Rh Incompatability

Running Head: RH INCOMPATIBILITY Rh Incompatibility Abstract Rh is an abbreviation for Rhesus. Everyone is born with a certain blood type that is either Rh positive or Rh negative. Rh incompatibility occurs when the mother's blood type is Rh negative and her fetus's blood type is Rh positive. The possible mixing of fetal and maternal blood can stimulate the mother’s immune system to produce anti-Rh antibodies. The anti-Rh antibodies are not produced in significant amounts until after delivery, therefore, a woman’s first infant is not affected. During the following pregnancies, when fetal and maternal circulatory systems are closely intertwined, the mother’s antibodies may cross the placenta. Hemolytic anemia can form when the mother’s antibodies enter the fetal circulatory system. Rh incompatibility is almost completely preventable. Rh-negative mothers should be followed closely by their obstetricians during pregnancy. If the father of the infant is Rh-positive, the mother is given a mid-term injection of RhoGAM and a second injection within a few days of delivery. These injections prevent the development of antibodies against Rh-positive blood. This effectively prevents the condition. Introduction Rh incompatibility occurs when the mother's blood type is Rh negative and her fetus's blood type is Rh positive. Rh is an abbreviation for Rhesus. Everyone is born with a certain blood type that is either Rh positive or Rh negative. Rh-positive blood is more common than Rh-negative blood. If the mother is Rh positive, or if both parents are Rh negative, there is no reason to worry about Rh incompatibility. However, if the mother is Rh negative and the baby's father is Rh positive, then the baby may inherit the father's blood type, creating incompatibility between the mother and the fetus. Description of Condition The Rhesus factor (Rh factor) is a red blood cell surface antigen that was named after the monkey’s in which it was first discovered. Rh

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