When a couple decides to have a baby, a man and woman often have a question about whether their rhesus blood is compatible. For quite some time now, doctors and scientists have been studying these indicators. This article will tell you about which Rh factor compatibility. You will find out in which cases you should not worry about the fact that antibodies are formed in the blood cells. It is also worth saying what is a Rhesus factor conflict during pregnancy.
What is human rhesus blood?
Rhesus blood is the presence or absence of a specific protein on the membrane of red blood cells. In most cases, it is present. That is why approximately 80 percent of the population have positive rhesus values. About 15-20 percent of people become owners of negative blood. This is not some kind of pathology. Scientists in recent years have been talking about how these people become special.
Rhesus factor compatibility
Quite a long time ago, data became known that some blood mixes well, but its other types do not. To calculate the compatibility with the Rh factor for conception or for another purpose, you need to refer to the tables. They are presented to your attention in this article. Depending on what you want to know, compatibility data may vary. Consider in which cases the compatibility of Rh factors is recognized, and when not.
Donation
Rhesus factor compatibility in the case of donated blood will be in the following cases. A person with a positive value (when the so-called protein is present on red blood cells) can donate material to negative people. Such blood is transfused to all recipients, regardless of whether they have rhesus.
Rh factor does not give compatibility in the case when a negative donor donates material for a positive person. In this case, serious cell conflict may occur. It is worth recalling that during the transfusion of the material, it is necessary to take into account compatibility by blood group and Rh factor. This is exactly what experienced specialists do in the walls of medical institutions.
Pregnancy planning
Of great importance is the compatibility of the Rh factors of the parents of the unborn baby. Many couples mistakenly believe that the probability of conception depends on these values. So, with prolonged infertility of unknown origin, a man and a woman blame precisely the blood group and Rhesus affiliation. This is completely untrue.
It does not matter at all whether there is protein on the erythrocyte cells of the sexual partners. This fact does not affect the likelihood of fertilization. However, during fertilization and the establishment of the fact of pregnancy, the Rh factor (the compatibility of its indicator of father and mother) plays a large role. How do these values affect the unborn child?
Compatible Rhesus Factors
- If a man does not have protein on red blood cell cells, then most often there is no danger. In this case, a woman can be positive or negative. This fact is absolutely not important.
- When the rhesus factor in a woman is positive, the blood data of a man does not have much significance. The dad of the unborn baby can have any analysis indicators.
The possibility of conflict
The compatibility of the Rh factors of the parents can be violated in the case when the woman is negative and the man is positive. In this case, a big role is played by whose indicators the future baby has acquired. Currently, there are certain studies of maternal blood. Their result can determine the affiliation of the child’s blood with an accuracy of 90 percent. Also, during pregnancy, women with a negative Rh factor are recommended to take a blood test to determine the presence of antibodies. This helps to prevent a conflict and to carry out its prevention in time.
Rhesus factor: pregnancy conflict
During the bearing of a child, many women face various problems. One of them is incompatibility by blood group and Rh factor. In fact, it does not matter what kind of blood (group) the expectant mother has. The presence or absence of protein on the cells of a pregnant red blood cell is much more significant.
If the Rh factor of a woman is negative, and the man (father of the unborn baby) is positive, then a conflict may develop. But this will only happen if the fetus has acquired the property of the blood of his dad.
How does the complication develop?
The blood belonging of the baby is determined at the very beginning of pregnancy. Until about 12 weeks, the fetus develops independently thanks to the action of progesterone. In the second half of pregnancy, a continuous connection and mutual exchange of substances between the mother and the unborn baby occurs. The blood of a woman and a fetus does not bind to each other in any way. However, through the umbilical cord, the child receives all the nutrients and oxygen. He gives away the components that are unnecessary to him, with which red blood cells can be released. Thus, the protein located on the blood cells enters the body of the expectant mother. Her circulatory system does not know this element and perceives it as a foreign body.
Due to this whole process, the body of a pregnant woman produces antibodies. They are aimed at destroying an unknown protein and neutralizing its action. Since most substances from the mother enter the fetus through the umbilical cord, in the same way, antibodies enter the baby's body.
What threatens the Rhesus conflict?
If a woman has formed the very antibodies in her blood, then soon they can get to the fetus. Then the substances begin to destroy the protein unknown to them and destroy the normal red blood cells of the baby. The consequence of this effect can be many congenital diseases or intrauterine complications.
Often, babies who have experienced Rhesus conflict with their mother suffer from jaundice. It is worth saying that such a complication becomes one of the most harmless. With the breakdown of red blood cells, bilirubin is formed in the baby's blood. It is he who causes the yellowness of the skin and mucous membranes.
After the birth of a child with a Rh conflict, liver, heart and spleen diseases are often detected. Pathology can easily be corrected or be quite serious. It all depends on the duration of the destructive effect of antibodies on the child's body.
In rare cases, the Rh conflict during pregnancy can lead to the birth of dead children or fetal death.
What are the signs of complication?
Is there any way to find out about the developing Rhesus conflict during pregnancy? In most cases, the pathology is detected by the result of a blood test. Every expectant mother with negative Rh values should regularly take material from a vein for diagnosis. If the result showed the presence of antibodies in the body, then doctors take measures aimed at improving the condition of the baby.
Also, a Rh conflict during pregnancy can be suspected by conventional ultrasound. If during the diagnosis a specialist discovers the enlarged size of organs such as the liver and spleen, then perhaps the complication is already developing in full force. Diagnostics can also show edema of the whole body of the child. Such an outcome occurs in more severe cases.
Correction of the Rhesus conflict during pregnancy
After the detection of pathology, it is necessary to appropriately assess the condition of the unborn child. In many ways, the treatment regimen depends on the gestational age.
So, in the early stages (up to 32-34 weeks), a woman's blood transfusion is used. She introduced into the body a new material that does not have formed antibodies. Her destructive blood for a child is simply removed from the body. Such a scheme is usually carried out once a week until a possible delivery.
In later pregnancy, a decision may be made on an urgent cesarean section. After birth, a correction is made for the condition of the baby. Most often, the treatment regimen includes the use of medications, physiotherapy, exposure to blue lamps and so on. In more severe cases, a blood transfusion is used for the newborn.
Prevention of Rh conflict during pregnancy
Is there any way to prevent the development of pathology? Of course, yes. Currently, there is a medication that fights the formed antibodies.
If pregnancy is the first, then the likelihood of developing a Rhesus conflict is minimal. Most often, red blood cells do not mix. However, inevitable antibody formation occurs during labor. That is why it is necessary to introduce an antidote within three days after the birth of a child with a positive Rhesus factor in a negative mother. This effect will avoid complications in subsequent pregnancies.
What to do if time is lost and the next conception has come? Is it possible to somehow protect my child from conflict? In this case, the expectant mother is recommended to regularly monitor the state of the blood through routine tests. The above substance is introduced into the body of a pregnant woman for a period of about 28 weeks. This allows you to endure the baby before the due date without complications.
Summarizing
You now know what the blood type and Rh factor compatibility chart looks like. If you do not have that same protein on red blood cell cells, then you should definitely inform your doctor about it. During pregnancy, your health and fetal behavior will be under special control. This will avoid the occurrence of a Rhesus conflict or timely prevent it. Health to you!