What is Rh factor; Introduction

Rhesus blood group system refers to five major as well as minor (Less frequent) Rhesus antigens. Rhesus major antigens are c, C, D, E and e. The term Rh factor refers to only Rh D antigen.

Why it is necessary for pregnant women to know her Rh factor?

It is very important to know about your Rh factor because it might risk pregnant women as well as her baby in womb to death and other life threatening diseases. In addition to blood group (A, B, O, AB), the Rh factor is written in report as either positive or negative. Most of the people have Rh positive blood. A women and her baby in the womb is at risk, if she is Rh negative and her partner has Rh positive factor. This combination might produce a child who is Rh positive and hence mother’s and baby’s blood system gets separate with each other. In any case, when blood from the baby reaches or enter in the mother’s blood system, it will cause mother system to create antibodies against the blood cells of the baby. If this happens the mother is said to be a sensitized. Antibodies of a sensitized mother break the red blood cells of baby and it causes anemia. In worst case scenario, this hemolytic disease can cause illness, brain damage and death.

Several cases in which pregnant women get sensitized

Sensitization can be occurred during blood transfusion, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, abortion and even some procedure like amniocentesis.

Good news for pregnant women, who are Rh negative

Some preventive measures have been evolved to protect pregnant women and her baby from hemolytic disease, but the condition is that, if they not are being sensitized already. Rh Immunoglobuin (Rhlg) is a blood product given through injection in order to suppress.

The immunity of Rh negative mother and hence retard her activity to react with red blood cells of Rh positive baby. These injections are also known as Rhogam. Each dose of the injection last for about 12 weeks. Mother will also be injecting Rhogam within 72 hours of birth if child finds to be an Rh positive. Baby’s blood group can easily be determined by taken out blood samples from umbilical cord after birth.

Rh may also be given after miscarriage, abortion and amniocentesis but the risk might be high in this case. There are about 5000 cases of hemolytic disease found every year across the globe. Some babies who have this disease will have uncomplicated pregnancies and will born normally. But other babies will suffer severely and required to take birth, as early as possible. Blood transfusion can be given to these severely infected babies after and before the birth.

If you have any queries related to Rh factor, don’t hesitant to take appointment to your doctor and use best medication if you’re Rh negative woman.