The Allo Podcast

The Allo Podcast is back for a third season! This season features: New stories of survival in the most critical of medical situations. Conversations with MFM Dr Kara Markham and Neonatal Specialist Dr Tim Bahr. New information about medical advancements in the treatment of HDFN. A live gender reveal from one of the podcast’s previous guests. And, of course, Bethany Weathersby and Molly Sherwood ar...

Over the Past 2 seasons Bethany and Molly have discussed the lack of consistent, accessible treatment and the current ways we can treat an alloimmunized mom and her children with HDFN, but on this episode with Dr. Moise we discuss a bright future. Can a simple carbon monoxide reader replace a needle procedure to monitor for anemia? Can a drug stop antibodies from crossing the placenta entirely? We...

Continuing from last episode, Bethany and Molly listen to Rose Murage’s story. As Rose navigates the final few steps to the United States, she discovers that both the lack of quality care in Kenya and the trauma of her previous pregnancies will follow her to America. But tears of sorrow become tears of joy when she is finally in the hands of a provider who can offer empathetic, quality care, and t...

This special two-part episode of the Allo Podcast is intended for our regular listeners and for those who are unfamiliar with alloimmunization. A beautiful testament to the grace of humanity, Bethany and Molly sit on the floor of Molly’s bedroom with guest Rose Murage, a native Kenyan with a harrowing pregnancy journey. Rose shares the pain of watching her first two children die tragic, inexplicab...

Agne’s experience of growing up in the Soviet Union has left her with a vague medical record that doesn’t explain her severe antibody titer affecting her pregnancies. Bethany and Molly experience the culture shock of Agne’s uncommon options following the loss of her first child to a failed intrauterine blood transfusion, followed by two more unthinkable losses as she searches for the information s...

A powerful episode that you may not know you needed. Bethany and Molly share from the heart in this special episode that will open you up to an awareness and understanding you may not have considered before. Grief and trauma are more common than you think across the motherhood journey, but especially in pregnancies affected by alloimmunization. This episode is intended for any listener who has exp...

The onset of a strange itchiness results in the discovery that pregnant Emily Rusch is experiencing cholestasis. A lack of adequate medical attention results in the death of Emily’s baby in the NICU. Emily shares about her experience as a bereaved and newly sensitized mother as she navigates alloimmunization in her subsequent pregnancies.  Show Themes:  Pregnancy related itching and cholestasis  L...

Bethany and Molly chat with Dr. Kara Markham, (M.D. University of Cincinnati Medical Center)  a maternal fetal medicine specialist and expert in the pregnancy management of alloimmunization and HDFN. They ask questions from the allo community, and end with Bethany and Dr. Markham in a trivia competition about HDFN.  During this grab bag episode, Bethany, Molly and Dr. Markham discuss the following...

Amber already had a difficult and rare blood disorder (TTP) but treatment for her unknown disease resulted in her developing antibodies, resulting in alloimmunization in her first pregnancy. A chance visit with a different doctor made the difference with her first child, but extraordinary measures were needed when she became pregnant with twins. Bethany and Molly are in for quite a tale of HDFN in...

Navigating maternal alloimmunization and having a baby with HDFN is a high-stress, difficult, and sometimes dangerous experience. Sometimes you may want to make a choice to navigate around these difficulties. What are your options? Molly and Bethany discuss options available to Allo moms and families, and Bethany shares her own past experiences considering each option and even attempting adoption....

Navigating the American medical system is not new to a clinician like Katie, but experiencing it as a rare disease patient is a different story entirely. This week Bethany and Molly interview Allo Hope Foundation’s Director of Development, Katie Shanahan, a nurse practitioner who became sensitized after not receiving Rh immunoglobulin (RhIG, sometimes called RHOGAM). Her alloimmunization progresse...

In this episode, Bethany and Molly focus on obstetricians and other medical professionals who play the critical role of diagnosis and initial treatment planning for alloimmunized patients. To close, Bethany and Molly play a game to try to treatment plan for alloimmunized patients based on limited information, and find a new level of appreciation for physicians.  Show themes  Telling a patient they...

Welcome back to Season 2 of The Allo Podcast. Bethany and Molly return and begin the season with Brittany Pineda, an incredible mother whose antibodies were missed in her first two alloimmunized pregnancies. After suffering the loss of her son Kristian, she shares a story of hope as she stops at nothing to get the care she needed even with extremely aggressive disease. Brittany’s story demonstrate...

