Newborn blood transfusion
Information for parents and carers from the Neonatal Unit
Your baby needs a blood transfusion. This leaflet will explain the following. We hope this leaflet answers some of the questions you may have. If you have any further questions or concerns, please speak to a member of your baby’s healthcare team.
Why your baby needs a blood transfusion.
How a transfusion is given.
Any potential risks associated with it.
Guidance on consent and safety measures.
How your baby may feel afterwards.
We understand this can be a worrying time. This leaflet is designed to support and inform you.
What is a blood transfusion?
A blood transfusion is the process of giving blood donated by one person to another person who needs it.
Blood is made up of four main components:
red blood cells
white blood cells
platelets, and
plasma.
A transfusion is a way of replacing these components. The most common type of transfusion is a red blood cell transfusion. Red blood cells are vital for helping to carry oxygen around the body.
Donated blood is stored in sterile plastic bags. To give the transfusion, the bag is connected to a long plastic tube. This tube is connected to a cannula (thin plastic tube) which is inserted into a vein, usually in the back of the hand. Blood travels down the tube, through the cannula and into your baby’s bloodstream.
The amount of time each transfusion takes will depend on a variety of factors. Your baby’s doctor or nurse will be able to tell you more about this.
Why might my baby need a blood transfusion?
Newborn babies may need a blood transfusion for a variety of reasons.
Newborn babies may become anaemic, particularly if they are born early. Anaemic babies have a reduced number of red blood cells. This may be because of medical problems, or because they need frequent blood tests to check their progress.
Some babies who are very jaundiced or anaemic need to have blood removed as well as transfused. This is called an exchange transfusion. If your baby needs an exchange transfusion, your baby’s doctor or nurse will discuss this with you. Please ask them any questions you may have.
Parents or those with parental responsibility will be asked for their permission for their baby to have a blood transfusion. Occasionally, in a life-threatening situation, a transfusion may need to be given as an emergency. In these cases, asking for permission may not be possible. If this happens, the doctor or nurse looking after your baby will talk to you about the transfusion they have had as soon as they can. If you have any concerns about your baby having a blood transfusion, please discuss these with your baby’s doctor or nurse as soon as possible.
A blood transfusion will only be given if it:
is considered beneficial for your baby’s health; and
has been carefully considered by their doctor.
The doctor or nurse will discuss with you why a transfusion may be needed, and explore any alternative treatments. You do not need to sign anything to consent to a blood transfusion.
Parents or those with parental responsibility, may refuse a transfusion for many reasons, including:
religious beliefs; or
concerns about blood-borne infections.
We will always try to work with families who refuse blood or blood components.
Some babies need more than one blood transfusion during their neonatal admission. Your doctor or nurse will discuss the reasons for this with you.
What types of components might my baby receive?
Different types of blood products can be given, depending on what your baby needs. Here are the most common ones.
Red Blood Cells are used when your baby has low levels of red blood cells, also known as anaemia. Red blood cells help carry oxygen around the body.
Platelets help with blood clotting. If your baby has a low platelet count, a platelet transfusion can help reduce their risk of bleeding.
Plasma contains clotting factors and proteins. It may be given if your baby has problems with blood clotting or needs extra proteins.
Cryoprecipitate is a part of plasma, which is rich in specific clotting factors. It is given to help with certain bleeding problems.
What are the risks associated with a blood transfusion?
One of the most important checks for a safe transfusion is to make sure your baby gets the right blood. To make sure this happens, staff carry out careful identification checks of both your baby and the blood they will be given. This is why it is important that your baby wears an identification band. If you are with your baby, you may also be asked to confirm your baby’s full name and date of birth. Please remind the nurse or doctor to ask you this if they do not do so.
If you decide to change your baby’s name, it is important to tell your doctor or nurse, so they can update your baby’s records. Please let staff know if any of the details on the identification band are incorrect. Making sure we have the right identification is very important. If a member of staff does not ask for this information, please feel free to remind them.
Compared to other everyday risks, the likelihood of getting a known or unknown infection from a blood transfusion is very rare. All blood donors are unpaid volunteers who undergo strict screening. The risk of an infected blood unit entering the UK blood supply continues to decrease. Donors and blood donations are screened for many infections, which can be transmitted through blood. These infections include HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis. Despite this, there will always be a small risk associated with having a blood transfusion.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV), is a common virus that can infect people of all ages. Most healthy individuals do not get sick from CMV, or only have mild symptoms. However, in newborn babies - especially those born early or who are already unwell - CMV can cause serious illness.
Although it is rare, CMV can be passed to a baby through a blood transfusion if the donor has the virus. To keep your baby safe, hospitals take extra care with the blood used for transfusions.
We use blood from donors who have never had CMV (called CMV-negative donors).
We use blood that has been treated to remove white blood cells (called leucodepletion), which are the cells that can carry CMV.
These precautions greatly reduce the risk of your baby catching CMV during a blood transfusion.
The chance of getting variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) from a blood transfusion is very rare. To keep all patients safe, people who might be at higher risk of vCJD are not allowed to donate blood. For example, anyone who has had a blood transfusion since 1980 cannot donate blood now. This helps make sure the blood your baby receives is as safe as possible.
Your baby will have extra monitoring during their blood transfusion. Minor reactions to the donated blood, such as a slight fever or rash, are common. However, they are not harmful or dangerous to your baby’s health.
Severe reactions are very rare. Trained staff will recognise and treat any severe reactions quickly. The risk that a blood transfusion will cause severe harm or even death is very rare.
Your baby’s doctor or nurse will tell you more about the risks associated with a blood transfusion.
For more information on the risks of transfusion, please go to the SHOT UK web site.
Will a blood transfusion affect the result of my baby’s blood spot screening test?
A blood transfusion may affect your baby's blood spot screening test. This test is offered when your baby is between 5 and 8 days old. The newborn blood spot test used to be known as the heel prick test. The test is a simple way to check if your baby may have any of 10 rare but serious conditions.
If your baby has not had their blood spot sample taken, they will need it done before they have a transfusion. They may also need a further sample taken following a blood transfusion. This will make sure the transfused blood does not interfere with the results of ongoing tests.
More detailed information on blood spot screening is available on the NHS web site.
How will my baby feel during their blood transfusion?
Most babies will not feel anything unusual during and after their blood transfusion. Your baby will be closely observed before, during and after their blood transfusion. You are able to stay with your baby during their blood transfusion. Please tell staff if you have any concerns about your baby during or after their transfusion.
Severe reactions to blood are very rare. If they do occur, trained staff will recognise and treat them.
Can I donate my blood for my baby?
No. This is a common question, but there are good reasons why this is not done.
There is an increased risk of some types of serious reactions following blood transfusion from relatives.
There is a higher risk of a rare but serious condition called Transfusion-Associated Graft-versus-Host Disease (TA-GVHD) when a close relative donates blood. Close relatives often share similar genetic markers, which can increase the chance of the donor’s white blood cells attacking the recipient’s body.
What if I have other worries about blood transfusion?
If you are worried or have any questions, please talk to your baby’s doctor or nurse.
How can I become a blood donor?
Nationally we use thousands of units of blood per year in the treatment of babies and children. If you would like to help others by becoming a blood donor, please call 0300 123 23 23 or visit the NHS Blood and Transplant web site.
Further information
[Web sites last accessed 14 October 2025]
References
[Web sites last accessed 14 October 2025]
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