ABO incompatibility

[lipsty]

My baby girl (now 3.5 months) was born with ABO incompatibility and spent a frightening week in ICU. It was a terrible shock for us and we were told that future children would be very likely to have the same complaint. DD is now perfectly healthy but we were incredibly frightened by the experience. Does anyone have experience of this disorder? Any advice?

I do not have experience of ABO incompatability but I do have of rhesus incompatability which is similar. Rhesus incompatability isn't a problem in the first pregbabcy but gets increaingly worse in subsequent pregnancies. DS2 only needed phototherapy for a few days. DS3 was delivered 5 weeks early due to rising antibodies and needed ventilated. He needed a blood transfusion at 6 weeks old because the antibodies in his circulation caused anaemia. I had a miscarriage then had DD1 who was baby number 4. She wasn't delivered as early as her brother but needed 3 exchange blood transfusions after she was born. After the initial problems at birth they all thrived. I suppose I just knew that the disorder could be treated and that my pregnancies would be monitored. DD1 was under septuple phototherapy at one point (7 times the normal strength). Did your DD need an exchange transfusion?

I forgot to say that ABO incompatibilty does not get worse with each pregnancy like rhesus does.

No she didn'thave a transfusion but had the lines in ready for it. My worry is that our next baby (what am I saying??!!) will have the same problem. Good to hear that yours all thrived though! thanks

My DS (three months now) also had this and needed phototherapy for severe jaundice from day 1 - I'm group O and he is A, and my anti-A attacked his blood cells. I've actually read (and been told) that it shouldn't recur in future pregnancies even if the next baby is also group A, as producing high potency anti-A is a freaky, transient event and the antibodies don't last.

Lipsty ds had severe jaundice and had to spend time in SCBU almost ad to have a transfusion....I lnow exactly how yu feel. For us, it is still an unsolved mystery - all tests (and beleibe me, they tested me and ds for everything) came back clear. I am nervous as my 2nd baby is due in early march

please excuse my typing!
i meant to add that I have no experience of your AB condition but wanted to sympathise. If it helps, ds is nothing a 91st centile 2.5 year old!

please excuse my typing!
i meant to add that I have no experience of your AB condition but wanted to sympathise. If it helps, ds is now a 91st centile 2.5 year old!