Description

Eventually, a pregnancy story becomes a birth story. Molly and Bethany cover the various things to expect with an Alloimmunized birth, and talk about the many things you can do to prepare for your birth, and some choices you can make to have your birth experience be your own. 

Episode themes:

• Delivery timing and how IUTs affect your delivery time
• Why home births are not indicated
• What to look for in a NICU
• What tests to request at delivery
• Requesting crossmatched blood, just in case 
• Maintaining your empowerment  
• Creating a birth plan 
• What to pack for your delivery
• How to give birth. No, really. 

Terminology:

• Direct Antiglobulin Test (DAT): This test looks for antibodies that are bound to red blood cells and is typically done on infants. With specific antibodies, this test can be negative even when the baby is still affected and needing treatment. 
• Bilirubin (Bili): A product created when red blood cells are broken down. In the case of alloimmunization, they are broken down by the mother’s antibodies. Excess bilirubin can cause jaundice, kernicterus, hearing loss, tooth enamel problems, permanent brain damage or even death if left untreated.
• Complete Blood Count (CBC): This is a laboratory test that checks the levels of a variety of blood cells and includes hemoglobin, hematocrit, neutrophil count, reticulocyte count, and more.

Allo Hope Terminology Library https://allohopefoundation.org/library/terminology/

Guests: Dr. Thomas Trevett http://www.georgiaperinatal.com/dr-trevett/

Links mentioned in this episode: 

ACOG Medically Indicated Late-Preterm and Early-Term Deliveries (guideline on delivery timing): https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2021/07/medically-indicated-late-preterm-and-early-term-deliveries

Freya Positive Birthing App: https://thepositivebirthcompany.co.uk/freya-hypnobirthing-app

Request a patient booklet: https://allohopefoundation.org/library/booklets/

Research for this episode provided by Bethany Weathersby and Molly Sherwood of the Allo Hope Foundation. Find more information at https://allohopefoundation.org/

The Allo Podcast is produced and edited by https://www.mediaclub.co/