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Jaundice in Newborns Due to ABO

Sometimes when mother and her newborn have incompatible blood types, it causes "ABO incompatibility." This can lead to neonatal jaundice.

  1. ABO Incompatibility

    • ABO incompatibility commonly occurs when the mother has type O and the baby does not, according to MedlinePlus.

    Hyperbilirubinemia

    • When this happens, sometimes the mother produces antibodies that destroy the infant's red blood cells, causing bilirubin to buildup in the baby's blood. This buildup causes jaundice, also called hyperbilirubinemia.

    Phototherapy

    • Jaundice in infants has usually been treated with phototherapy, using special lights. The baby's body absorbs the light, helping break down and eliminate bilirubin.

      Increasingly, hospitals are using a fiberoptic pad (a biliblanket) to deliver light to a newborn's skin, according to University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's and Women's Hospital.

    Advanced Treatments

    • In severe cases of ABO-related jaundice, an exchange transfusion (replacing the baby's blood with fresh blood) or intravenous immunoglobulin may be required, according to MedlinePlus.

    Prevention

    • Jaundice in newborns generally isn't preventable, but careful monitoring of newborns for signs of jaundice can usually prevent serious complications, according to MedlinePlus.

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