Advancements in prevention and treatment mean that rhesus disease is now rare. However, there are still some risks to both unborn and newborn babies.
Unborn babies
If rhesus disease causes severe anaemia in the foetus, it can also cause:
- foetal heart failure
- fluid retention
- swelling (oedema)
- stillbirth (when a baby dies in the womb before being born)
Intrauterine transfusions (IUT) are used to treat anaemia in a foetus. Although IUT has a low complication rate, occasionally the baby can become distressed during the procedure and need to be delivered. Sometimes, pre-term labour (labour that begins before the 37th week of pregnancy) can occur after an IUT. There is also a 2% risk of miscarriage or stillbirth after an IUT.
Newborn babies
Rhesus disease makes the body produce excessive amounts of bilirubin. Without prompt treatment, a build-up of bilirubin in the brain can lead to a neurological condition called kernicterus. This can lead to complications such as deafness, blindness, brain damage, learning difficulties or even death. It is important that high levels of bilirubin are treated immediately.
Blood transfusions
The risk of catching an infection from the blood that is used in blood transfusions is low because all the blood is carefully screened. The blood used will also be matched to the baby’s blood type.
However, an adverse reaction to the blood is possible or there may be a problem with the transfusion itself. For example, the catheter (the tube) that is used to deliver the blood could become dislodged, causing a haemorrhage (heavy bleeding) or a blood clot. These risks are small and do not outweigh the benefits of treating a baby with anaemia.
