Rhesus conflict is associated with such a concept as Rhesus factor. The latter, as you know, is either positive or negative. There is no third . Rhesus value is usually determined together with a blood group. It remains constant throughout the life of a person.
What is rhesus conflict?
This phenomenon occurs most often during the second pregnancy. At the first, the female body does not have time to "find" in a new situation, and therefore antibodies are not produced in sufficient quantities to start a "war" with the baby's red blood cells. Rhesus conflict is characterized by the struggle of the mother’s blood cells with the baby’s blood. It occurs when the mother has a negative Rh factor. If the father has Rh positive, then the baby, in all likelihood, will also be positive.
The mother’s blood will perceive the baby’s cells as foreign or hostile and, naturally, will try to get rid of them. Red blood cells of the baby are attacked by the antibodies of the mother, which penetrate the placenta. Bilirubin is produced in children's blood, which gives the skin a yellow color. Hence the jaundice in the newborn. But the most dangerous thing is that this substance can harm the brain of a child, while the baby's red blood cells are getting smaller, the liver and spleen are trying to fill in the gaps, accelerating their pace of work. At the same time, both organs increase in size. But even they can not make up for the lack of red blood cells. This entails oxygen starvation and, as a result, serious developmental disorders of the body. If you do not resist this in time, then the risk of miscarriage increases. In the worst cases, the baby appears with a diagnosis of congenital dropsy, which leads to his death.
During the first pregnancy, the mother's body has not yet developed enough antibodies, so the Rhesus conflict during the second pregnancy has great potential for development. Much depends on how the first pregnancy was resolved. If by birth, then antibodies in the blood are produced in sufficient quantities in 10-15 percent of cases, with miscarriage - in 3-4%, with medical abortion - in 5-6%, with ectopic pregnancy - in 1%. Therefore, the frequency of abortion and regulation is directly proportional to the production of antibodies in the blood of a woman.
A child who has passed the Rhesus conflict and was born into the world usually has a diagnosis of hemolytic disease of the fetus, is born with anemia.
Women with a negative Rh factor are registered in medical institutions. Potential “negative” mothers form a risk group, and special supervision of medical personnel is established behind them.
During pregnancy, such women often have to donate blood for antibodies. It is by the number of antibodies in the blood that a doctor can determine the onset of a Rhesus conflict. An increase in their number signals the beginning of a "struggle". The doctor has an effect on the woman’s body with the help of a special tool - anti-Rhesus immunoglobulin. This vaccine is designed to deter antibodies from "attacking" the red blood cells of a child. Anti-Rhesus immunoglobulin can be administered both prophylactically and during pregnancy. The required dose of the vaccine is also injected into the mother’s blood within three days after the birth or other resolution of the pregnancy.
The risk of Rhesus conflict occurs only with a negative Rhesus mother and a positive one in the father. In other cases, "confrontation" is not observed. At least, such cases have not been reported in practice.
If the couple has opposite Rhesus, then do not give up the happiness of becoming parents. The first pregnancy will probably be resolved successfully. With the help of professional doctors and regular examinations, subsequent pregnancies will bring desired and beloved babies.