An Rh-negative mother who was exposed to her fetus's Rh-positive blood during a previous pregnancy or delivery or who has accidentally received an Rh-positive blood transfusion has antibodies against Rh-positive blood cells.
These antibodies can circulate in her Rh-positive newborn, initiating hemolysis and causing severe abnormal jaundice.
This destroys any Rh-positive fetal blood cells in the mother's circulation before her immune system can produce antibodies against them.
Rh disease in the newborn is rare in developed countries due to routine screening of maternal blood type and routine prevention of anti-Rh antibodies in Rh negative women after each birth of an Rh positive infant.
Complications may arise if an Rh-negative mother is carrying an Rh-positive child.
