Final answer:
An Rh-negative mother and Rh-positive father can cause the mother to produce anti-Rh antibodies, leading to hemolytic disease of the newborn in subsequent pregnancies. This is prevented by treating the mother with Rho(D) immune globulin.
Step-by-step explanation:
The combination of an Rh-negative mother and an Rh-positive father can lead to the mother creating antibodies against the baby's red blood cells. This scenario can result in a condition known as hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) or erythroblastosis fetalis. During the birth of a first Rh-positive child, an Rh-negative mother may be sensitized when the baby's Rh-positive blood cells enter her bloodstream, leading her immune system to produce anti-Rh antibodies. If the mother has a subsequent pregnancy with an Rh-positive baby, these antibodies can cross the placenta and cause agglutination and hemolysis of the fetal red blood cells, potentially causing severe anemia or even death if left untreated. Treatment for this condition includes the administration of Rho(D) immune globulin to the mother during and after the first pregnancy, which prevents the formation of these harmful antibodies by destroying any Rh-positive fetal blood cells that enter her system.