Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn (HDN)

How HDN can be prevented

	RhD-Negative mother
After birth, a sample of cord blood shows the baby to be RhD-Positive Injection of Anti-D immunoglobulin within 72 hours of birth RhD-Positive red cells removed from mother's blood system before mother's immune system provides its own antibodies	An incident occurs during pregnancy which causes fetal blood to enter the mother's circulation (see page 5) Anti-D immunoglobulin administered after each incident	Two protective injections of Anti-D immunoglobulin during pregnancy (at week 28 and week 34) If RhD-Positive blood enters the mother it is removed before her immune system responds
	No RhD antibodies present in mother's blood to harm her next baby

Please contact your GP or Midwife, for further information about the RhD Factor and what it means to you.