Maternity Nursing Q 139
After an Rh(-) mother has delivered her Rh (+) baby, the mother is given RhoGam. This is done in order to:
A. Prevent the recurrence of Rh(+) babies in future pregnancies.
B. Prevent the mother from producing antibodies against the Rh(+) antigen that she may have gotten when she delivered to her Rh(+) baby.
C. Ensure those future pregnancies will not lead to maternal illness.
D. To prevent the newborn from having problems of incompatibility when it breastfeeds.
Correct Answer: B. Prevent the mother from producing antibodies against the Rh(+) antigen that she may have gotten when she delivered to her Rh(+) baby
In Rh incompatibility, a Rh(-) mother will produce antibodies against the fetal Rh (+) antigen which she may have gotten because of the mixing of maternal and fetal blood during labor and delivery. Giving her RhoGam right after birth will prevent her immune system from being permanently sensitized to Rh antigen.
Option A: RhoGAM is a prescription medicine that is used to prevent Rh immunization, a condition in which an individual with Rh-negative blood develops antibodies after exposure to Rh-positive blood.
Option C: RhoGAM prevents the Rh-negative mother from making antibodies directed against her baby’s Rh-positive red blood cells during her pregnancy.
Option D: Rho(D) immune globulin is immune globulin (IgG) rich in IgG antibodies against erythrocyte antigen Rho(D). IgG is a normal component of breastmilk. Rho(D) immune globulin is frequently used in nursing mothers and no adverse effects have been reported in breastfed infants. No special precautions are required.