children s health issues
Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn
Diagnosis of Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn
Blood tests of the mother and sometimes the fetus during pregnancy Sometimes blood tests of the father and of the newborn At the first prenatal visit during a pregnancy, the mother gets a blood test to determine whether she has Rh-negative or Rh-positive blood. If the mother has Rh-negative blood and tests positive for anti-Rh antibodies or if she tests positive for another antibody that can cause hemolytic disease of the newborn, the father's blood is checked. Rh sensitization is a risk if the father has Rh-positive blood, and thus the baby may also be Rh-positive. In these situations, the mother is given periodic blood tests during the pregnancy to check for Rh antibodies. Nothing further needs to be done as long as no antibodies are detected. If antibodies are detected, special blood tests on the mother and fetus are done during the pregnancy, and the newborn is tested after birth. 