Question
Why might a baby in the womb have hemolytic disease?
Answer
Generally, if the mother is O-type blood and the father is also O-type blood, the first child will never again suffer from hemolytic disease. However, there is a higher likelihood for the second child to do so. If the baby’s body has antibodies that differ from the mother’s blood type, hemolytic disease may occur again, with a recurrence rate of about 11.8%. After birth, the baby’s jaundice may persist, and there is a higher chance of premature birth.