Fetomaternal hemorrhage: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and clinical management

Deepika Sankaran; Evan Giusto; Michelle J Lim; Rebecca Valdez; Satyan Lakshminrusimha

doi:10.1038/s41372-025-02548-y

Fetomaternal hemorrhage: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and clinical management

J Perinatol. 2026 Jan 5:10.1038/s41372-025-02548-y. doi: 10.1038/s41372-025-02548-y. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Deepika Sankaran¹, Evan Giusto^{2

3}, Michelle J Lim⁴, Rebecca Valdez², Satyan Lakshminrusimha²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA. dsankaran@health.ucdavis.edu.
² Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.
³ Patient Care Services Advanced Practice: Neonatal, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.
⁴ Division of Pediatric Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.

Abstract

Clinically significant fetomaternal hemorrhage (FMH) can have devastating consequences on the newborn infant. Acute FMH close to childbirth can present with hypovolemia, shock, metabolic acidosis, and encephalopathy. Chronic FMH can be associated with congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema, hydrops and hepatomegaly. Early recognition and timely management of FMH are crucial in improving outcomes. This review article summarizes the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, management and outcomes of clinically significant FMH. Current knowledge gaps in diagnosis and management of FMH are additionally described.

Publication types

Review

Abstract

Publication types

Grants and funding