Babies born with fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) require specialized care and close monitoring to ensure the best outcomes, and a stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is often necessary.
In addition to specialized medical care, NICUs often offer practical and emotional support for the parents and families to help navigate this challenging time.
What is FNAIT?
Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) is a rare but serious condition that affects 0.1% of pregnancies in which a pregnant mother’s immune system produces antibodies against the platelets of her fetus. This occurs when a fetus inherits platelet antigens from the father that are not compatible with the mother, typically involving a protein called human platelet antigen (HPA). The mother’s immune system recognizes the fetal platelets as foreign, attacking and destroying them, leading to low platelet levels (thrombocytopenia) in the fetus or newborn.
The benefits of the NICU for your FNAIT-affected baby
FNAIT often involves mild symptoms of bruising and skin discoloration and usually resolves in a few days to weeks following birth. During this time, your baby will receive around-the-clock care in the NICU, monitoring their symptoms and overall well-being, to assess the efficacy of the treatment, check that platelet levels are increasing instead of falling and that there are no FNAIT-associated complications.
If your newborn is suspected of having FNAIT and requires specialized care, the best place to be is the NICU where neonatologists and other pediatric specialists including immunologists, hematologists and neurologists are easily accessible. Their expertise will be invaluable in providing personalized treatment and preventing long-term consequences for your FNAIT-affected baby.
Learn more about FNAIT therapies
The NICU also provides access to the latest technology for testing and treatment options, giving your baby the best chance of a quick complication-free recovery from FNAIT. If complications such as intracranial hemorrhages occur, expert medical care can be urgently made available.
The benefits of the NICU for you and your family
Besides providing comprehensive care for your newborn, the NICU offers a support network for families who may be feeling overwhelmed. Stress and anxiety are common responses to having a newborn spend time in the NICU, so social workers and psychologists are available to offer emotional and mental support to parents and families.
As education and information are key in reducing your stress, NICU staff will help you understand FNAIT, the impact on your baby, the treatment plan and long-term outcomes.
You will be able to visit the NICU whenever you want and some NICUs have rooms available so you can stay overnight. This will allow you to bond with your baby through skin-to-skin contact, feeding, bathing and caring for your baby where possible, such as changing nappies. Siblings are also encouraged to spend time with their little brother or sister to create an emotional connection.
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