The Patient with Blood Type O Rh-Negative Has Given Birth

question 9

Multiple Choice

The patient with blood type O Rh-negative has given birth to an infant with blood type O Rh-positive. The infant has become visibly jaundiced at 12 hours of age. The mother asks why this is happening. The best response by the nurse is:

• A) "The RhoGAM you received at 28 weeks' gestation did not prevent alloimmunization."
• B) "Your body has made antibodies against the baby's blood that are destroying her red blood cells."
• C) "The red blood cells of your baby are breaking down because you both have type O blood."
• D) "Your baby's liver is too immature to eliminate the red blood cells that are no longer needed."

---

Definitions:

Meiosis

A type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in the production of gametes or spores.

Homologous Chromosomes

are pairs of chromosomes in a diploid organism that have the same structure and gene sequence, one inherited from each parent.

Anaphase I

A stage in the first division of meiosis where homologous chromosomes are separated and move to opposite ends of the cell.

Somatic Cell

Body cell; excludes cells that undergo meiosis and become sperm or eggs.