Pearl, the only time the mixing of + and - blood would be a problem would be for
the Rh- person to get Rh+ blood. The Rh- blood is missing a factor that Rh+ has.
Adding Rh- to Rh+ is, in effect, like diluting the Rh+ blood slightly. No
problem. Adding Rh+ to Rh- sets up a "red alert" situation that the Rh- person
will determine that this factor is foreign. The first time this happens, the Rh-
person would not show any problems, but her blood will begin to manufacture
antibodies against that foreign factor. The next contact would set up an
antibody reaction that could get nasty. From what I understand, each contact
makes the reaction more serious. Rhogam, I believe, prevents the antibody
production. (?)

In your situation, the baby should not have a problem if she gets any of mom's
blood. And since mom has had the Rhogam shots, she would not have an immediate
reaction if she were to get any of baby's blood. I don't know whether what
miniscule amount of blood that might be shared this way between mom and baby
would be enough to trigger a response or not. No doubt the MDs will respond to
this post with more than just personal experience and personal research.

There is a cemetary near here with a family plot with about 10 baby graves. It
is so sad to see this. The first baby's tombstone has a name on it and
apparently lived for a while. Each subsequent baby lived for shorter and shorter
times and at some point became simply "baby" rather than having a first name.
Apparently the parents had the Rh incompatibility at a time that not enough was
known about it and just kept trying to have a baby, not realizing that each time
they did, they just made the reaction worse.

Melissa Vickers, IBCLC (and Rh-, with an Rh+ hubby, son, and daughter!)
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