In blood, what is and what does the Rhesus factor do? How does it work with blood transfusions? Parentage?

Answer 1

The Rh factor was named after Rhesus monkeys where this antibody on the surface of red blood cells was first found. If you have the antibody, you are Rh + and if you don't have it then you are Rh -. You can give a person with negative blood only negative blood, but you can give negative blood to a positive person. Problems arise when you give positive blood to a negative person as this sets off a reaction in the person receiving the blood. If this person were to ever receive positive blood again, clots would form and very likely kill them. This problem also arises in Rh- mothers carrying Rh+ babies. The first baby is usually okay, but if any of the baby's positive blood cells get into the moms system, she sets up this antibody reaction and her cells will attack any future positive baby's she carries and usually with deadly consequences for the baby. She can carry a negative baby with no problems. There is a shot called Rhogam that moms get late in pregnancy and right after birth if she has an Rh+ baby. This is to prevent her from developing antibodies and protecting her future Rh+ babies. Please realize that all this does not even begin to touch on blood incompatibilities with whether you have type A, B or O blood!

Answer 2

Rh incompatibility arises only when a woman's blood is Rh negative and her baby's blood is positive. This can only happen if the baby's father is also Rh positive (or if she is given an Rh positive blood transfusion by accident). Having a positive or negative blood type is determined by genes. Normally, there are no problems with the first pregnancy with a baby that is Rh positive. However, the baby may sensitize her blood and if she has a subsequent pregnancy with an Rh positive baby, there is a risk of hemolytic disease of the newborn, in which case the baby may need a transfusion.

I have Rh negative blood and my husband is positive. I cried when I found out about it, and was very afraid. However, I had 4 sons, all positive, and never had a problem. I was lucky, I guess. But I was monitored very closely during my last months of pregnancy each time, in case it showed in my blood. If it had, there are procedures to help the situation. I would reccomend that you talk to a doctor and also check the encyclopedia.

Answer 3

There are catagories of blood, the blood groups A B (AB i I think) and O, and there there is 2 further groups to which these letter codes are assighned + and -
For example O- or B+

Like you cannot mix A and O together, you cannot mix + and - together, otherwise the patient will die.

Answer 4

This is a great resource for everything you wanted to know about Rhesus factors. Hope it helps!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhesus_factor