Rh incompatibility occurs during pregnancy if a woman has which combination of blood types?

Prepare for the Certified Childbirth Educator Exam. Utilize flashcards and multiple choice questions with detailed explanations to ensure success. Equip yourself with the knowledge to excel on your test!

Multiple Choice

Rh incompatibility occurs during pregnancy if a woman has which combination of blood types?

Explanation:
Incompatibility arises when the mother is Rh-negative and the fetus is Rh-positive. The mother’s immune system can see the fetus’s Rh-positive red cells as foreign and may produce anti-D antibodies. If these antibodies cross the placenta in a later pregnancy with another Rh-positive fetus, they can attack the fetal red cells, causing hemolytic disease. This risk does not occur when both mother and baby are Rh-positive or both are Rh-negative, since there is no mismatch of the Rh antigen to trigger an immune response in the mother. In the first pregnancy, sensitization might begin, but problems are more likely in subsequent Rh-positive pregnancies.

Incompatibility arises when the mother is Rh-negative and the fetus is Rh-positive. The mother’s immune system can see the fetus’s Rh-positive red cells as foreign and may produce anti-D antibodies. If these antibodies cross the placenta in a later pregnancy with another Rh-positive fetus, they can attack the fetal red cells, causing hemolytic disease.

This risk does not occur when both mother and baby are Rh-positive or both are Rh-negative, since there is no mismatch of the Rh antigen to trigger an immune response in the mother. In the first pregnancy, sensitization might begin, but problems are more likely in subsequent Rh-positive pregnancies.

More Multiple Choice Questions
Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy