Educate me, please!

Published

Specializes in Neonatal ICU.

I hope someone can clarify something that has been bothering me b/c I feel like I should know this and I am too embarassed to ask except here...

Can someone clearly explain what it means when the baby/mother is a "set up" with regard to jaundice, ABO incompatability, etc. I have heard this term used & it has something to do with when the mom is a certain blood type and it puts the baby at risk for jaundice. But I never totally understood that.

I have also heard the term "set up" with regard to GBS...can someone explain that too?

Thanks so much. I feel like after so many years doing this, I have forgotten things & need a refresher and/or never learned something correctly and am too ashamed to ask at this late stage...:imbar

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

It just means the baby is @ greater risk to get that problem.

If mom has type O blood, baby can develop ABO hemolytic anemia if s/he has type A or B blood.

If mom has tested + for GBS, and has not rec'd antibiotic prophylaxis, baby could develop group B Strep sepsis.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.
It just means the baby is @ greater risk to get that problem.

If mom has type O blood, baby can develop ABO hemolytic anemia if s/he has type A or B blood.

If mom has tested + for GBS, and has not rec'd antibiotic prophylaxis, baby could develop group B Strep sepsis.

:yeahthat:

Another example would be a coombs positive baby being "set up" ...... having an increased risk of being jaundiced.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
:yeahthat:

Another example would be a coombs positive baby being "set up" ...... having an increased risk of being jaundiced.

OP, you might also hjave heard this refferred to as RH sensitization. Both ABO incompatibility and RH sensitization can cause the red blood cells to be attacked and cause a buildup of bilirubin (liver cannot process all of the bilirubin that is produced as a byproduct of RBC breakdown.) That leads them to being at an increased risk for hyperbili. Also, you will; see kids who have large cephalahematomas (sp) as having an incrfeased risk. As the blood in the hematoma begins to breakdown, it will also cause a surgew in bilirubin. ABO and RH sensitization Related hyperbili is seen within the first few days of life. It is especially important to look out for the first 24 hours. When it is from a hematoma, it will take a little longer to show. OK, that is all I know about hyperbili setups. If I am wrong on any of these statements, PLEASE correct me !!!!

Oh, one more thing, after rereading your post you asked about what ABO is...if mom is O and baby is anything but O, there is an increased risk. And in terms of RH, if the mom is negative and the baby is positive, there is an inceased risk.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Is this also related to mom being Coombs Positive (ABO)? I saw this on my baby's H/P.

Thank you.

~J

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion