Blood groups, antibodies and Haemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN)
A blood group and antibody screen should be ordered at the first antenatal appointment, for every pregnancy, to determine the woman’s blood group and whether the woman might have any relevant antibodies that may lead to Haemolytic Disease of the Fetus or Newborn (HDFN).
A mother may have a different blood group to their baby’s, and this could result in the mother developing antibodies that could damage the red cells of the baby in future pregnancies.
The RhD blood group is the most common blood group that may lead to development of significant red cell antibodies and HDFN in pregnancy.
I would like to know more information about the Rh blood system .
This mother has
RhD negative red cells
and her baby has
RhD positive red cells
Some of the baby’s Rhd positive red cells will cross the placenta into the mother’s circulation.
The mother’s immune system detects foreign cells and can develop antibodies to remove them.
In subsequent pregnancies, the antibodies the mother created can cross the placenta and damage and destory the baby’s RhD positive red cells, causing HDFN.
RhD Ig Prophylaxis
RhD Ig prevents an RhD negative mother’s immune system from forming antibodies against an RhD positive fetus.
This prevents the mother from developing anti-D antibodies and HDFN