Will my daughter with polycythemia require blood transfusions?

Perhaps: For most newborns, polycythemia (increased red cells in the blood) is transient and asymptomatic and requires no treatment. Rarely, it is severe and causes symptoms. In such cases, an exchange transfusion (drawing off blood and replacing it with transfused red blood cells) can actually lower the number of red cells in the blood, relieve symptoms, and perhaps even prevent serious injury.

No: Polycythemia means there are to many blood cells. She may need a reverse exchange transfusion, where Normal Saline is given in the same amount blood is removed.