Rh Incompatibility

There are four main blood types, A, B, O, AB. These types are based on blood cell surface material. Other blood types are called Rh. Rh factor is a protein on erythrocytes. Most people are Rh positive and have Rh factor. Rh negative people do not have it. Rh factor by genetic inheritance

When you are pregnant, your baby's blood will enter your blood, especially at birth. If you are Rh negative and your baby is Rh positive, your body reacts to the baby's blood as a foreign body. It generates antibodies (proteins) to the blood of the baby. These antibodies usually do not cause problems during initial pregnancy

However, if the baby is positive for Rh, incompatibility of Rh may cause problems in late pregnancy. This is because the antibody remains in the body once the antibody is formed. Antibodies may attack the baby's red blood cells through the placenta. Infants may develop serious illness that may cause Rh disease, severe anemia

In the blood test you can decide if you have Rh factor and whether your body is already producing antibodies. Injecting a drug called Rh immunoglobulin prevents your body from producing Rh antibodies. It helps to prevent Rh incompatibility problems. If the baby needs treatment, it can contain supplements to help the body to transfuse with red blood cells.

There are two types of incompatible diseases: Rh incompatible disease and ABO incompatible disease. Both diseases have similar symptoms, but Rh disease is more severe, as anti-Rh antibodies are more likely to cross the placenta than anti-A or B antibodies. (The immune system does not form antibodies to O antigens.) Therefore, Rh disease may destroy most of the infant's blood cells. Since the 1950's, these two incompatible diseases were not common in the United States due to medical progress. Before 1946 (when a newborn baby was transfused), 20 thousand babies suffered from Rh disease every year. Due to further progress such as suppression of maternal antibody response, the incidence of Rh disease has decreased to about 4,000 cases annually.

The incompatibility of Rh is called Rh disease and when it shows Rh-negative blood type but Rh-positive blood cells, they are serious symptoms for pregnant women. Rh incompatibility occurs when pregnant mothers show Rh-negative but Rh-positive red blood cells and fetuses - indicating bleeding during pregnancy, miscarriage, and blood flow from the placenta at birth. The blood bank uses a blood type O Rh negative called an (general blood type) for emergency situations. The main reason for Rh incompatibility is to bring Rh negative females into contact with Rh positive fetuses during pregnancy or childbirth. As a result, blood will leak from the fetal blood circulation to the maternal circulation.

In the first few weeks of pregnancy, all pregnant women are tested for Rh factor. Rh incompatibility occurs when maternal blood is Rh negative, father's blood is Rh positive, and fetal blood is Rh positive. Mothers may produce antibodies against Rh-positive fetuses, which can lead to fetal anemia. Incompatibility problems are observed and appropriate treatment can be taken to prevent the formation of Rh antibodies during pregnancy. There are other blood antibodies that may cause problems in screening during the first visit during pregnancy.