But problems can occasionally happen if you have Rh(D) negative blood and your pēpi has Rh(D) positive blood, and some of your baby's red blood cells cross the placenta to come into contact with your blood. Usually, only nutrients and waste products move across the placenta between you and your pēpi, while blood doesn't. You and your pēpi (baby) have separate blood supplies. If you don't have this protein, you're Rh(D) negative.īeing Rh(D) negative isn't a bad thing – it doesn't usually cause any health problems.īut if you're pregnant, there are some things you need to know about. Most people have this protein on their red blood cells and are called Rh(D) positive. These groups are defined by the types of protein on your red blood cells.īut your blood type is also classified by another protein called Rh(D) (formerly known as the rhesus factor). Also, your doctor may give you this injection in case you have a miscarriage, abortion, or ectopic pregnancy.Īre you looking for an experienced team of providers for your pregnancy? Please contact North Atlanta Women's Care and schedule an appointment with our experts today.Home > Women's health > Pregnancy & childbirth > Healthy pregnancy > Rh(D) (rhesus) negative blood & pregnancyĮveryone belongs to one of four blood groups: A, B, AB or O. This injection prevents your body from making Rh antibodies that can harm your baby when pregnant. If you're Rh-negative but not yet Rh sensitized, you’ll need injections of a medication called RhoGAM at 28 or 29 weeks of pregnancy and within 72 hours after delivery to prevent complications. People with Rh-negative blood treat any Rh-positive blood as a foreign substance and make antibodies against it to protect itself.
In addition to this, Rh-negative people may also be immune to other parasites or viruses, some of which may not have been discovered yet. Therefore, in places with a lot of Toxoplasma, having Rh negative type of blood might be advantageous. This parasite is found to invade our body and cause damage to the brain, particularly in babies. For example, people who are Rh-negative may be immune to some of the effects of the parasite called Toxoplasma. There are specific pros and cons of having this blood type. Only about 15% of the United States population has Rh-negative blood. Are there any benefits to being Rh-negative? This screening test will help identify any Rh incompatibilities present between the mother and the fetus to take preventive measures against Rh sensitization. These screening tests are typically performed at your first prenatal appointment. To learn if your blood type and determine whether you are RH negative or positive, you will have to do a simple blood test screening. How do I know if I am Rh-negative or positive? This is also called hemolytic disease of the newborn or HDN. In such cases, when your blood mixes with your baby’s blood, your body will start to make antibodies that can damage your baby’s red blood cells, leading to hemolytic anemia and other associated problems for your baby. This means you have Rh incompatibility with your baby. However, during pregnancy, being Rh-negative can cause complications if your baby is Rh-positive.
Typically, being Rh-negative carries no potential risks. What happens if there is Rh incompatibility during pregnancy? If the father is Rh-positive and the mother is Rh-negative, then the fetus can receive the father's Rh factor. If you inherit the dominant D antigen from one or both of your parents, then you are Rh-positive.
It is genetically transferred from parents to children. The presence of these proteins in your blood cells make you Rh-positive. It is a type of protein found outside the red blood cells. Rh incompatibilities between a mother and her baby can lead to complications during pregnancy if not treated properly. It specifies whether the blood of two people is compatible when mixed. The Rhesus protein, or the Rh factor, is one of the important characteristics of blood cells and is also known as the D antigen.