What is the haemoglobin (Hb) test, and what counts as anaemia in pregnancy?
In short
- The Hb (haemoglobin) test checks the level of oxygen-carrying protein in your blood.
- It's a simple blood test, done at your first visit and again later.
- In India, 11 or above (in g/dL, the usual unit) counts as normal. Lower is graded mild, moderate or severe.
- Your doctor will explain your result, and whether you need iron tablets.
What happens
- A small sample of blood is taken, usually from a vein in your arm.
- The sample is sent to a lab, which measures the haemoglobin level in grams per decilitre (g/dL).
- Your provider records the result on your antenatal card and explains it to you, usually the same day or within a few days.
The details: numbers and where they differ
The numbers
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Haemoglobin (anaemia cut-off) (pregnant women, at sea level) | <11.0 g/dL | World Health Organization (WHO) |
| Haemoglobin (mild anaemia) (pregnant women, India (Anemia Mukt Bharat)) | 10.0–10.9 g/dL | Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of India (Anemia Mukt Bharat) |
| Haemoglobin (moderate anaemia) (pregnant women, India (Anemia Mukt Bharat)) | 7.0–9.9 g/dL | Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of India (Anemia Mukt Bharat) |
| Haemoglobin (severe anaemia) (pregnant women, India (Anemia Mukt Bharat)) | <7.0 g/dL | Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of India (Anemia Mukt Bharat) |
When to call your doctor
- If you feel unusually tired, breathless, dizzy or notice your heart racing between check-ups.
- If you were told your Hb is in the moderate or severe range and haven't been given a follow-up plan.
Discuss your results with your doctor: this page reports what these sources say, not advice for your situation.
Sources
- World Health Organization (WHO), Haemoglobin concentrations for the diagnosis of anaemia and assessment of severity (VMNIS), 2011. Paraphrased in our own words. CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO), non-commercial.
- Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of India (Anemia Mukt Bharat), Anemia Mukt Bharat Training Module. Paraphrased in our own words. © Govt of India, no reuse notice found; treated as MoHFW default (cite + paraphrase).
Sources checked 2026-09-26. How we source and check every page.
Educational summary of named sources, not medical advice.