Ask Me Help Desk - RH negative

I found out my blood type @ the doctors & its RH negative. My mom told me that if I was to get pregnant that I would have miscarriages because when the baby's blood mixes with the mothers, the mother produces antibodies that harm or even kill the baby. IS This TruE?? Im All bumbed out :(

This is not true. Many Rh negative women give birth every day. The complication does not arise with the first pregnancy, but with subsequent pregnancies. And this is true ONLY if the baby you are carrying is RH positive.

Here is a more detailed explanation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by J_9

Now, you are right in a sense that the mother's body will "reject" the baby. It's more like the mother's body sees the fetus as an infection if you will. But, again, this doesn't happen until the subsequent pregnancies.

I'm trying to explain it as easily as possible, bear with me, I've been studying measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox etc all day for unit test tomorrow.

Now, Mom gets pregnant, and we don't know the baby's blood type until it is born. It could be either Rh-negative or Rh-positive. So, let's say this baby is born Rh-positive. Well, Mom's body has built up an antibody to the Rh factor during the first pregnancy. When she gets pregnant the second time the antibodies recognize the Rh-positive as an invader and attempt to fight it off, much like we would with a cold or flu. So, the Rhogam shot is given to stop this process (called phagocytosis).

Again it is VERY common and nothing to worry about at all as long as the doctor knows the factors of both parents.

If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask. This is my specialty, LOL, I work in Labor and Delivery at my local hospital. My sister is also RH negative and has 3 beautiful girls.

Quote:

Originally Posted by J_9

Here is a more detailed explanation.

If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask. This is my specialty, LOL, I work in Labor and Delivery at my local hospital. My sister is also RH negative and has 3 beautiful girls.

So whaat happens if the baby's blood is Rh positive?

Is this your first baby?

Ive been pregnant before but didn't carry 2 term. I thought I was again so that's y I had the blood test but the doc said I wasn't

First let me say that I am sorry for your loss, I know it can be hard.

Now, since you don't know what the blood type was of the baby you lost was, you will be given injections of a medication called RhoGAM. It is a medication that helps a woman who is rh - to carry to term.

When you are rh- and baby is rh+ there are antibodies in your body that recognize the fetus as a threat to your system and begin to fight against the baby. This RhoGAM shot stops the antibodies from fighting against the baby, and thus, a happy and healthy pregnancy.

Awsome! Thanks for your help :)

No problem. If you have any other questions I'll be happy to help.

No it not true . I am RH Negative and I have a healthy beautiful 2 yr old little girl. You just have to get a shot during pregnancy and if you happen to miss carry you have to get another one . But you can def. have kids . Don't worry about that just make sure your doctor knows your blood type and you get the shot.

No that is not true. I am also RH negative and I have giving birth to 3 wonderful children. All that RH mean is that you are at risk. If you do get pregnant you will need to tell you doctor and you will get a shot at 25 week pregnant and again after the baby born in the baby has (+) blood type.

Do you know your blood type? Because blood type can be an important factor in a healthy pregnancy, it will be checked at your first prenatal visit.

What your blood type means

Blood type is based on particular molecules (called antigens) that sit on the surface of red blood cells. People either have A antigens (type A blood), B antigens (type B), both (type AB) or neither (type O) on their red blood cells. When it comes to Rh factor, some people have the antigen (Rh-positive) and some people don't (Rh-negative.) In other words, your blood type identifies which antigens you have from each group.

Rh sensitization is preventable

During pregnancy, Rh-negative is the only one of these blood groups that can cause a problem. It turns out that an Rh-negative mother can make antibodies (part of her immune system's response to invaders) against Rh-positive blood cells, even against those of her own baby. This is called Rh sensitization. These antibodies have the potential to cross the placenta and attack the fetus' red blood cells, which in turn can cause low blood count (anemia), congestive heart failure, and even fetal death. This is called hemolytic disease. Fortunately, Rh sensitization is preventable with a medicine called Rh immunoglobulin (RhIg, or Rhogam™.) Since the development of RhIg, in 1968, we have seen fewer and fewer mothers who are Rh sensitized.

How Rh immunoglobulin works

An Rh-negative mother will develop antibodies against Rh-positive blood cells (become sensitized) only if fetal blood crosses the placenta and enters her bloodstream. Her immune system then "sees" these cells, identifies them as foreign, and mounts an immune response. The injection of Rh immunoglobulin blocks the mother's immune system from seeing the fetal cells, if they do happen to get into her bloodstream, so she will not become sensitized and make antibodies.

Who needs to take Rh immunoglobulin?

RhIg is given to all Rh-negative women whose fetuses might be Rh-positive. The fetus may be Rh-positive if its father is Rh-positive. If both parents are Rh-negative, they can only have Rh-negative offspring.

When is Rh immunoglobulin given?

RhIg is given at times during the pregnancy when there is some likelihood of Rh-positive fetal blood getting into the mother's bloodstream. This includes

* Amniocentesis

* Miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy

* Elective termination of pregnancy

* Around 26 weeks of pregnancy (which protects through late pregnancy)

* After delivery

The baby's blood type is checked at birth, using blood obtained from the umbilical cord. If the baby turns out to be Rh-negative as well, the dose of RhIG usually given at delivery is not necessary.

What happens when an Rh-negative mother becomes sensitized?

Fortunately, it is now quite rare for an Rh-negative woman to get sensitized. If a woman does develop antibodies against Rh-positive cells, it will be detected in routine pregnancy blood-work.

Rh sensitization usually doesn't hurt the baby in the first pregnancy, because the mom can't make enough antibodies to cause severe problems. But the next pregnancy, and any that follow, can become very complicated if that fetus is Rh positive. If possible, women who become Rh sensitized should get their prenatal care from a high-risk obstetrical specialist (perinatologist.)