I suspect the reason is that while blood is tested, there is not a 100%
guarantee that it is AIDS free.  As was indicated, why not have the same
worry about mom.  When I first worked as an OB nurse 15 years ago it was
at a setting where a larger than average percentage of the moms had a
very low blood count.  (Regarding the need for treatment, I liked the
way one doc put it.  She said, "Right now, you have a sufficient count
to survive, although you would need to be very slow about getting up
from a horizontal position.  The concern is that you have no "reserve"
left if anything should happen to lower the count any further.")  In
that setting, however, blood or packed red blood cells were rarely given
as the solution as is done where I work nos.  Instead, they would give
Imferon shots.  This is an iron product and it seemed to work well.  You
just had to be careful giving it because it stained everything it came
in contact with and if you didn't use a Z-track method of giving the
shot mom would wind up with a small "tatoo" at the injection site.  I'm
wondering why it doesn't seem to be used as much now.  There certainly
wouldn't be any concern with nursing after getting the Imferon and no
concern about contamination.  Does anyone know of other side effects
than the staining that would explain why it seems to be out of favor?
Winnie

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