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During pregnancy, if a woman is Rh- and the father is Rh+ the child can be Rh+. In this case, the presence of of Rh+ antigens causes the mother to produce

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Final answer:

If a woman is Rh- and the father is Rh+, the presence of Rh+ antigens in the fetus causes the mother to produce anti-Rh antibodies, which can cross the placenta and cause hemolytic disease of the newborn.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a woman is Rh- and the father is Rh+, the child can be Rh+. In this case, the presence of Rh+ antigens in the fetus causes the mother to produce anti-Rh antibodies. These antibodies can cross the placenta and attack the fetal blood, which can lead to a condition called hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN). HDN can cause anemia and can be potentially lethal for the baby.

User Yomayra
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