What is Rh D Factor In Pregnancy and What Makes it Important?

What is Rh D Factor In Pregnancy and What Makes it Important? The news of welcoming a new angel into the family is always an exciting and overwhelming feeling for parents. This feeling goes way beyond for the expecting mother when she starts planning and raising significant questions about the pregnancy. From what to eat and how to sleep to which furniture to invest for the baby’s room and most probably, how to invest for his/her future! While these thoughts are endless, there are questions that a mother is asked when she goes for her pregnancy check-ups too. One such important question is whether or not she is an Rh-Positive Mother.

What Is Rh Factor And Why Is It Important?

The Rh Factor or Rhesus Factor is one of the foremost check-ups that a doctor carries out on an expecting mother. This is basically a type of protein that is found on the surface of the red blood cells. To understand whether or not one is an Rh-Positive Mother, the process is simple. If this protein is found in the blood, it is an Rh D Positive Pregnancy and if it is not found, it is an Rh-negative pregnancy.

What is meant by Rh D Incompatibility?

This is an incompatibility wherein an expecting mother and her unborn child have different Rhesus proteins. However, there really isn’t anything such as Rh Incompatibility in every case. Being either Rh positive or negative is not a health issue. This can become a health issue only if a mother has an Rhd Negative Pregnancy and the baby is Rhd Positive. Being Rh-positive is common among mothers. But a difference on the same between the mother and child can affect the pregnancy and a lot of care is required till birth. This Rh factor can be inherited by a baby from either the mother or father.

What Blood Type Rejects Pregnancy?

The Rh factor of a woman doesn’t affect her health directly, but only during pregnancy. If her unborn child is Rh-positive and she, Rh-negative, then her body will immediately start to approach the other protein if the immune system is exposed to the protein. Then when the blood cells from the baby cross with the bloodstream of the mother either during pregnancy, labour or delivery, the immune system will start creating Rh D Antibody against the red blood cells of the baby. A mother undergoing Rh D negative pregnancy will then be considered sensitive to positive blood types as the antibodies may be sent across the placenta to cause damage to the baby’s red blood cells.

How to Incorporate an Rh-Negative Pregnancy Management?

To prevent the effects of Rh D Incompatibility, a pregnant mother is given an Rhlg or Rh immune globulins injection during the first trimester. This shot of Rhlg is also given during any kind of bleeding or miscarriage.

The Rh immune globulins shot comes with antibodies to the Rh factor to match with the baby’s Rh blood wherein a dose is given during pregnancy and another is given probably after birth. In serious cases, a mother may be required to take special blood transfusions after delivery or when the baby is in the uterus.

How can Rhesus Disease be treated?

The treatment for Rhesus depends entirely on the condition of the baby after birth. While some may require an infusion of electrolytes to regulate metabolism or other hydrating fluids, others may require a number of blood transfusions or phototherapy. Under phototherapy, a newborn is kept near fluorescent lights to reduce bilirubin in the blood.

These procedures to treat Rhesus Disease are repeated until the Rh-negative antibodies and unwanted bilirubin amounts are removed from the blood. As in the case of pregnancy, a doctor monitors the mother at regular intervals of time if she starts to develop antibodies against her unborn baby.

Complications of O Rh D Positive Pregnancy or Negative Pregnancy are not Treated

In case Rh D Incompatibility is not treated on time, there can be several serious complications in the baby. Some of these complications include:

• Swelling

• Hearing and speech impairment

• Brain damage

• Anaemia

• Seizures

• Heart Failure

Conclusion

Once an expecting mother learns that she is to undergo an Rh D Negative Blood Type Pregnancy in case her unborn child has an Rh D Positive blood type, it is extremely important to take precautions at every step. This is not only important to save complications during and after birth but to also ensure that the Rh-Negative Mother's Second Pregnancy or third pregnancy is not complicated too. Some simple checklists to make for such mothers include:

Contacting the doctor immediately during any kind of vaginal bleeding during pregnancy

Scheduling in advance the Rh immune globulin shot during pregnancy

Reminding the doctor and his/her team during the time of delivery of it being an Rh D Negative Blood Type Pregnancy.

References

• American Pregnancy association. Rh Factor Blood Type and Pregnancy. https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/pregnancy-complications/rh-factor/
• R. Morgan Griffin. Rh Factor. August 09, 2022. https://www.webmd.com/baby/rh-factor
• Cindie Slightham on July 23, 2018. Rh Incompatibility. https://www.healthline.com/health/rh-incompatibility