Rh Incompatibility and Kernicterus

Описание: Rh Incompatibility Explained: How It Can Lead to Jaundice and Brain Injury

Rh incompatibility occurs when a mother’s blood type is Rh-negative and her baby’s blood type is Rh-positive. When this happens, the mother’s immune system may recognize the baby’s blood cells as foreign and produce antibodies that attack the baby’s red blood cells.

When those red blood cells break down, they release bilirubin — a substance that can build up in a newborn’s bloodstream.

Newborns have immature livers and may not be able to clear bilirubin efficiently. If bilirubin levels rise too high, it can cross into the brain and cause serious and permanent brain injury known as kernicterus.

The good news is that Rh incompatibility is highly preventable and manageable in modern medicine.

Pregnant mothers are routinely tested early in pregnancy to determine blood type and Rh status. If a mother is Rh-negative, she can receive an injection called RhoGAM, which prevents her immune system from forming antibodies that would attack the baby’s blood.

When properly identified and treated, Rh incompatibility rarely leads to severe complications. Problems arise when testing is missed, monitoring is inadequate, or elevated bilirubin levels are not treated promptly after birth.

If your child experienced severe jaundice, elevated bilirubin, or was diagnosed with kernicterus, it is important to review the medical timeline carefully.

📍 Adam Funk
Birth Injury Attorney – Houston, Texas

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