Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn (HDN)
The chain of events that can lead to Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn
- RhD-Negative mother gives birth to an RhD-Positive baby.
- RhD-Positive blood enters the mother's blood system.
- The mother's immune system removes the RhD-Positive blood by producing antibodies and retains a 'memory' of RhD-Positive blood.
- The mother carries a second RhD-Positive child.
- The mother's antibodies can cross the placenta into the unborn baby and her antibodies damage the baby's RhD-Positive red blood cells.
Please contact your GP or Midwife, for further information about the RhD Factor and what it means to you.
