Question

Explain Rh factor incompatibility during pregnancy.

Answer 1

The human beings who have antigen on RBCs are Rh+ while others who do not have are Rh. It is through Rh+ is dominated over Rh- which is recessive.

In a marriage between Rh^– woman and Rh⁺ man, when a woman becomes pregnant, she becomes sensitive while carrying a first Rh⁺ child within her womb. It is because some of the RBCs from the developing embryo get into the blood stream of mother during development causing her to produce anti-Rh-antibodies. The first child of such parents is normal and is delivered safely. However, if such a mother get pregnant again the resulting Rh+ foetuses will be exposed to anti-Rh-bodies produced by the mother.

As a result serious damage to RBCs of the developing embryo will occur causing erythroblastosis foetilis. The disease leads to the death of the developing embryo before birth or after parturition.