if you take aspirin products on Monday, the soonest you may donate platelets is Thursday.

Does the Red Cross accept hemochromatosis?

American Red Cross does not accept individuals with hemochromatosis as blood donors. Learn more about Hematocrit here. Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, Blood Count. In order to donate blood, a woman must have a hemoglobin level of at least 12.5 g/dL, and a man must have a hemoglobin level of at least 13.0 g/dL.

How to contact the Red Cross for blood donation?

Individuals with questions about their donation eligibility can contact the Red Cross Donor and Client Support Center at 1-866-236-3276. For the purposes of blood donation gender is self-identified and self-reported, which is relevant to the transgender community.

How is blood volume determined?

Blood volume is determined by body weight and height. Individuals with low blood volumes may not tolerate the removal of the required volume of blood given with whole blood donation. There is no upper weight limit as long as your weight is not higher than the weight limit of the donor bed/lounge you are using.

Can you give blood while pregnant?

The only reason you may be allowed to give blood while pregnant is if your doctor thinks you might need blood transfusion during delivery. So, in that case, you’ll be donating blood to your future self!

Does the Red Cross donate blood?

The Red Cross discourages pregnant women from donating blood. You may feel this is unfair. But it is not some form of discrimination. Your body produces some extra blood during pregnancy. But you need this blood to sustain your baby’s life in the womb.

Can you donate while breastfeeding?

You can donate blood while breastfeeding, but only after a certain amount of time after giving birth. The length of time depends on where you are.

What else can you do?

If you are pregnant, or haven’t had enough time post pregnancy to be eligible to donate blood (or maybe you just can’t stand the thought of big needles- I hear you), there are still other things you can do to help.

Can you donate blood to yourself?

And then, in that event, you’ll be donating blood to your future self!

Can pregnant women donate blood?

The American Red Cross advises pregnant women not to donate blood since it is considered unsafe.

Do women donate blood?

Women make up a big part amongst the universal blood-donating population. Nothing can beat the peace one attains upon helping another human being. Despite how selfless and compassionate you are, you will be discouraged from the gracious act of donating blood once you are pregnant.

Can you give blood while pregnant?

The sole reason you may be permitted to give blood during pregnancy is if your doctor believes you might require a blood transfusion during delivery in case you are tagged under a high-risk pregnancy. This happens mainly if the mother develops severe anemia or if she experiences or possesses any chance of excessive bleeding at some point in the course of pregnancy. If there are chances of hemorrhage, to handle the complications that may come up when receiving blood from some other source, the doctor may ask you to store some blood for yourself in case you necessitate it. And then, in that event, you’ll be donating blood to your future self!

What happens if you donate blood and your pregnant?

Nothing: Blood centers have selection criteria for donors and if you meet those criteria, donating blood in early pregnancy will not harm you or your baby. It would be useful to discuss the matter with your doctor and to see if you need iron and/or vitamin supplementation.

Can I donate blood whilst pregnant ?

Depends: During pregnancy, you're producing blood for 2 of you, so usually there's very little to spare. If your Hemoglobin is quite high then maybe you can consider donation, though to be honest I wouldn't recommend it

If i didn't know i was pregnant and donated blood, would they tell me?

Maybe: It's not something that i would count on. Remember, the purpose of their taking your blood donation was not to screen for pregnancy. It also depends on the screening protocols that are in place at the location where you donated.