Question

The nurse cares for clients in the prenatal clinic. The nurse identifies which of the following pregnant women is most likely to have a problem with Rh incompatibility with her fetus.

A. RH-positive woman w/Rh-negative man, been pregnant twice, has received RhoGAM
B. Rh-negative woman w/Rh-positive man, who has Rh antibodies
C. Rh-positive woman w/Rh-positive man, previous aborted 12wk fetus, didn't receive RhoGAM
D. Rh-negative woman w/Rh-negative man, never received RHoGAM

Answer 1

Rh factor incompatibility can lead to hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) in subsequent pregnancies with an Rh-positive fetus, but the risk is minimal in the first pregnancy.

Step-by-step explanation:

Rh factor incompatibility between mother and fetus can cause hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN), resulting in an immune attack that destroys fetal red blood cells. This condition is more likely to occur during second or subsequent pregnancies with an Rh-positive fetus. During the first pregnancy, the mother's immune system has limited time to mount a primary antibody response, so the risk of HDN is minimal. However, if the mother becomes sensitized to the Rh antigen during the first pregnancy, subsequent pregnancies with Rh-positive fetuses can result in an immune response that causes HDN.