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Rh (-) mom carry Rh (+) bb? If sensitized, what happens if it occurs again?

a) Antibodies try to kill the baby (bb)
b) Antibodies protect the baby (bb)
c) Rh factor becomes neutralized
d) No effect on the baby's blood type

1 Answer

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Final answer:

When a sensitized Rh-negative mother carries an Rh-positive fetus, her anti-Rh antibodies can attack the fetus's red blood cells, potentially causing hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN), a serious condition that may be fatal to the fetus.

Step-by-step explanation:

If an Rh-negative mother has been sensitized and is carrying an Rh-positive baby, her immune system can produce anti-Rh antibodies. If exposure to the Rh antigen has occurred in a previous pregnancy, this subsequent exposure can result in a dangerous condition known as hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) or erythroblastosis fetalis, where maternal anti-Rh antibodies cross the placenta and attack the fetal red blood cells, potentially leading to severe anemia or death of the fetus. Therefore, the answer to what happens if a sensitized Rh-negative mother carries another Rh-positive baby is: a) Antibodies try to kill the baby (bb).

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