Is it true that Rhogam is administered whenever there is an invasive procedure during pregnancy?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only for Cesarean births
• D. Only if the mother is Rh negative

Answer: (A)

The statement is true because Rhogam, which contains Rh immunoglobulin, is used to prevent Rh sensitization in Rh-negative mothers during pregnancy. Invasive procedures, such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling, can potentially cause fetal blood cells to enter the maternal circulation. When this happens, an Rh-negative mother could develop antibodies against Rh-positive blood cells if the fetus is Rh-positive, which could lead to complications in current and future pregnancies.

Administering Rhogam after such procedures helps to neutralize any Rh-positive blood cells that may have entered the mother's system and effectively prevents her immune system from forming antibodies against Rh-positive blood in the future. This preventive measure is critical in managing pregnancies for women who are Rh-negative, especially in the context of invasive interventions.

While there are other situations where Rhogam is administered—like after a miscarriage or trauma, or when an Rh-negative woman gives birth to an Rh-positive child—the specific mention of invasive procedures solidifies the necessity of Rhogam in these scenarios.