What happens fetal maternal hemorrhage?

Fetal-maternal haemorrhage is the loss of fetal blood cells into the maternal circulation. It takes place in normal pregnancies as well as when there are obstetric or trauma related complications to pregnancy.

Is fetomaternal hemorrhage bad?

Massive fetomaternal hemorrhage (FMH) can cause devastating pregnancy outcomes. Perinatal prognosis may be improved by intrauterine transfusion, but the appropriate management for these pregnancies remains unclear.

What causes maternal and fetal blood mix?

When FMH occurs, fetal hemoglobin (HbF) is mixed with maternal blood. In response to this exposure, the maternal immune system is activated, and isoimmunization (formation of anti-RhD antibodies) may occur if the mother is Rhesus-D protein (RhD) negative and the blood type of the fetus is RhD positive.

What are the causes of FMH?

Factors suspected in the literature as being associated with FMH include maternal hypertension during pregnancy, maternal pre-eclampsia, maternal trauma during pregnancy, placental abruption, and multiple gestation.

How common is fetal maternal hemorrhage?

It seems that nearly all pregnancies result in some fetal red cells crossing into maternal circulation. Zipursky et al, estimated the incidence of FMH at 21 to 75% of pregnancies. Another author reported 15 to 31% of pregnancies with some degree of FMH, but only 1.5 to 6% with bleed volume >0.1 mL.

How can you tell the difference between maternal and fetal blood?

Maternal blood contains adult hemoglobin composed of two alpha and two beta subunits (aka hemoglobin A or HbA; i.e., normal adult hemoglobin). Fetal blood contains fetal hemoglobin composed of two alpha and two gamma subunits (aka hemoglobin F or HbF; i.e., normal fetal hemoglobin).

How do you stop Fetomaternal bleeding?

A massive fetomaternal hemorrhage can occur without any antecedent risk factors, with a risk of subsequent morbidity to the neonate. Sensitization can be prevented by prompt administration of adequate amounts of Rh immune globulin.

What is it called when mom and baby have different blood types?

Rh disease occurs during pregnancy. It happens when the Rh factors in the mom’s and baby’s blood don’t match. It may also happen if the mom and baby have different blood types.

Can you be born without blood?

So-called “ghost white babies” are rare, and those that do not die in utero or are still born, can have neurological damage, according to the National Institutes of Health. The biggest signal of fetal-maternal hemorrhage is decreased fetal activity.

Does maternal blood pass through the placenta?

As shown in Figure 2.2, maternal blood enters the placenta through the basal plate endometrial arteries (spiral arteries), perfuses intervillous spaces, and flows around the villi where exchange of oxygen and nutrients occurs with fetal blood.

What is a positive KB test?

A positive KB test means there is fetal blood in the maternal circulation. The sensitivity of the KB test is 5 mL, meaning a fetomaternal hemorrhage of less than 5 mL between the fetus and the pregnant individual’s circulation may not be detected with this method.

What does Fetomaternal mean?

(also foetomaternal) Of, relating to, or involving both the fetus and the mother; specifically passed or directed from the fetus to the mother.