Hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) is a pregnancy disorder that can potentially cause severe complications in both mother and baby if left untreated. The best way to prevent complications is for testing to be conducted as early as possible, as it allows doctors to initiate appropriate therapies right away.
If you have been affected by HDFN, you may want to ask your doctor for earlier testing than is standard during your pregnancy.
Getting tested early
In most countries, as long as you are under the care of a doctor throughout your pregnancy, you will most likely be tested for the antibodies that can cause HDFN during the first trimester. In HDFN, the mother produces antibodies that attack the fetal red blood cells. If these antibodies are detected, your doctor will monitor your pregnancy very closely to ensure that both you and your baby are safe.
If you were diagnosed with HDFN during a previous pregnancy, it’s important that you make your doctor aware of this as early as possible.
Read more about HDFN testing and diagnosis
Because testing for HDFN typically occurs in developed countries during the first trimester, you typically do not need to specifically request for a test, as long as you are seen by a doctor from your first trimester, as soon as you know that you are pregnant. However, if you are worried that your doctor might miss this out, discuss this matter with your doctor at your very first appointment.
Spreading awareness to others
In developed countries, the biggest risk for undetected HDFN is if a pregnant woman decides to skip antenatal medical care and chooses to manage her pregnancy and deliver a child through a traditional, medically untrained midwife.
Some individuals have a negative view of modern medicine and think that antenatal care is a waste of time or somehow harmful. If that is the case for someone you know, it may be useful to help them understand what actually happens during antenatal care, especially if you’ve gone through it yourself. Know that doctors only want to ensure a safe and uneventful pregnancy, with the goal of delivering a healthy child.
There are many complications that can arise during pregnancy, with HDFN being just one. Some women may not be aware of what can go wrong during a pregnancy that is not medically monitored. Therefore, it would be helpful if you can let your family and friends understand that the best way to ensure a safe pregnancy is to see a doctor from the very moment that they are aware that they are pregnant.
If you live in a part of the world where HDFN antibody screening is not regularly performed, it may be helpful if you speak up, both to your healthcare provider, as well as authorities that make healthcare decisions. A HDFN antibody screen is the best way to ensure that no cases are missed out, and that affected women have the best chance of having a safe and uneventful pregnancy and delivery.
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