A healthy diet and lifestyle, including regular, moderate physical exercise will help support mother and baby during a pregnancy affected by hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN).
What is HDFN?
Hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) is an immune-mediated red blood cell (RBC) disorder that occurs when a baby’s RBCs break down quickly, which is called hemolysis. HDFN is caused by a mismatch between a mother’s and her baby’s blood type (A, B, AB, or O) or Rhesus (Rh) factor (Rh-positive or Rh-negative) during pregnancy. Numerous antibodies to RBC antigens can be linked to HDFN, such as those from the ABO and Rh blood group systems.
A high-risk pregnancy refers to a pregnancy that potentially threatens the health of the mother or baby, or both. In the case of HDFN-affected pregnancies, it is the fetus who is potentially impacted by this red blood cell disorder that is triggered by the incompatibility of blood types between mother and fetus. The severity of HDFN can vary from mild to very high.
As the pregnant mother does not have the power to completely change the HDFN-associated outcomes for her baby, her focus must be on maintaining good mental and physical health to help support her throughout pregnancy and delivery. A vitamin-rich diet will also give additional support to her developing baby.
Managing your health during an HDFN-affected pregnancy
In close consultation with your primary healthcare provider or maternal-fetal specialist, you can put in place a healthy diet and low-impact exercise regime. This may require making changes to your existing lifestyle and habits, or just paying greater attention to maintaining what you already have in place.
A nutritious diet
A healthy, balanced diet full of protein and fiber with plenty of fruit and vegetables is essential to support the fetus and maintain your strength and immunity. Iron, calcium folic acid, vitamins A, B, C, D, choline, iodine and magnesium are all recommended as supplements throughout pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding. Your doctor will give you detailed advice for your individual situation, including how much weight you should gain during pregnancy.
Physical exercise
The effects of physical activity before and during pregnancy are recognized by the WHO, with modification of the intensity and duration recommended for high-risk pregnancies. Unless your doctor puts you on strict bed rest or instructs you to avoid unnecessary physical activity, you will benefit from engaging in low-impact exercise in a variety of ways. These may include maintaining physical strength and cardiovascular health, reducing back pain, decreasing risk of developing gestational diabetes and preeclampsia and releasing endorphins to boost mental health.
Emotional well-being
Depression and anxiety are common issues for pregnant women, particularly during high-risk pregnancies. The impacts of poor maternal mental health can include preterm labor, low birth weight and neonatal developmental disorders. It can also develop into postpartum depression. This in term, can negatively affect your ability to cope with the challenges of navigating a high-risk pregnancy and delivery, as well as all the implications for the newborn with HDFN.
