Hemolytic disease of the newborn

Hemolytic disease of the newborn

Hemolytic disease of the newborn (also called erythroblastosis fetalis) is a serious condition that may occur when the blood types of a mother and her baby do not match. Substances (antibodies) in the mother's blood cross the placenta and may destroy the red blood cells of the fetus.

After birth, a baby with hemolytic disease may be treated with a blood transfusion.