Plasma collections will reach 60 million liters in the US, but only a fraction of the population is eligible to donate it. And to answer if pregnant women are eligible to donate plasma, no. While Plasma’s demand continues to rise, restrictions on pregnant donors exist for important safety reasons.

According to FDA blood donation guidelines, pregnant women are not permitted to donate blood or platelets. The reason lies in variations in immune system reaction and blood composition of soon-to-be moms. The blood composition is even more important for some pregnancy conditions. If you’re pregnant with gestational diabetes, you’re absolutely not permitted to donate plasma. Let’s see why it’s not permitted and what this means for you and your baby’s safety.

Why Pregnancy Disqualifies You From Plasma Donation

Pregnancy brings major physiological changes that impact plasma quality and donation safety. The major shift is in blood volume, which increases to support fetal growth. It ends up altering plasma composition and can make donation medically unsuitable. Here’s what it means:

• Effects on Pregnant Body: Plasma donation increases the pregnancy anaemia donation risk, especially if you already have lower iron levels. Aside from the likelihood of iron deficiency, removing plasma also strips away proteins and fluids, causing dehydration. Both of these are dangerous during pregnancy.
• Effects on Recipient’s Safety: During pregnancy, fetal blood mixes with maternal circulation, prompting the release of HLA antibodies. These antibodies lead to maternal transfusion reactions in plasma recipients if undetected.

Because of these concerns, including changes in blood volume, iron stores, and immune response, all major donation centers follow FDA guidelines and restrict pregnant plasma donation eligibility.

TRALI & HLA Antibodies: A Serious Postpartum Risk

Pregnancy changes the immune system in lasting ways, and one of the changes involves human leukocyte antigen HLA. Here’s what it means in plasma and blood donation:

• During pregnancy, your immune system creates HLA antibodies to tolerate the fetus’s cells.
• These antibodies stay in your blood even after childbirth, especially after multiple pregnancies.
• HLA antibodies are harmless to you and your baby, but they can cause issues to plasma recipients.

What’s The Harm of Donating Blood During Pregnancy?

The most dangerous outcome of donating blood when you’re pregnant is causing transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) in the recipients. It is rare but life-threatening, which is why pregnancy immune system donation risks are taken seriously.

All plasma centers are asked to screen women with past pregnancies for HLA antibodies. Donors with positive results get disqualified, even if they aren’t pregnant. If you’ve ever been pregnant, this immune history will limit your ability to donate, even years after delivery.

When You Can’t Donate Plasma (Check Your Eligibility)

Not Eligible To Donate Plasma If You…	Reason
Are currently pregnant	The FDA prohibits pregnant plasma donation eligibility.
Recently gave birth	Must wait at least 6 months postpartum
Have gestational, type 1, or type 2 diabetes	Blood sugar instability and blood donation require medical clearance and delay.
Have HIV, Hepatitis B/C, and AIDS	Infection risk
Use non-prescribed drugs or steroids	Safety concerns
Have had recent high-risk sexual activity	The screening protocol applies

 

About Plasma Donation and Gestational Diabetes

What is gestational diabetes, and why should pregnant women know about it? It’s a condition affecting roughly 15% of pregnancies worldwide. This condition involves a spike in blood sugar in the second half of pregnancy, which generally resolves postpartum. This condition complicates donation through:

• Uncontrolled glucose levels make blood donation during pregnancy unsafe.
• Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances increase the strain on your system.
• Medication interactions—especially from insulin or oral agents

Monitor Your Blood Sugar During/After Pregnancy!

Track your blood sugar accurately during pregnancy with FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus, or consider real-time readings using Dexcom G7 Continuous Glucose Monitor. No need to donate blood when you’re pregnant or prick your finger and lose precious blood! These DMM products are safe during pregnancy and reduce finger pricks.

While insulin pumps exist at DMM, many manage gestational diabetes through diet, exercise, or injections–talk to your OB/GYN. While it typically resolves after birth, most women with gestational diabetes progress to Type 2 diabetes. Continue to monitor postpartum with DMM products to support long-term health.

How to Handle Unintended Plasma Donation When Pregnant

If you gave plasma without knowing you were pregnant, it’s natural to worry. But a single plasma donating session poses no risk to your baby if you’re in good health.

Can donating plasma affect fertility or cause a miscarriage?