The Allo Podcast is back for a second season! This season features: Amazing new stories of resilience, heartbreak, and survival told by the Allo moms from the US, Europe, and Africa. Conversations with top MFM's in the field including Dr. Kara Markham and Dr. Ken Moise. New information about medical advancements in the treatment of HDFN. Exclusive data from research conducted by the Allo Hope Foun...

Bethany and Molly discuss the history of HDFN and Alloimmunization. From the 1600s with a strange record of infant mortality to early attempts to hit an umbilical cord with a needle using only an x-ray and paper clips. They tell the story of the true state of disease management today using direct quotes from affected families. They also look to the future with hopes of new preventative medicines t...

Okay, we’ve had the podcast baby, now what? Molly and Bethany discuss the medical measures needed to keep the baby healthy after they join us on the other side. As our new patient is born we have a new series of information and tips to keep baby safe until baby is finally cleared of mom’s antibodies, usually by 12 weeks of age.  Episode themes:  Why baby is still affected by mom’s antibodies after...

Eventually, a pregnancy story becomes a birth story. Molly and Bethany cover the various things to expect with an Alloimmunized birth, and talk about the many things you can do to prepare for your birth, and some choices you can make to have your birth experience be your own.  Episode themes: Delivery timing and how IUTs affect your delivery time Why home births are not indicated What to look for...

Most episodes of the Allo Hope Podcast discuss the effects of alloimmunization on mom and baby, but on this episode we talk to partners. Bethany and Monique interview eachother’s partners and discover how they found out, what they felt, and how they supported their wives and children during the difficult pregnancies. Visit Bethany and Monique’s individual story episodes to learn more about their a...

In our quest to share the experience of Alloimmunized moms, Bethany interviewed Monique Kinney, a contributor to the Allo Hope Foundation. Monique founded the premier Facebook support group for Alloimmunized moms before the Allo Hope Foundation was started in 2019.  Episode themes:  Monique’s proactive discovery of her Anti-E antibody status The Bad Number Advice for post-birth Mid-Pregnancy Postp...

Why do we have to advocate so hard for adequate care for Maternal Alloimmunization? This disease is so rare, many maternal fetal medicine doctors (MFMs) simply do not treat it often. Finding the right doctor with experience in this disease can change the outcome of your pregnancy experience and the health of your baby.  Episode topics:  Common barriers to good care Doctor’s reflection on the patie...

Bethany’s story continues with the growth of her family, learning from the mistakes made in Lucy’s treatment for severe HDFN. After Bethany becomes pregnant she goes to great lengths to keep her babies safe, moving out of state, undergoing frequent plasmapheresis and IVIG, many IUTs, NICU time, and post-birth transfusions. While Bethany’s proactive pursuit of treatment leads to the delivery of 3 h...

Host and Allo Hope Foundation founder Bethany Weathersby tells the story of Lucy, her daughter, who passed from HDFN. Her loss sparked the blog Losing Lucy and Finding Hope, which grew into a resource for alloimmunized mothers seeking help and support. Lucy’s loss gave Bethany the drive to advocate for alloimmunized moms and HDFN babies around the world, and to advocate for the lives of her future...

Severe alloimmunization is surrounded by vague information and confusion, but this episode will prepare patients and providers for available treatment. Patients with previous fetal death, previous IUT before 24 weeks, or with a titer of 256 or higher may be diagnosed with severe disease. Remember, options do exist for severe situations, and prevention and monitoring are the key elements to having...

Molly and Bethany discuss the when and how of intrauterine blood transfusions (IUTs). Bethany, possibly the world record holder for number of IUTs, has had 16 IUTs through her four allo affected pregnancies. IUTs come with their own risks, but in the hand of a trained and experienced doctor they are the most effective way to maintain the health of an anemic baby. Episode themes:  Likelihood of nee...

Bethany and Molly discuss how to monitor an Alloimmunized pregnancy. This is the first step to treating a sensitized pregnancy. Monitoring the antibody titer can indicate when you need MCA Scans, and intrauterine blood transfusions to keep your baby healthy.  Episode themes:  How babies at risk for HDFN are monitored Titers (purpose and frequency)  MCA Scans and MoM values (purpose and frequency)...