Alloimmune disorders of pregnancy

When you have completed this course, you will be able to:

• relevant blood cell antigen–antibody systems
• maternal alloimmunisation
• the effect of alloimmunisation on the fetus or neonate
• prevention and screening of alloimmune disorders in pregnancy
• the management of alloimmune disorders in pregnancy.

Dr Rachel Liebling MRCOG (2007, 2019, 2024)

Dr Liebling is a Consultant in Fetal Medicine and Obstetrics at St Michael's Hospital, Bristol. Having qualified at Sheffield Medical School she went on to clinical training in Sheffield, Oxford and Bristol. She carried out subspecialty training in fetal and maternal medicine.

Prior to Specialist Registrar training she undertook an MSc, which investigated the maternal postnatal morbidity associated with complex operative deliveries at full dilatation. This was part of a wider investigation of such deliveries and resulted in several important publications.

Her main interests lie in fetal medicine, labour ward management and teaching.

Dr Robbie Kerr RCOG (2019, 2024)

Dr Kerr is a consultant in obstetrics and fetal medicine at the Royal Cornwall Hospital. Dr Kerr graduated at the University of Edinburgh. He was a NIHR ACF in Liverpool with research interests in PPH and induction of labour, before completing subspecialty training in maternal fetal medicine in Bristol. He is the first author of the Cochrane review of low-dose oral misoprostol for induction of labour.

His main interests lie in fetal medicine, fetal neurology, and medical education.

This course is intended to help clinicians gain core knowledge for O&G training and the MRCOG examinations. It can also be used by O&G consultants to refresh their knowledge of the area or for teaching.

The content of this course relates to the following Capabilities in Practice (CiPs) and key skills:

CiP 1: Clinical skills and patient care
All key skills covered

CiP 2: Working in health organisations
Adheres to legal, professional requirements

Cip 3: Leadshership
Effective use of resources

CiP 6: Developing self & others
Commits to continued learning 

Cip 10 Manages pain and bleeding in pregnancy
Manages concerns about fetal wellbeing

CiP 11: Non-emergency gynaecology and early pregnancy
Manages abnormal vaginal bleeding

CiP 12: Non-emergency obstetrics
Manages pre-existing medical conditions in the pregnant woman
Manages conditions arising in pregnancy
Manages fetal concerns
Supports antenatal decision making

CiP 14: Health promotion
Promotes illness prevention

Further details about each CiP can be found within the O&G Core Curriculum 2024 Definitive Document, available here.

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Amniocentesis and Chorionic Villus Sampling. Green-top Guideline No 8. London: RCOG; 2021.

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. The Management of Women with Red Cell Antibodies during Pregnancy. Green-top Guideline No 65. London: RCOG; 2014.

Qureshi H, Massey E, Kirwan D, Davies T, Robson S, White J et al; British Society for Haematology. BCSH guideline for the use of anti-D immunoglobulin for the prevention of haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. Transfus Med 2014;24(1):8–20.

Castleman J, Gurney L, Kilby M, Morris RK. Identification and management of fetal anaemia: a practical guide. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2021; 23(3):196– 205.

Gajjar K, Spencer C. Diagnosis and management of non-anti-D red cell antibodies in pregnancy. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2009;11(2):89–95

Regan F, CC Lees, B Jones, KH Nicolaides, RC Wimalasundera, A Mijovic. Prenatal Management of Pregnancies at Risk of Fetal Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia (FNAIT). Scientific Impact Paper No. 61. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology 2019;12610:e173-e185.