Answer:
1. antibodies from the mother cross the placenta and affect the fetus.
Explanation:
Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) are major cause of fetal loss or premature death among newborn babies because during pregnancy, some of the antibodies of the mother are transported to the placenta and enter the fetal circulation. Although the cause of Hemolytic disease of the newborn
is due to the incompatibility of the Rh blood group between the mother and fetus. example is when an Rh D-negative mother becomes pregnant with an RhD-positive child .
This disease can range from mild to very severe, because when the disease is severe immature red blood cells will appears in the fetal blood.
During pregnancy, the mother's antibodies cross the placenta to fight the Rh positive cells in the baby's body and as the antibodies destroy the cells, the baby gets sick which is called erythroblastosis fetalis during pregnancy and Once the baby is born it's called Hemolytic disease of the newborn HDN.
Answer:
1. Antibodies from the mother cross the placenta and affect the fetus.
Explanation:
Hemolytic disease of the newborn is also known as erythroblastosis fetalis. It occurs when the mother's blood and the fetus' blood are incompatible. When these incompatible blood types mix, there is a reaction from the mother's immune system. The immune system protects us from diseases and foreign substances. On identifying the fetus blood as alien, antibodies from the mother move through the placenta to attack the fetus' red blood cells. This leads to a massive destruction of the the fetus' red cells responsible for the transport of oxygen and thereby causes anemia.
The incompatible blood types may be Rhesus incompatible or ABO incompatibly.
The signs and symptoms that are seen in the baby include;
Jaundice, which is due to the massive red cells destruction.
Pale skin due to anemia.
Enlargement of the baby's body.
Difficulty in breathing.
Rapid heart rate.
This condition can be diagnosed and treated through amniocentesis, ultrasound scan, fetal blood sampling, phototherapy, blood transfusion and immunoglobulins.
