EL-PFDD Meeting: Maternal Alloimmunization & HDFN Learn More
Started with Hope
Led by Experience
Here for Families
The Maternal Alloimmunization Foundation supports families affected by maternal alloimmunization and HDFN by raising awareness, educating patients and providers, and working to improve care for both moms and babies.
Maternal alloimmunization occurs when a pregnant person’s immune system forms antibodies against their baby’s red blood cells. This happens when the baby inherits certain proteins (antigens) from the father that the mother’s body identifies as foreign. These antibodies can cross the placenta and attack the baby’s red blood cells, leading to Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN). HDFN can cause anemia, jaundice, heart failure, stillbirth, and infant death. With the right monitoring and treatment, though, it is often short-term and manageable.
Recently Diagnosed?
You are not alone. Learning that you have maternal antibodies can feel overwhelming, but there is help, hope, and a clear path forward. Whether you are newly diagnosed, in the middle of your pregnancy, or caring for your baby after birth, we are here for you every step of the way. Connect with families who understand, access reliable resources, and get the support you need to move forward with confidence.
We’re here to support women and families through diagnosis, pregnancy, and care after birth, while walking alongside those carrying the emotional weight of this journey and the grief that can come with loss. Babies born to mothers with alloimmunization often need close monitoring and follow-up care in the first few months as maternal antibodies slowly clear from their system.
We envision a world where no baby is harmed or lost due to maternal alloimmunization and HDFN.
Everyone on our team has been personally impacted by this disease. That lived experience fuels our commitment to support families, advocate for better care, and push for research that saves lives.
From sending comfort after a diagnosis to building community through movement and helping ensure access to lifesaving blood, these are meaningful ways to support moms, babies, and families facing maternal alloimmunization.
This is a safe, private space for women diagnosed with maternal red blood cell antibodies. Whether you’re newly diagnosed, trying to conceive, currently pregnant, caring for a baby affected by HDFN, or grieving the loss of a pregnancy or infant, you are welcome here.
Making a Difference
Thank you to the kind families who have shared their journey!
At 11 weeks pregnant, I was shocked to learn I had four red blood cell antibodies, despite having received Rhogam in past pregnancies. After eight transfusions, I delivered Caden at 37 weeks. He spent 19 days in the NICU and faced serious challenges, but today, he’s healthy and thriving. “Reaching out for help saved his life.”
At 37 weeks with my fifth baby, my low anti-c titers seemed reassuring—until our newborn needed an emergency exchange transfusion within 24 hours. Later pregnancies were closely managed with MCA scans, early deliveries, and NICU plans. Some babies needed phototherapy or transfusions, but all are healthy today. “With proper monitoring and a team you trust… it makes all the difference.”
During my first pregnancy, I was shocked to learn I had developed anti-D antibodies, despite no known cause. My second pregnancy was more carefully managed, and our daughter River, thankfully Rh-negative, was unaffected. I feel incredibly lucky—“The extra monitoring and worry are so insignificant in comparison to the years of happiness our iso baby has brought us.”
How You Can Help
Help Us Save More Babies. Support More Families.