Fetomaternal Hemorrhage: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Fetomaternal Hemorrhage (FMH) is a medical condition characterized by the transfer of fetal blood into the maternal circulation. Although this occurrence is typically minimal and clinically insignificant, significant volumes of fetal blood loss can lead to serious complications for both the fetus and the mother.

Understanding the causes, risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, and management of fetomaternal hemorrhage is crucial for healthcare providers to ensure timely and effective treatment.

Causes of Fetomaternal Hemorrhage

Fetomaternal hemorrhage occurs when fetal blood enters the maternal circulation, often due to events that disrupt the placental barrier. Identifying fetomaternal hemorrhage causes is essential for timely diagnosis and management.

Trauma: Incidents like car accidents or physical trauma can compromise the integrity of the placenta, leading to the transfer of fetal blood.
Labor and Delivery: Normal labor and delivery can cause small amounts of FMH, which are usually not problematic. However, complications during delivery, like placental abruption or uterine rupture, can result in significant hemorrhage.
Medical Procedures: Invasive procedures like amniocentesis or external cephalic version can increase the risk of FMH by physically disturbing the placenta.
Placental Issues: Conditions such as placenta previa or placenta accreta increase the risk due to abnormalities in placental attachment or position.

Recognizing fetomaternal hemorrhage causes helps in preventing complications and ensuring prompt medical intervention.

Get a second opinion from trusted experts and makeconfident, informed decisions.

Get Second Opinion

Risk Factors for Fetomaternal Hemorrhage

Some conditions can raise the risk of fetomaternal hemorrhage, and thus it is crucial to track pregnancies closely. The major risk factors are:

Multiple Pregnancies: Having More than one baby increases strain on the placenta.
Older Maternal Age: Higher chance of pregnancy complications.
Past Pregnancy Issues: Previous complications may raise FMH risk.
High Blood Pressure: Can affect blood flow to the placenta.
Diabetes: May weaken placental function.

Identification of these fetomaternal hemorrhage risk factors facilitates early diagnosis and improved care.

Symptoms of Fetomaternal Hemorrhage

Recognizing fetomaternal hemorrhage symptoms is important, as they are often mild. Common signs include:

Decreased Fetal Movements: A significant drop in fetal activity is often one of the first signs of potential distress.
Fetal Anemia: This may manifest as fetal tachycardia or hydrops fetalis, detectable through ultrasound.
Maternal Symptoms: Although rare, mothers may experience signs of anaemia if the haemorrhage is substantial.

Diagnosis of Fetomaternal Hemorrhage

Proper fetomaternal hemorrhage diagnosis is important for risk management. Important fetomaternal hemorrhage tests are:

Kleihauer-Betke Test: Detects fetal red blood cells in the mother’s blood.
Flow Cytometry: Accurately measures fetal blood in maternal circulation.
Middle Cerebral Artery Doppler: Identifies fetal anemia through ultrasound.
Non-Stress Test (NST): Monitors fetal heart rate for signs of distress.

Timely fetomaternal hemorrhage diagnosis helps in prompt treatment and better outcomes.

Complications of Fetomaternal Hemorrhage

Complications from significant FMH can be severe and include both fetal and maternal outcomes:

Fetal Anemia: A significant reduction in fetal blood volume may result in anemia, affecting fetal oxygenation and growth.
Hydrops Fetalis: This severe condition results from heart failure due to anemia, leading to fluid accumulation in fetal tissues.
Stillbirth: In extreme cases, significant hemorrhage can result in fetal demise.
Maternal Anemia: Although rare, significant FMH can lead to maternal anemia, necessitating intervention.

Treatment Options for Fetomaternal Hemorrhage

Treatment of Fetomaternal hemorrhage varies according to severity and fetal status. The usual treatment methods are:

Monitoring: Mild cases may require fetal heart rate and ultrasound checks.
Intrauterine Transfusion: If fetal anemia is severe, blood transfusion is given through the umbilical cord.
Early Delivery: In critical cases, immediate delivery may be necessary.
Supportive Care: Oxygen therapy and fluids help stabilize newborns after birth.

Timely intervention improves outcomes for both mother and baby.

Your health is everything - prioritize your well-being today.

Schedule Your Appointment

Preventions of Fetomaternal Hemorrhage

While Fetomaternal hemorrhage cannot always be prevented, certain measures can help reduce the risk:

Regular prenatal monitoring helps detect early signs.
Preventing trauma, such as accidents or falls, is protective for the placenta.
Gentle handling during procedures like amniocentesis reduces risks.
Managing conditions like hypertension and diabetes lowers complications.
Rh immunoglobulin given to Rh-negative women prevents blood disorders.

These precautions can help ensure a safer pregnancy and reduce the risk of Fetomaternal hemorrhage.

Find Our Specialists

Book Doctor Appointment

Name*

Mobile Number*

I agree to the Medicover Privacy Policy

International Patient Services

Still have questions? Speak with our experts now!

040-68334455

Frequently Asked Questions

In some cases, fetomaternal hemorrhage can occur silently without obvious symptoms. It is often detected through routine fetal monitoring or diagnostic tests if fetal distress is suspected.

The fetal-maternal hemorrhage survival rate depends on the severity of blood loss and timely medical intervention. With early detection and treatment, survival chances are high, but severe cases can be life-threatening.

If properly managed, most women can have healthy future pregnancies. However, severe FMH cases may require closer monitoring and early interventions in subsequent pregnancies.

Emotional stress does not directly cause fetomaternal hemorrhage, but extreme physical stress or trauma, like accidents, may contribute to placental disruptions leading to FMH.

Fetomaternal hemorrhage can occur in any pregnancy, but the risk may increase in cases of placental abnormalities, trauma, or medical interventions, regardless of whether it is a first pregnancy.

While lifestyle factors alone do not cause FMH, avoiding trauma, managing medical conditions, and attending regular prenatal checkups can help reduce the risk of complications.