ABO INCOMPATIBILITY TREATMENT

Treatments
Before Birth
If an incompatability results in severe anemia of the fetus (determined by prenatal
diagnoses), pre-term labor may be induced if the baby is near term.
A blood transfusion or blood exchange through the umbilical cord
New blood is replaced or exchanged for the babys damaged red blood cells
After Birth
The #1 treatment for high bilirubin is phototherapy, which uses UV lights that are
bluish in color and help to break down the accumulation of bilirubin in the baby.
Common types of phototherapy lights include bili lights above the crib and/or bili
blankets underneath the baby. Eye covers such as the ones seen below are used to
protect the baby's eyes.
Blood transfusion or exchange transfusion (more severe cases)
May need to be performed more than once
New blood is replaced or exchanged for the babys damaged red blood cells
Medications
Preventative measures for Maternal Rh factor Antibody Formation
Medications
Rho-GAM contains temporary Rh antibodies that prevent the mother from making
her own long-lasting antibodies.
Therefore, the next time she is pregnant, all the Rh-antibodies with the potential to
attack fetal Rh+ blood will have dissipated.
If a woman is Rh- and her husband is Rh+, she will be given Rho-GAM injections,
one at 28 weeks gestation and one within 72 hrs. after birth if the baby is Rh+
This is true EVEN if the mother gets her Fallopian tubes tied
She may later decide that she wants the procedure reversed
Tubal ligation (tying off the Fallopian tubes) is not always 100% effective
Reference

March of Dimes (2009); NIH (2009) ABO & Rh Incompatibility. Retrieved January 15,
2014
http://aboincompatibility.webs.com/diagnostictreatment.html