Re: I just had an epiphany...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
WingedWolfPsion
Rhogam is not given to protect the baby--it is given to the mother to prevent her from developing antibodies against the baby's blood. Exposure is not expected to occur until birth, so Rhogam doesn't do anything in terms of the current child.
Instead, it enables the woman to avoid problems with any FUTURE + blood type children she might have--to prevent her immune system from attacking the fetus. If there aren't going to be any more (for certain), then the shot is unecessary.
Correct. It is also given at 28 weeks to protect the current fetus during labor if the mother has had a previous pregnancy. Exposure can also occur after a trauma, partial placenta previa, etc, so it is given if those occur as well for the same reason.