A woman eagerly awaiting the sound of her baby’s heartbeat was met with the news she had quietly feared, in a moment that has since drawn 1.4 million views on TikTok.
Last month, 35-year-old Nika Diwa (@nikadiwa) underwent genetic testing for the first time in her three pregnancies. She told Newsweek she had a sneaky suspicion something might come back in her results, as her sister had previously discovered she was a carrier of a genetic condition known as G6PD deficiency.
On October 1, she shared a video of herself undergoing a blood test captioned: “We went in just to hear baby’s heartbeat but got a pregnancy plot twist instead.”
The test revealed that Diwa was also a carrier of G6PD deficiency—which, when expressed, can impact red blood cells.
“It was two weeks of hell waiting for the results,” she told Newsweek. “Regardless of what happens, if my baby has the condition, it won’t change anything. Now that I know, I am more prepared and can give the baby tools and resources to survive.”
What Is G6PD Deficiency?
G6PD deficiency occurs when the body is unable to produce enough of an enzyme known as “glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase” (G6PD).
This enzyme is essential for red blood cell health. Without it, these cells break down too early, leading to a low red blood cell count—a condition experts refer to as “hemolytic anemia.”
The deficiency is inherited and results from mutations in the G6PD gene, which is located on the X chromosome.
Boys inherit the gene from their mothers and are more likely to have the disease because they have only one X chromosome.
Girls have two X chromosomes, making them less likely to develop symptoms. If they inherit one faulty gene from one of their parents, they usually become just carriers, and do not exhibit symptoms. However, If they inherit two faulty copies (one from each parent), they can develop the disease.
Because of this, G6PD deficiency is most common in men—and particularly those of Asian, African, Mediterranean or Middle Eastern descent—and affects about 1-in-10 African-American men in the U.S. It is rare in women.
Diwa’s husband, 48-year-old Emeka Ihedigbo, tested negative for the condition.
Symptoms of G6PD Deficiency
Symptoms of G6PD deficiency usually appear after exposure to triggers such as infections or certain medications or foods.
When red blood cells break down too quickly, common signs include pale skin, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), and dark-colored urine.
Why Nika Diwa Didn’t Get Tested Before
Diwa, who is now 24 weeks pregnant, gave birth to her first child, Zion, now four, while living in the Philippines.
“I didn’t know genetic testing was a thing as it wasn’t an option with my first,” she told Newsweek.
After moving back to the U.S., she felt overwhelmed by the many testing options and decided not to opt for any at the time.
“Now that I am familiar with having a baby in the hospital here—and I am considered advanced maternal age—I agreed to it. I didn’t want to chance anything.”
The couple plans to wait until they learn the baby’s sex to determine if the child is affected.
She added that—as she is a carrier—her daughters may also be carriers too. Diwa plans to pass on this knowledge to them when they are older.
“I encourage all women to advocate for the best possible care. There are so many unknowns in pregnancy—so many things can be prevented. Knowledge is power, and we shouldn’t be afraid during pregnancy.”
TikTok Reacts
The October 1 video has nearly 46,000 likes, with many mothers sharing their own experiences in the comments.
One user wrote: “Same happened to me, literally the same way except I’m a carrier of cystic fibrosis.”
Another shared: “My daughter has G6PD, but we didn’t find out until after she was born. It’s an adjustment for sure, but she has a mild case. I don’t have it, but my mom does—she found out in her 70s after my second daughter was born, and we realized it was genetic.”
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