If an Rh negative mom has an Rh + baby, it is likely that the baby’s blood will
ID: 96008 • Letter: I
Question
If an Rh negative mom has an Rh + baby, it is likely that the baby’s blood will mix with the mom’s blood during childbirth and immunize the mom against the Rh antigen. The second time this mother is pregnant with a Rh positive child, this child is in danger because anti-Rh IgG molecules cross the placenta. In order to prevent this complication, Rh negative mothers are given Anti-Rh antibodies around delivery. Why does this prevent future children from having problems? Could this treatment be given years after the first Rh + baby was born? Why or why not?
Explanation / Answer
In the case of birth of Rh+ child to a Rh- mother anti D bodies should be given immediately between 75 hours because by this time the antibodies of mothers RBC cells would be able to cross placenta and may risk the birth of second child it may not affect the first child because during delivery as child already passes the placenta and delivered the child be unaffected but the anti D antibodies will be nested in placenta and they may act on the future child with opposite rhesus factor than that of mother hence a dose of anti D antibodies against antibodies of RBC cells prevents a damage to second child and second child will be unaffected by mother opposite Rh factor blood.
Anti D antibodies should be administered immediately after child birth as long duration in treatment may cause losing of sensitization antibodies of RNB cells in mother and the treatment may be ineffective and moreover removal low levels of RBC antibodies of mother cells will be easier than removing high levels which accumulate with time and may require higher dose of anti D antibodies which may harm the mother and risk life of child in case of second pregnancy.
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