What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Rh Incompatibility?

Rh incompatibility doesn't cause signs or symptoms in a pregnant woman. In a baby, the condition can lead to hemolytic anemia.

Hemolytic anemia is a condition in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than the body can replace them. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin (HEE-muh-glow-bin), an iron-rich protein that carries oxygen to your body.

Without enough red blood cells and hemoglobin, the blood can't carry enough oxygen to the body.

Hemolytic anemia can cause mild to severe signs and symptoms in a newborn, such as jaundice and a buildup of fluid.

Jaundice is a yellowish color of the skin or whites of the eyes. When red blood cells die, they release hemoglobin into the blood. The hemoglobin is broken down into a compound called bilirubin, which gives the skin and eyes a yellowish color. High levels of bilirubin can lead to brain damage in the baby.

The buildup of fluid is a result of heart failure. Without enough hemoglobin-carrying red blood cells, the heart has to work harder to move oxygen-rich blood through the body. This stress can lead to heart failure. Heart failure can cause fluid to build up in various parts of the body. When this occurs in a fetus or newborn, the condition is called hydrops fetalis.

Severe hemolytic anemia can be fatal to a newborn at the time of birth or shortly after.