Neonatal Anemia Treatment in India

Sara Reddy was born at 34...

Sara Reddy was born at 34 weeks gestation, a tiny but feisty 4.2-pound baby to first-time parents Priya and Arjun. She spent her first week in the NICU for typical prematurity support, but on day 8, her nurse noticed she was unusually pale and lethargic during feeds. Blood work revealed a hemoglobin level of just 7.2 g/dL, diagnosing her with late-onset anemia of prematurity. Her body simply couldn't keep up with red blood cell production after birth. The neonatologist, Dr. Evans, explained that while Sara wasn't in immediate crisis, her profound fatigue was hindering her ability to feed and grow, which was critical for her development. He recommended a packed red blood cell transfusion to quickly correct the anemia and give her the energy she needed. During the slow, carefully monitored transfusion, Priya and Arjun held each other's hands tightly, watching the small bag of blood drip into their daughter's IV line. Sara slept peacefully through it. Within 24 hours, the change was remarkable. Sara's skin had a healthy pink hue, she was alert during care times, and she began taking full bottle feeds with vigor. Her parents' constant anxiety, the fear that their fragile baby was slipping backward, melted into relief and hope. They felt they had their fighting girl back, now with the strength to finally thrive.