I always thought that the RH factor came into play when the mother was positive and the father was negative blood type (or vice versa). But I just found out that while I'm O+ (yes, I knew this before) my husband is B-! We have two healthy children, but was I ever at risk for the RH factor? If I'm wrong, how does the RH factor problem actually go?
2006-07-07 06:59:09 · 6 answers · asked by tagi_65 5 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
A woman is at risk when she has a negative Rh factor and her partner has a positive Rh factor. This combination can produce a child who is Rh positive. While the mother's and baby's blood systems are separate there are times when the blood from the baby can enter into the mother's system. This can cause the mother to create antibodies against the Rh factor, thus treating an Rh positive baby like an intruder in her body. If this happens the mother is said to be sensitized.
A sensitized mother's body will make antibodies. These antibodies will then attack an Rh positive baby's blood, causing it to breaking down the red blood cells of the baby and anemia will develop. In severe cases this hemolytic disease can cause illness, brain damage and even death.
Sensitization can also occur during a blood transfusion, miscarriage, abortion, ectopic pregnancy and even during some procedures, like amniocentesis. Since the antibodies do not disappear and rarely cause a problem in first pregnancies, it is very important to be screened thoroughly and give an accurate medical history to your doctor or midwife.
The Good News
Hemolytic disease can be prevented for many women, if they are not already sensitized. Rh immunoglobulin (RhIg) is a blood product given via injection to help the Rh negative mother by suppressing her ability to react to the Rh positive red cells. Reactions to the medication are generally minor, including soreness at the injection sight and sometimes a slight fever.
Since a small number of unsensitized women may have problems with the end of pregnancy, many practitioners recommend that she be given an injection of RhIg (also known as Rhogam) at 28 weeks gestation, to prevent the few cases of sensitization that occur at the end of pregnancy. Each dose of RhIg lasts about 12 weeks. The mother will also be given RhIg within 72 hours of birth if the child is Rh positive. The baby's blood type can be determined easily after birth by cord blood samples.
RhIg may also be given after an amniocentesis, miscarriage, abortion or postpartum sterilization (tubal ligation).
Hemolytic Disease
There are about 5,000 cases of hemolytic disease that will occur each year. A mother who is Rh sensitized will be screened throughout her pregnancy to see if the baby has hemolytic disease. Some babies who have hemolytic disease will have uncomplicated pregnancies and be born at a normal gestation. Other babies will suffer severely and require the birth to be done earlier. Blood transfusions can be given both before and after birth for these severely affected infants.
2006-07-07 07:05:15 · answer #1 · answered by LuckyWife 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Scientists sometimes study Rhesus monkeys to learn more about the human anatomy because there are certain similarities between the two species. While studying Rhesus monkeys, a certain blood protein was discovered. This protein is also present in the blood of some people. Other people, however, do not have the protein. The presence of the protein, or lack of it, is referred to as the Rh (for Rhesus) factor.
If your blood does contain the protein, your blood is said to be Rh positive (Rh+). If your blood does not contain the protein, your blood is said to be Rh negative (Rh-).
This Rh factor is connected to your blood type. For example, your blood may be AB+ which means that you have type AB blood with a positive Rh factor. Or, you might have O- blood which means that you have type O blood with a negative Rh factor.
It is particularly important for expectant mothers to know their blood's Rh factor. Occasionally, a baby will inherit an Rh positive blood type from its father while the mother has an Rh negative blood type. The baby's life could be in great danger if the mother's Rh negative blood attacks the baby's Rh positive blood. If this happens, an exchange transfusion may save the baby's life. The baby's blood can be exchanged for new blood that matches the mother's.
I hope that this helps you out......
2006-07-07 14:06:17 · answer #2 · answered by polllydooodle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so, I think you have to have the negative blood type to be affected by it. Your kids might have the negative factor now.
I never knew I was RH- until I was pregnant with my first. You recieve a shot during and after the pregnancy and that was it.
2006-07-07 14:05:51 · answer #3 · answered by Lizzy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The RH factor will only affect you in a pregnancy if you are RH positive or negative.. in that case, then you would simply receive a vaccination that will ease should the baby be RH...
2006-07-07 14:05:33 · answer #4 · answered by Nick's Mom 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it factors in depending on what type of blood the baby gets...see if the baby is neg and you are pos then it could be a problem. Obviously both your children took on your possitive.
2006-07-07 14:07:31 · answer #5 · answered by Sharlala 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From my understanding, the only time there is a risk is if the mother is - and the baby is +. The mothers body will try to abort assuming there is a 'foreign' substance.
2006-07-07 14:07:21 · answer #6 · answered by covertmama 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