What is the condition in which the mother's immune system produces antibodies against her baby's Rh-positive blood cells?

The condition in which the mother's immune system produces antibodies against her baby's Rh-positive blood cells is known as hemolytic disease of the newborn. This occurs when an Rh-negative mother is exposed to Rh-positive blood from her fetus, usually during childbirth or a previous pregnancy. In response, the mother's immune system recognizes the Rh-positive blood cells as foreign and produces antibodies against them.

These antibodies can cross the placenta in subsequent pregnancies and attack the fetal red blood cells, leading to hemolysis, which can result in anemia, jaundice, and other serious complications in the newborn. This condition is specifically associated with incompatibility between the mother’s blood type and the baby’s Rh factor, making it distinct from other blood disorders or conditions.

The other options listed do not pertain to this specific immune response: thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder affecting hemoglobin production; iron-deficiency anemia relates to insufficient iron levels needed for erythropoiesis; and chronic kidney disease involves a decline in kidney function rather than immune-mediated hemolysis. Thus, the correct answer centers on the immune process involved in hemolytic disease of the newborn.