Answer: D. The second birth of this mother will be in danger.
Step-by-step explanation:
- The Rh factor is an antigen found within the red blood cell (RBC) membrane if someone is positive for this antigen.
- The Rh factor is what people refer to when they say they are are positive or negative in regards to blood type.
- Rh Positive people can receive both negative and positive blood because their body does not see the Rh factor as foreign.
- Rh Negative people do not naturally have Rh factor on their red blood cells and therefore if they encounter the antigen they will produce antibodies towards it through their adaptive immune system.
- In the case of pregnancy with an Negative mother and a Positive Child there are points near the end of the pregnancy where their blood may come in contact with each other. This will cause an immune response to occur in the mother causing her to produce antibodies. This is not an issue as the first baby will be unlikely to come in to contact with these antibodies prior to birth.
- The second positive baby is in danger because the mother has already produced the antibodies and they will "attack" the babies RBCs by crossing the placenta.
- Medications can be administered to destroy the mother's Rh Antibodies or suppress the immune system.