Resolved question:
Hello. We are researching a potential adoption match. The birth mother is Anti Big K 1:1. Can you please help us to better understand what the Anti Big K means to the baby girl, such as risks of developing anemia or being still born. This is the birth mother's first baby since developing this condition. The pregnancy is five months along, and according to the ultrasounds, the baby is developing normally. The birth mother is also on methadone, having taken opiates during the first month of the pregnancy, and smokes daily.
Also, both of the birth parents are very likely bi-polar. Is there any medical research that indicates the potential of the baby being bi-polar?
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
OBGYN
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query at DoctorSpring.com
First of all , we need to know the biological father 's status with respect to the Big K antigen.
If the father is negative for the antigen, no further testing is necessary, and all is clear, unless the mother has had transfusions earlier with K positive blood.
If the father is positive, then you need to have an amniocentesis of the baby , to know if the girl carries the Big K.
IF the child is positive too, then serial testing with Doppler is necessary to know how badly the child is being affected.
There is a risk of severe fetal anemia, around 20 - 30 %, and s smaller ( less than 5 % ) risk of still birth.
IF the baby is fine around 5 months, that is good news.
The first baby generally does not bear the brunt of this condition, as the mother is sensitized only during the first childbirth, making the second baby more prone to complications.
The second risk regarding opiates and methadone means that the baby is at high risk of developing a withdrawal syndrome soon after birth.
SHe should be urged to stop, as there is still time until delivery.
Smoking itself can lead to growth restriction in the child, preterm birth, placenta previa, placental abruption and other adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Regarding bipolar disorder, it has been shown that there is a genetic component to the condition.
Having one parent with the disorder increases the risk to 10 - 25 % for the child, and having two parents afflicted ups the risk to upto 50 %, but bipolar patients more often than not , have environmental / lifestyle stresses / substance abuse / alcohol/ drugs as a trigger.
Hope this information helped you.
Please feel free to discuss further.