Rh Incompatibility in Pregnancy Nursing NCLEX Management, Rhogam Shot Maternity Review

Rh incompatibility in pregnancy nursing NCLEX maternity review: management, pathophysiology, Rhogam shot, and hemolytic disease of the newborn. What is Rh incompatibility It occurs when a father who is Rhpositive and a mother who is Rhnegative have a baby that is Rhpositive. The baby s Rhpositive blood will leak into moms circulation (most likely during delivery), and this will cause the mother s to build antibodies. The baby of the first pregnancy is not typically harmed. However, the baby during the second pregnancy, who is Rhpositive, will be affected because those antibodies created during the first pregnancy are in mom s circulation. These antibodies will attack the baby s red blood cells. This will lead to hemolytic disease of the newborn and cause: anemia, jaundice, heart failure, swelling, edema, splenomegaly along with hepatomegaly. The key is to keep mom from being sensitized, which is done through giving her a medication called Rhogam. This medication is given at 28 weeks and again at