A pregnancy affected by hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) can often be challenging to manage. Technology can help keep track of prenatal appointments, pregnancy milestones, symptoms, fitness, nutrition, medication and even mental health.
Using these tools can help make daily life easier during your HDFN pregnancy and keep your focus on the well-being of both you and your baby. A variety of pregnancy tracking apps are available to promote self-management and care.
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.
Pregnancy tracker apps
There are numerous pregnancy applications for self-monitoring available for download on Google Play or the Apple Store, and many of them are free. They are featured in the top medical apps available in the Apple App Store, but unless affiliated with a medical institution or hospital, their value to pregnant women is not always clear.
Reported benefits of self-management apps include reduced in-patient visits, improved hospital visits for women with high-risk pregnancies and fewer cesarean births.
These apps feature advice, articles and tips for pregnant mothers, sometimes offering 3D images of your baby’s development, week by week. However, to date, there is no specific app for tracking the specifics of an HDFN-affected pregnancy.
While these apps are interesting from a general knowledge point of view, your best and most trusted advice will come from your expert healthcare team. Your doctor or specialist may recommend a particular app they trust.
Smartwatches during pregnancy
Smartwatches can be a convenient way to monitor your health and your baby’s. For example, the Garmin watch and other smart watches like it allow you to track symptoms, your baby’s movements and glucose levels, receive health and lifestyle reminders and exercise tips and monitor the progress of your baby. You can then store the data and share your progress with your doctor on your next visit.
However, there have been some reports of privacy concerns and leaked data for both smartwatches and mobile apps, so due your due diligence before choosing one.
Monitoring a high-risk pregnancy
Following diagnosis, your specialist prenatal care during an HDFN-affected pregnancy will mean frequent monitoring of you and your baby to allow early intervention in the case of complications. This means regular blood tests and fetal ultrasounds.
You can lighten the organizational load by keeping track of your prenatal appointments by setting automatic reminders in the calendar of your smartphone. This small step will help alleviate the anxiety around remembering these important appointments.
