In what cases should the Rh factor be taken into account? Pregnancy and blood transfusion

The Rhesus factor, it is written as Ph, is the designation of the blood group system, one of the 30 existing today. Applies only to D. antigen.

What is a Rhesus factor?

Blood type and Rh factor are genetically determined characteristics. That is, we get them from parents. The Rh factor is a protein located on the surface of red blood cells - red blood cells. It happens in only two types - positive (+) and negative (-).

Initially, it was found in monkeys (in particular, in Rhesus monkeys, from where the term got its name), but with the development of methods for studying the human body, its presence was soon detected in humans. Most often occurs in representatives of the Caucasian race and is transmitted from parents to children as a stronger sign. In 15% of the population (7% of them are Africans), the Rh factor is absent, therefore, they are Rh-negative.

A negative or positive Rh factor practically does not affect the quality of human life. However, in certain situations, it becomes extremely important. Consider these situations in more detail. So, in what cases should the Rh factor be taken into account?

Rhesus factor and pregnancy planning

If you and your partner are planning to become parents soon, you need to conduct a series of studies that will help to eliminate the presence of diseases that interfere with conception or interrupt pregnancy. In the future, this will help to avoid miscarriages, congenital abnormalities, etc.

One of the most important studies is determining the Rh factor of both parents. Most often they are both positive. When both parents are “negative,” there can be no conflict, that is, a mismatch that entails complications. If the expectant mother is “positive” and the father is “negative,” there should also be no problems with bearing the fetus, since the child will inherit the squirrel from her.

Difficulty appears in cases where a woman is “negative” and her partner has a positive Rh factor, therefore, the baby is most likely “positive”. In this case, a conflict may occur during pregnancy.

During the bearing of the child, it is necessary to constantly donate blood for the determination of antibodies. In what cases should the Rh factor be taken into account? When a woman is pregnant, to avoid conflict.

Rhesus conflict in pregnant

Rhesus conflict itself does not always manifest itself - many “negative” mothers carry several “positive” children quite successfully and without complications. Only 0.8% of pregnant women show this kind of conflict. Simply put, this phenomenon is very rare, but serious, requiring constant monitoring.

Rhesus conflict consists in the fact that the mother's body begins to reject the fetus, considering it to be a foreign body.

Doctors say that the first pregnancy in a "negative" woman must be preserved, since the risk of conflict is much lower than in subsequent ones. During gestation, it is very important that the woman’s body does not come into contact with the "positive" blood of the child, because if antibodies to it develop once, then subsequent pregnancies are associated with a high risk of miscarriage.

A child’s blood entering the mother’s body can be triggered by trauma, miscarriage, childbirth. If this happens, then the mother’s body will perceive the fetus as an aggressor and begin to attack it through the placenta. In the woman’s body at this moment there will be no disturbances, this reaction is natural, but the baby has an intensive gluing of red blood cells, which leads to the death of the fetus. It will be more difficult for a woman to bear a second child, since the awakened immunity will begin to constantly produce antibodies against the fetus even without predisposing factors.

If blood enters a woman’s body during childbirth, the baby may develop a hemolytic disease. It is important to prevent it before the birth of the baby by introducing a certain group of drugs - anti-Rhesus immunoglobulin.

Blood transfusion and Rh factor

In what cases should the Rh factor be taken into account? When there is a need for transfusion (blood transfusion), blood type and Rh factor are crucial. Transfusion is usually required after or during surgery, especially if the patient has lost a lot of blood. This can be planned operations, when the doctor knows in advance that the patient will need support in the form of donor material. The compatibility of Rh blood factors in this case is extremely important.

In the case of transfusion of incompatible material, red blood cells in the patient’s blood will begin to stick together due to interaction with antibodies that develop in his body in response to a stranger.

As a result, blood ceases to perform its basic functions.

Conclusion

Today we found out in which cases the Rh factor should be taken into account. At the same time, I want to clarify that its presence or absence, in addition to the above extreme cases, absolutely does not affect the quality of life.