Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Are Neutrophils?White Blood Cells and PregnancyWhy They Are High During PregnancySymptomsWhen to Seek Treatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Are Neutrophils?
White Blood Cells and Pregnancy
Why They Are High During Pregnancy
Symptoms
When to Seek Treatment
Neutrophilsarewhite blood cellsthat help our bodies fight infection. Neutrophils can be high during pregnancy due to the extra stress that pregnancy puts on a person’s body.
A high neutrophil count duringpregnancyis usually normal. However, high neutrophils can sometimes point to an underlying condition, such asgestational diabetes.
This article explains the reasons for high neutrophils during pregnancy. It covers the symptoms you may experience when your neutrophils are high, and when to see a healthcare provider.
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What Are Neutrophils (White Blood Cells)?
White blood cells are part of the body’simmune systemand help to protect against infection. White blood cells are made in thebone marrowand can be found in the blood and lymph tissue.
Neutrophils are white blood cells that help protect the body against infection. Once created in the bone marrow, neutrophils travel to any tissue in the body that needs them.
How White Blood Cells Change When Pregnant
When the body is under stress, more neutrophils are released from the bone marrow into the bloodstream. Usually, the neutrophils found in the blood are mature. In times of stress, more immature neutrophils are released into the blood.
Immature neutrophils are known as band neutrophils due to their segmented band-like shape. Band neutrophils can be detected in a blood test. The bone marrow tends to release more bands into the blood in response to the increased number of red blood cells produced during pregnancy.
Absolute Neutrophils, Explained
Why Neutrophils Are High During Pregnancy
Neutrophils increase in the bloodstream during pregnancy because of the changes happening in the body. You can think of neutrophils as first responders. Any time your immune system detects a foreign body, it sends neutrophils to the blood. A release of neutrophils can trigger inflammation in the body.
A typical range of white blood cells in healthy adults is 4,500 to 11,000 neutrophils per microliter.Any value above 11,000 neutrophils per microliter is considered a high white blood cell count (leukocytosis). During pregnancy, the white blood cell count usually increases to a range of 13,200 to 15,900 neutrophils per microliter. Most of the increased white blood cells in the bloodstream are neutrophils.
After a vaginal delivery, the WBC count drops to about 12,620 neutrophils per microliter.The value after acesarean section(C-section) is about 12,710 neutrophils per microliter.
High White Blood Cell Count: What to Know
MedicationsMedications that can raise the WBC count include:CorticosteroidsBeta-agonistsColony-stimulating factorsEpinephrineLithium
Medications
Medications that can raise the WBC count include:CorticosteroidsBeta-agonistsColony-stimulating factorsEpinephrineLithium
Medications that can raise the WBC count include:
Symptoms of a High WBC Count When Pregnant
It is normal to have a high white blood cell count during pregnancy. There are usually no signs or symptoms that can be felt or detected.
Signs and symptoms of an elevated WBC count in non-pregnant adults may include:
Week-to-Week Pregnancy Timeline
Many pregnant individuals experience more white blood cells during their pregnancies. It’s important to note that the WBC count can also be elevated for other reasons. Serious conditions, such as certain malignancies, may increase the WBC count.
Signs of a serious condition may include:
An increased neutrophil count during pregnancy may also be linked togestational diabetes. There are usually no signs or symptoms to look for with this condition.It’s important to receive regular prenatal care so your healthcare provider can detect pregnancy complications as soon as possible.
Summary
Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that helps our bodies fight off infection. During pregnancy, the number of neutrophils in the blood naturally increases in response to the extra stress that pregnancy puts on a person’s body.
