Each of us, for sure, heard about such a thing as a Rhesus factor of blood. But what lies behind these words? Let's try to figure it out.
The Rh factor of the blood is a protein that is located on the surface of red blood cells. If the protein “pops up”, then the rhesus is put positive and vice versa, if the protein is not found on the surface, then the result is negative.
Statistics report that only one seventh of the world's population has a negative Rh factor. The rest is positive. Studies are carried out, determining both Rhesus and blood type at the same time, although one does not depend on the other. The value of Rhesus affiliation is inherited. Can the Rhesus factor change? No, its meaning remains the same throughout life.
While the baby is in the womb, it is impossible to establish its Rhesus affiliation accurately. Only less than ten percent of pregnant women have different Rh factors with the fetus. And only less than one percent in such a situation causes a Rhesus conflict.
This phenomenon is quite rare, but represents a significant threat to the life of the woman herself, as well as the life of the baby. With a positive Rhesus, my mother had no conflicts with the fetus. But with a negative one needs to check the blood of the father. If you get two "minuses", then do not worry. But if dad has positive blood, then there is a chance of conflict.
The mother's body can accept the positive Rhesus of the baby as an enemy, a foreign body and try to get rid of it. Blood begins to produce antibodies - the "defenders" of the body. Their number is determined during the analysis. If there is a threat, special means, medicines, which inhibit the production of these cells - “defenders” are introduced into the mother’s body. Penetrating through the placenta into the baby’s blood, these antibodies glue red blood cells, destroying his body from the inside. Thus, a Rhesus conflict is formed.
When the number of antibodies reaches a certain mark, then the "fight" begins. This mark is called the "critical mass." In most cases, the first pregnancy of a “negative” mother proceeds without problems. But during the second gestation, a conflict arises. If the child manages to survive and be born, then his red blood cells are partially damaged. The baby is diagnosed with hemolytic disease of the newborn. Then jaundice appears. Only a blood transfusion can save a baby . The donor, of course, must have a negative Rh factor of the blood.
Opposite Rhesus is not a reason to abandon motherhood. You and your partner should accurately determine the Rhesus affiliation in order to have grounds for doubt or concern. An experienced doctor will tell you what to do in this case.
“Negative” mothers will have to donate blood more often to analyze the amount of antibodies. Until the last month of pregnancy, the analysis is done once a month, but in the last - twice, and so every week until birth. It is the amount of antibodies that can tell the doctor which rhesus the baby has and whether there is a possibility of conflict. Anti-Rhesus immunoglobulin binds antibodies and removes them from the female body, preventing them from fighting the baby's blood cells. This vaccine allows you to save the fetus. It can be administered both prophylactically and during pregnancy. By all means, an injection is made after childbirth for three days.
Thanks to highly developed technologies, doctors solve the Rhesus conflict positively, saving the life of both the baby and his mother.
The Rh factor of the blood is another human identifier that characterizes its owner as an individual. When blood transfusion, its value is taken into account along with the blood group.