Why is the Rh factor important with a pregnancy?

The Rh factor is a protein that can be present on red blood cells. People with the Rh factor are Rh-positive, while those without it are Rh-negative. The Rh factor is important in pregnancy because it can lead to a condition called Rh incompatibility.

Rh incompatibility occurs when an Rh-negative mother is carrying an Rh-positive baby. The baby's red blood cells can cross the placenta and enter the mother's bloodstream. This can cause the mother's immune system to produce antibodies against the Rh factor. These antibodies can then cross the placenta and attack the baby's red blood cells, leading to anemia, jaundice, and other serious health problems.

Rh incompatibility can be prevented by giving Rh-negative mothers a medication called RhoGAM. RhoGAM is an antibody that destroys any Rh-positive red blood cells that may have entered the mother's bloodstream. This prevents the mother's immune system from producing antibodies against the Rh factor, and it protects the baby from developing Rh incompatibility.