A normal range of white blood cells in healthy, non-pregnant adults is 4,500 to 11,000 neutrophils per microliter. The WBC count may increase during pregnancy and range from 13,200 to 15,900 neutrophils per microliter. Most of the increased white blood cells in the bloodstream are neutrophils.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Vokalova L, van Breda S, Ye X, et al.Excessive neutrophil activity in gestational diabetes mellitus: Could it contribute to the development of preeclampsia?Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2018 Sep;9(1):542. doi:10.3389/fendo.2018.00542National Cancer Institute.Definition of white blood cell.Rosales C.Neutrophil: A cell with many roles in inflammation or several cell types?Front Physiol. 2018 Feb;9(1):113. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.00113Chandra S, Tripathi AK, Mishra S, Amzarul M, Vaish AK.Physiological changes in hematological parameters during pregnancy.Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus. 2012;28(3):144-146. doi:10.1007/s12288-012-0175-6Bert S, Ward EJ, Nadkarni S.Neutrophils in pregnancy: new insights into innate and adaptive immune regulation.Immunology. 2021;164(4):665-676. doi:10.1111/imm.13392University of California San Francisco.WBC count.Arbib N, Aviram A, Gabbay Ben-Ziv R, Sneh O, Yogev Y, Hadar E.The effect of labor and delivery on white blood cell count.J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2016;29(18):2904-2908.Riley LK, Rupert J.Evaluation of patients with leukocytosis.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(11):1004-1011.Sun T, Meng F, Zhao H, et al.Elevated first-trimester neutrophil count is closely associated with the development of maternal gestational diabetes mellitus and adverse pregnancy outcomes.Diabetes. 2020;69(7):1401-1410. doi:10.2337/db19-0976
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Vokalova L, van Breda S, Ye X, et al.Excessive neutrophil activity in gestational diabetes mellitus: Could it contribute to the development of preeclampsia?Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2018 Sep;9(1):542. doi:10.3389/fendo.2018.00542National Cancer Institute.Definition of white blood cell.Rosales C.Neutrophil: A cell with many roles in inflammation or several cell types?Front Physiol. 2018 Feb;9(1):113. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.00113Chandra S, Tripathi AK, Mishra S, Amzarul M, Vaish AK.Physiological changes in hematological parameters during pregnancy.Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus. 2012;28(3):144-146. doi:10.1007/s12288-012-0175-6Bert S, Ward EJ, Nadkarni S.Neutrophils in pregnancy: new insights into innate and adaptive immune regulation.Immunology. 2021;164(4):665-676. doi:10.1111/imm.13392University of California San Francisco.WBC count.Arbib N, Aviram A, Gabbay Ben-Ziv R, Sneh O, Yogev Y, Hadar E.The effect of labor and delivery on white blood cell count.J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2016;29(18):2904-2908.Riley LK, Rupert J.Evaluation of patients with leukocytosis.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(11):1004-1011.Sun T, Meng F, Zhao H, et al.Elevated first-trimester neutrophil count is closely associated with the development of maternal gestational diabetes mellitus and adverse pregnancy outcomes.Diabetes. 2020;69(7):1401-1410. doi:10.2337/db19-0976
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Vokalova L, van Breda S, Ye X, et al.Excessive neutrophil activity in gestational diabetes mellitus: Could it contribute to the development of preeclampsia?Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2018 Sep;9(1):542. doi:10.3389/fendo.2018.00542National Cancer Institute.Definition of white blood cell.Rosales C.Neutrophil: A cell with many roles in inflammation or several cell types?Front Physiol. 2018 Feb;9(1):113. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.00113Chandra S, Tripathi AK, Mishra S, Amzarul M, Vaish AK.Physiological changes in hematological parameters during pregnancy.Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus. 2012;28(3):144-146. doi:10.1007/s12288-012-0175-6Bert S, Ward EJ, Nadkarni S.Neutrophils in pregnancy: new insights into innate and adaptive immune regulation.Immunology. 2021;164(4):665-676. doi:10.1111/imm.13392University of California San Francisco.WBC count.Arbib N, Aviram A, Gabbay Ben-Ziv R, Sneh O, Yogev Y, Hadar E.The effect of labor and delivery on white blood cell count.J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2016;29(18):2904-2908.Riley LK, Rupert J.Evaluation of patients with leukocytosis.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(11):1004-1011.Sun T, Meng F, Zhao H, et al.Elevated first-trimester neutrophil count is closely associated with the development of maternal gestational diabetes mellitus and adverse pregnancy outcomes.Diabetes. 2020;69(7):1401-1410. doi:10.2337/db19-0976
Vokalova L, van Breda S, Ye X, et al.Excessive neutrophil activity in gestational diabetes mellitus: Could it contribute to the development of preeclampsia?Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2018 Sep;9(1):542. doi:10.3389/fendo.2018.00542
National Cancer Institute.Definition of white blood cell.
Rosales C.Neutrophil: A cell with many roles in inflammation or several cell types?Front Physiol. 2018 Feb;9(1):113. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.00113
Chandra S, Tripathi AK, Mishra S, Amzarul M, Vaish AK.Physiological changes in hematological parameters during pregnancy.Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus. 2012;28(3):144-146. doi:10.1007/s12288-012-0175-6
Bert S, Ward EJ, Nadkarni S.Neutrophils in pregnancy: new insights into innate and adaptive immune regulation.Immunology. 2021;164(4):665-676. doi:10.1111/imm.13392
University of California San Francisco.WBC count.
Arbib N, Aviram A, Gabbay Ben-Ziv R, Sneh O, Yogev Y, Hadar E.The effect of labor and delivery on white blood cell count.J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2016;29(18):2904-2908.
Riley LK, Rupert J.Evaluation of patients with leukocytosis.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(11):1004-1011.
Sun T, Meng F, Zhao H, et al.Elevated first-trimester neutrophil count is closely associated with the development of maternal gestational diabetes mellitus and adverse pregnancy outcomes.Diabetes. 2020;69(7):1401-1410. doi:10.2337/db19-0976
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