An Rh-negative mother will need a special treatment if she gives birth to an Rh-positive baby.The treatment involves the destruction of any stray blood cells from the baby that pass into the mother's bloodstream.Why is this necessary?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When an Rh-negative mother gives birth to an Rh-positive baby, there is a chance that the baby's Rh-positive blood cells will enter the mother's bloodstream during delivery or if there is bleeding during pregnancy. If this happens, the mother's immune system may recognize the Rh-positive blood cells as foreign and produce antibodies against them. These antibodies can then cross the placenta and attack the Rh-positive blood cells of a future Rh-positive baby during pregnancy, potentially causing hemolytic disease of the newborn. In order to prevent this from happening, the mother is given an injection of Rh immunoglobulin (RhoGAM), which destroys any stray Rh-positive blood cells from the baby that may have entered her bloodstream. This prevents the mother's immune system from mounting an attack against the baby's Rh-positive blood cells and producing antibodies that could harm a future pregnancy.

An Rh-Negative Mother Will Need a Special Treatment If She