When Mom is Rh-
The Rh factor is a protein in red blood cells found in some people. If your blood has the protein, you're Rh positive (Rh+). If your blood does not have the protein, you're Rh negative (Rh-). Rh incompatibility only occurs when a mother is Rh- and her baby is Rh+. However, most women are Rh+ and consequently only a small amount of women are forced to deal with this problem.
During your first prenatal appointment, your doctor typically takes a blood sample to determine your Rh factor. If you have Rh- blood, the babys father will be tested to determine his Rh factor. Once you know the father's Rh factor your doctor will be able to better determine the babys Rh factor. If the father has Rh+ blood, there may be a possibility that the baby has Rh+ blood also. This will cause Rh incompatibility.
When Rh incompatibility occurs your blood will see your babys blood as an alien and produce antibodies that will attack your babys red blood cells. The baby may require a blood transfusion if it cannot generate red blood cells as fast as they are being demolished. Typically a blood transfusion can wait to be performed until after delivery although transfusions can be given when the baby is still inside of the uterusbut this is very rare.
In order for Rh incompatibility to become a problem your baby's blood must find its way into your system. This usually only happens during delivery, miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. During your first pregnancy, you probably won't have an Rh incompatibility because your babys blood has not entered your system. Therefore, Rh incompatibility normally only happens in following pregnancies if your previous babys blood entered your system.
To prevent you from producing antibodies that will harm your babys blood, your doctor will give you an injection of a drug called Rho-GAM. This drug is usually injected at twenty eight weeks of pregnancy and again 72 hours after delivery as a precaution. Rho-GAM is also injected after a miscarriage, amniocentesis and CVS. This'll prevent your body from producing antibodies, which could create problems for you during following pregnancies.
About the Author
Chris Dunn often writes articles about birth for his pregnancy website.
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