Often, women with a negative Rh factor worry about their pregnancy and, it must be said, not without reason. Rhesus factor is a protein located on the surface of red blood cells. Difficulties arise if the mother has a negative Rh factor (Rh−), and the child (Rh +) has a positive, inherited from the father. Less often, incompatibility develops according to the ABO system (group incompatibility). When fetal blood antigens enter the mother’s blood, antibodies are produced.
Antibodies during pregnancy destroy the red blood cells of the fetus, which entails negative consequences, such as hemolytic disease. Associated problems are: impaired liver function, circulatory system, heart failure. In the fetal body, fluid can accumulate, leading to edema. The disease begins to develop from the 22nd week of pregnancy.
Why is Rhesus conflict dangerous?
It should be noted that the Rhesus conflict is not very dangerous if the first pregnancy. The mixture of maternal blood with the blood of the baby occurs after birth, and even already formed antibodies do not pose a threat to the baby.
However, if a woman is expecting a second baby, antibodies during pregnancy can cause serious pathologies from which the baby can die in the womb. The main danger lies in the release of a large amount of bilirubin substance by the fetus to fight antibodies, which can negatively affect its internal organs, mainly the liver, spleen and brain. Rhesus conflict often leads to miscarriage or premature birth.
Antibodies during pregnancy are formed if the woman has a Rhesus factor negative and the man has a positive Rhesus factor. In this case, the Rhesus conflict occurs in 75% of cases. Incompatibility may occur if a woman received a blood transfusion and Rhesus was not taken into account.
Blood test for antibodies
Even when planning pregnancy, every woman should find out her Rh factor and Rh factor of the father of the child. If there is a likelihood of a Rhesus conflict, then she will need to do an analysis for antibodies during pregnancy repeatedly. The first time you need to perform this procedure at 8 weeks of gestation and then regularly check for antibodies up to 30 weeks - once a month, up to 36 weeks - weekly.
The incompatibility of the blood groups of the mother and the child leads to the same serious consequences. Difficulties arise if a woman has blood group I, and the fetus has blood of group II or III. In this case, fetal antigens enter the mother’s blood and group antibodies are secreted. Group antibodies during pregnancy lead to the development of hemolytic disease and are no less dangerous than D-antigens.
However, a blood test for antibodies can indicate a pathology only if it was performed in combination with other diagnostic methods. Of great importance is the titer of antibodies and its change during pregnancy. The higher the titer of antibodies, the more likely an adverse outcome.
Antibodies during pregnancy should be detected in a timely manner, and injections are given to the lady in position, which are carried out from 10 to 22, from 22 to 24 and from 32 to 34 weeks. With complications, a pregnant woman should be in the hospital, under the supervision of doctors.
Women with a history of miscarriages or a child born with severe hemolytic disease are undergoing plasmapheresis, which is aimed at removing antibodies from the blood.
If the hemolytic disease of the fetus is confirmed, early delivery is correct. This is due to the fact that by the end of the term the supply of antibodies to it increases. In severe cases of fetal illness, pregnancy is terminated. But in most cases, it can be brought to an acceptable date of delivery.