Rh-Negative Pregnancy: Risks of Rh Incompatibility for Baby

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.