Rh Incompatibility: Risks for Parents with Different Blood Types

Yes, parents with different blood types can have problems having a child due to a condition called Rh incompatibility. This occurs when the mother is Rh-negative and the father is Rh-positive.

The Rh factor is a protein that can be present on the surface of red blood cells. People who have the Rh factor are Rh-positive, while those who don't have it are Rh-negative.

During pregnancy, the fetus can inherit the Rh-positive blood type from the father. If this happens, the mother's immune system may see the fetus's red blood cells as foreign and attack them. This can lead to a condition called erythroblastosis fetalis, which can cause serious health problems for the fetus and newborn, including anemia, jaundice, and brain damage.

To prevent Rh incompatibility, Rh-negative mothers are given a medication called RhoGAM during pregnancy and after delivery. RhoGAM helps to block the mother's immune system from attacking the fetus's red blood cells.