Today, my friend asked me what type blood I had. I said A-. She said that the negative in A- may be a problem when/if I get pregnant. I was wondering what the negative has to do with anything when/if I get pregnant. What does the negative and positive mean in a blood type?
2006-09-29 13:58:02 · 3 answers · asked by Daphne 1 in Health ➔ Women's Health
The negative and positive means if you have the rhesus factor or not. If you are planning to become pregnant, ask your partner for his blood type. If positive, make sure your ob knows that, and he will give you a shot to prevent rejection of the fetus.
2006-09-29 14:56:13 · answer #1 · answered by Lea 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When the mother is Rh-negative and the father is Rh-positive, the fetus can inherit the Rh factor from the father. In this case, the mother may develop antibodies to an Rh-positive baby. If a small amount of the baby's blood mixes with your blood, which often happens, your body may respond as if it were allergic to the baby. Your body may make antibodies to the Rh antigens in the baby's blood. This means you have become sensitized and your antibodies can cross the placenta and attack your baby's blood. They break down the fetus's red blood cells and produce anemia (the blood has a low number of red blood cells). This condition is called hemolytic disease or hemolytic anemia. It can become severe enough to cause serious illness, brain damage, or even death in the fetus or newborn.
An injection or Rh immunoglobulin (RhIg), a blood product that can prevent sensitization of an Rh-negative mother, may be given to prevent hemolytic anemia in the fetus.
2006-09-29 21:14:07 · answer #2 · answered by jhy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you have a child fathered by a man who is RH+, it could affect the child. If this is the case, you should tell your ob/gyn about this problem so you can begin the medications to prevent any possible damage to the baby.
2006-09-29 21:21:14 · answer #3 · answered by karen wonderful 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