Activities and Precautions

Abstract

Although the haemophilias can be diagnosed from a sample of blood taken from the umbilical cord at birth, it is very unusual for any signs of a bleeding disorder to appear before the baby starts to crawl. Why this should be so is not certain but it has been suggested that some sort of protection is given by the mother before birth; haemophilic babies are born without any trouble whatsoever. The absence of bruising or other bleeds thereafter is probably related to the care and protection afforded to any small baby. When there is a possibility, because of a family history, that an infant may have haemophilia his parents should remember to tell his doctors. This is especially important if any operation, for instance circumcision, is contemplated in the early months of life.