No, as told above, one-time plasma donation doesn’t cause miscarriage or future fertility problems. However, donating during pregnancy can lower iron levels and indirectly raise the risk. Manage it properly, and leaving it as it is can cause complications like low birth weight, preterm delivery, or placental issues.

What To Do Next: Action Steps

• Tell Your OB or Midwife Immediately: They’ll monitor your ferritin and haemoglobin and start iron supplements or IV therapy if you’re at risk.
• Inform the Donation Center: Let them know about the pregnancy, even retroactively. They will defer your donation and may discard your plasma to protect future recipients.
• Monitor for Symptoms: Keep track of fatigue, dizziness, or signs of anaemia, and don’t skip any prenatal labs. Use DMM to track blood sugar levels 24/7 without worrying about losing even a drop of blood.
• Plan Future Donations Wisely: After giving birth, you’ll need HLA antibody screening before donating plasma or platelets again, even if you’re not breastfeeding.

Timing Your Plasma Donation After Pregnancy

To donate plasma after pregnancy, most US centres require a minimum 6 to 9-week postpartum wait, following WHO Guidelines. This healing period supports hormonal balance, red cell recovery, and stable iron levels. If you had a miscarriage before 12 weeks, you’ll qualify sooner.

Regardless of timing, HLA antibody screening is mandatory post-pregnancy. Always confirm eligibility with your donation centre or check the table given below.

U.S. Eligibility Requirements for Blood, Platelet, and Plasma Donation

Eligibility Criteria	Whole Blood	Platelets	Plasma
Blood Donation Age Requirement	Must be at least 17 years old (16 with parental consent in some states).	Same as blood	18 years or older
Weight	At least 110 pounds	At least 110 pounds	110–120 pounds, varies by center.
Frequency	Every 56 days (8 weeks)	Every 7 days, up to 24 times/year	Every 28 days, up to 13 times/year
Pregnancy	Not eligible during pregnancy or within 6 weeks postpartum.	Same as whole blood	Same as blood
Medications	Most medications do not disqualify you	NSAIDs (like aspirin) require a 48-hour wait.	Most medications do not disqualify you.
Recent Vaccinations	Defers 2 days to 4 weeks, depending on vaccine	Same as whole blood	Same as whole blood
Travel Outside the US	Travel to malaria-risk areas may delay donation up to 1 year.	Same travel deferrals as blood donation.	Travel risk assessment based on plasma center protocols.
Chronic Conditions (e.g., Diabetes)	Eligible if controlled	Eligible if controlled	Eligible if controlled

Can You Donate Plasma While Breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding women are allowed to donate plasma, but most centres urge caution. According to the American Red Cross, they can donate six weeks postpartum, whereas the WHO advises waiting until breastfeeding ends. Our advice is that nursing mothers have increased hydration and nutrient needs. Therefore, it’s not recommended as plasma donation can lead to electrolyte imbalance or reduced milk supply due to fluid shifts.

If you choose to donate, stay well-hydrated and consult your provider first. Donation centres will likely test for HLA antibodies before accepting your plasma. When in doubt, wait until three months post-weaning to reenter the donor pool safely.`

What About Donating Cord Blood?

Feeling down about not donating blood and helping someone? Umbilical cord blood donation is a cost-free way to help others. It holds stem cells that are critical in treating over 70 medical conditions, including leukaemia and sickle cell disease, and can be collected right after delivery.

Can You Donate Breast Milk?

Yes, you can. Breast milk donation supports premature or medically fragile infants. The screening will be done by the milk banks, so there is an eligibility factor here as well. If you’re eligible, one ounce of breast milk can reduce the chances of serious intestinal infections like necrotising enterocolitis in premature babies. (according to the Human Milk Banking Association of North America).

Final Takeaway: Can You Donate Plasma If Pregnant?

While the answer is no, you can plan for postpartum donation or donate cord blood right after giving birth. To donate plasma. Wait at least 6-8 weeks after birth, or longer if you’re breastfeeding. Always confirm your HLA antibody status before scheduling a visit.

Make sure to fill your diet with iron-rich foods to eat before giving blood, and know what to eat after giving blood to replenish faster. Women managing diabetes with pregnancy can try DMM CGMs like FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus and Dexcom G7 to help stabilize glucose pre- and post-donation.

Stay informed. Stay safe. Monitor your Gestational Diabetes by shopping at DMM for the best diabetic and pregnancy-safe CGM tools.