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Did you know that incompatibility between your blood group + rhesus factor and that of your partner can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth?
This is called Rh incompatibility.
Read this thread for more info on how it occurs and what needs to be done.
Please RT for others.
This is called Rh incompatibility.
Read this thread for more info on how it occurs and what needs to be done.
Please RT for others.
Four main blood group are: A, B, O, and AB.
"Rh-negative" and "Rh-positive" refer to whether your blood has Rh factor.
(+) signify you have Rh factor, (-) signify you do not have Rh factor. Hence, your blood group can be A+ or A-, B+ or B-, O+ or O-, AB+ or AB-.
"Rh-negative" and "Rh-positive" refer to whether your blood has Rh factor.
(+) signify you have Rh factor, (-) signify you do not have Rh factor. Hence, your blood group can be A+ or A-, B+ or B-, O+ or O-, AB+ or AB-.
Rh incompatibility is a condition that occurs during pregnancy if a woman has Rh-negative blood (e.g. Her blood group is B-, O-, A-, AB-) and her baby has Rh-positive blood group (e. g. B+, A+, O+, AB+).
This can make the baby's red blood cells swell and rupture.
This often leads to spontaneous abortion or the child dying shortly after birth. The baby will look swollen with yellowish discoloration of the skin amd severe brain damage.
This often leads to spontaneous abortion or the child dying shortly after birth. The baby will look swollen with yellowish discoloration of the skin amd severe brain damage.
Rh incompatibility can occur by 2 main mechanisms.
The most common type occurs when an Rh-negative pregnant mother is carrying Rh-positive baby during the course of pregnancy or from abortion, trauma or normal delivery.
The most common type occurs when an Rh-negative pregnant mother is carrying Rh-positive baby during the course of pregnancy or from abortion, trauma or normal delivery.
Rh incompatibility usually isn't a problem if it's the mother's first pregnancy.
That's because the baby's blood does not normally enter the mother's circulatory system during the pregnancy.
During birth, the mother's and baby's blood can mix.
That's because the baby's blood does not normally enter the mother's circulatory system during the pregnancy.
During birth, the mother's and baby's blood can mix.
How Is Rh Incompatibility Treated?
If a pregnant woman has the potential to develop Rh incompatibility, doctors give her Rhogam injection during her first pregnancy and the second shot within 72 hours of giving birth.
If a pregnant woman has the potential to develop Rh incompatibility, doctors give her Rhogam injection during her first pregnancy and the second shot within 72 hours of giving birth.
When Is a Baby at Risk?
Rh antibodies are harmless until the mother's second or later pregnancies. If she is ever carrying another Rh-positive child, her Rh antibodies will recognised it as foreign body and launch an attack against the baby's Rh-D positive blood cells.
Rh antibodies are harmless until the mother's second or later pregnancies. If she is ever carrying another Rh-positive child, her Rh antibodies will recognised it as foreign body and launch an attack against the baby's Rh-D positive blood cells.
The injection acts like a vaccine. It prevents the mother's body from making any Rh antibodies that could cause health problems in the baby or affect a future pregnancy.
A woman also might get a dose of the injection if she has a miscarriage or any bleeding during pregnancy.
A woman also might get a dose of the injection if she has a miscarriage or any bleeding during pregnancy.
Lastly, when you're pregnant, it's important to go for Antenatal care and do the routine blood test.
As a woman, if you're Rh- & your husband is Rh+, please talk to your Doctor for further advise and counselling. Also if you're counselled for Rhogam injection, please take it.
As a woman, if you're Rh- & your husband is Rh+, please talk to your Doctor for further advise and counselling. Also if you're counselled for Rhogam injection, please take it.
Rh incompatibility can also occur when an Rh-negative female receives an Rh-positive blood transfusion.
This is the reason that blood banks prefer using blood type "O negative" as the universal donor type in emergency situations when there is no time to crossmatch blood.
This is the reason that blood banks prefer using blood type "O negative" as the universal donor type in emergency situations when there is no time to crossmatch blood.
