Rhesus Factor (RH) Incompatibility

To prevent cases of Rhesus Factor(RH) Incompatibility, pregnant women need to know if they are rhesus positive or negative. If you are a pregnant lady and you have a rhesus negative (RH-ve) factor in your blood type, You may be at risk of developing some complications associated with the rhesus incompatibility.

What are some of the complications of rhesus incompatibility?

Among these complications are:-

• bleeding during pregnancy
• miscarriages
• Ectopic pregnancies

• Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN)
  -Kernicterus (brain damage to the kid thanks to high levels of bilirubin)
  -hydrops fetalis (This is fluid build-up which will cause swelling of the baby)
• problems with mental functions, hearing, speech and seizures

What Is Rhesus Factor?

The Rh factor (Rh factor), may be a certain sort of protein found on the surface of blood cells. People are either Rh-positive (meaning they have those protein elements on their cells) or Rh-negative (meaning they do not have those protein elements on their cells). This distinction mostly matters once you are Rh-negative and your child is Rh-positive.

What is Rhesus Incompatibility?

Rh incompatibility occurs when a lady who is Rh-negative becomes pregnant with a baby with Rh-positive blood. With Rh incompatibility, the woman’s system reacts and creates Rh antibodies. These antibodies help drive a systematic attack against the baby, which the mother’s body views as a far off object.
The incompatibility happens as long as the daddy of the kid is Rh-positive

NOTE: Take note that the first pregnancy will not be affected since the body is yet to be sensitized into producing the antibodies, but the subsequent pregnancies that may follow will be affected. However, if you had an abortion or miscarriage, your body shall have been sensitized and as such, you will be affected.

Why is Rhesus Factor Important?

This protein doesn’t affect your overall health, but it’s important to understand your Rh status if you’re pregnant. Rh factor can cause complications during pregnancy if you’re Rh-negative and your child is Rh-positive.

Who Is At Risk Of Rhesus Incompatibility?

A woman who is Rh-negative is in danger of Rh incompatibility when she becomes pregnant. Rh incompatibility happens only the daddy of the baby is Rh-positive. Men are advised to understand their Rh status if their spouses are rhesus negative.

What Causes Rhesus Incompatibility?

A difference in blood group between a pregnant woman and her child causes Rh incompatibility. Children could also be Rh-positive if they inherit the protein from their father when their mother is Rh-negative.

What Is The Treatment For Rhesus Incompatibility?

Treatment of the kid who is already affected depends on the severity of the condition, infants with mild Rh incompatibility could also be treated with phototherapy, IV immunoglobulin can also be used, for those that are severely affected, an transfusion of blood could also be needed.

Prevention.

if you’re Rh-negative blood type, and your baby is Rh-positive blood type and you haven’t been sensitized, the doctor will administer an injection of ant-D immunoglobulin within 72 hrs of parturition.
You can also receive the injection at 28 weeks and 34 weeks gestation to women in their first pregnancy.

Conclusion

In conclusion, pregnancy is a period of joy and blessings. Taking care of all pregnant mothers is key