What kind of serious problems can happen if the Rh-negative pregnant mothers blood cells start to attack Rh-positive babies cells?
Rh incompatibility occurs when a pregnant woman is Rh-negative and her fetus is Rh-positive. This can lead to serious problems, including:
* Hemolytic anemia in the fetus or newborn: The Rh-positive red blood cells of the fetus can be destroyed by the Rh-negative antibodies in the mother's blood. This can lead to anemia, which can cause serious health problems, including heart failure, brain damage, and death.
* Erythroblastosis fetalis: This is a condition in which the fetus develops severe anemia and swelling (edema). It can be life-threatening if not treated.
* Hydrops fetalis: This is a condition in which the fetus develops excessive fluid buildup (edema) in the body. It can be life-threatening if not treated.
* Stillbirth: Rh incompatibility can also lead to stillbirth, which is the death of a baby before birth.
To prevent these serious problems, Rh-negative women are given a medication called RhoGAM. This medication helps to block the Rh-negative antibodies from attacking the Rh-positive red blood cells of the fetus.
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