A patient is a gravida 1,Rh-negative woman at a 28 weeks' gestation.The father of her child is Rh positive.The mother is asking the nurse about the effect on her unborn child of RhoGAM that has been ordered.What is the nurse's best reply?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

RhoGAM is given to Rh-negative pregnant women to prevent sensitization to Rh-positive fetal blood cells, which can occur during pregnancy or delivery. Sensitization may cause the Rh-negative mother to produce antibodies that could cross the placenta and attack the Rh-positive baby's blood cells. Without RhoGAM, a subsequent Rh-positive pregnancy could be at risk for complications such as hemolytic disease of the newborn. Therefore, the nurse's best response is D, explaining that RhoGAM is given to prevent the mother from making antibodies that could affect future Rh-positive pregnancies, but it does not harm the current pregnancy. If the baby is Rh-positive, the mother will need a second dose of RhoGAM after delivery to prevent antibody formation.

A Patient Is a Gravida 1,Rh-Negative Woman at a 28