Rh incompatibility

7.8

A difference in Rh blood type between mother and baby that makes the mother's body attack the baby's blood

noun
/ɑrˈeɪtʃ ɪnkəmˌpætəˈbɪləti/

Specialized

: incompatibilidad Rh

Doctors closely monitored her pregnancy for signs of Rh incompatibility between her and the baby.

Examples

Severe anemia in newborns can result from untreated Rh incompatibility.
Blood transfusions carry risks, especially if Rh incompatibility is not properly tested for.
The Rh incompatibility caused the mother great concern.
Many cases of Rh incompatibility can lead to serious health issues.
Doctors closely monitored her pregnancy for signs of Rh incompatibility between her and the baby.
Blood transfusions carry risks, especially if Rh incompatibility is not properly tested for.
Severe anemia in newborns can result from untreated Rh incompatibility.

Surface Forms

Rh incompatibility singular

Rh incompatibilities plural

Morphology

Rh + incompatibility

The term is directly compositional: 'Rh' (the red‑cell antigen) combined with 'incompatibility' (an immune mismatch) straightforwardly denotes a condition where differing Rh types cause immune reactions. Although medical in register, the meaning follows directly from the constituent parts and is predictable for a learner who knows both words.

Etymology

Rh incompatibility comes from the idea of a tiny 'flag' on red blood cells: the letters Rh mark that flag and some people have it while others do not. The word incompatibility simply means they do not match. If a pregnant woman and her baby have different 'Rh' flags, the mother's body may see the baby's blood as foreign and attack it, so Rh incompatibility means a 'difference' that can cause a 'harmful immune reaction'.