What happens when an Rh-negative mother becomes sensitized?
Fortunately, it is now quite rare for an Rh-negative woman to get sensitized. If a woman does develop antibodies against Rh-positive cells, it will be detected in routine pregnancy blood-work. Rh sensitization usually doesn’t hurt the baby in the first pregnancy, because the mom can’t make enough antibodies to cause severe problems. But the next pregnancy, and any that follow, can become very complicated if that fetus is Rh positive. If possible, women who become Rh sensitized should get their prenatal care from a high-risk obstetrical specialist (perinatologist.
