Thursday, May 7, 2009

What happens when mothers & their fetus have different blood types?


Students always ask this question when I teach about blood typing and Genetics.

First off the placental barrier does not allow mixing of the maternal blood & the fetal blood.

The Rh factor is a bit different. Maternal antibodies can cross the placenta and destroy fetal red blood cells. Here is a link to a great article that explains how the Rh factor influences the mother-fetal problems that may occur.

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