Rhesus or rhesus factor is a level of special protein (Antigen D) on the surface of red blood cells. Not everyone has protein on the surface of their red blood cells. Someone whose red blood cells contain the protein is stated to have positive rhesus (commonly written Rh +). If a person does not have the protein in his red blood cells, it is said to have negative rhesus (or Rh-).
Rhesus positive is considered more common as there are more owners of this condition than negative rhesus owners. However, if you have a negative rhesus, it does not mean that it will have a negative impact on your health and body condition because rhesus status is not a disorder and does not trigger any disease.
Are There Special Conditions to Look Out For?
New negative Rhesus can be a problem if you are pregnant and if your husband has positive rhesus. If this happens, there is a possibility that you will need special care during pregnancy.
As an illustration, consider this condition.
- Rhesus positive mother and Rhesus positive father, fetal conditions rhesus positive, no problem.
- Rhesus negative mother and Rhesus negative father, fetal conditions rhesus negative, no problem.
- Rhesus positive mother and Rhesus negative father, fetal conditions can be positive or negative rhesus, no problem.
- Rhesus negative mother and Rhesus positive father, fetal conditions can be positive or negative rhesus, the possibility of problems.
The Problem of Rhesus Difference
Problems may occur if maternal rhesus is different from fetal rhesus. Especially if the mother's rhesus is negative and fetal rhesus is positive, then the mother's body will produce antibodies that can harm the fetus.
When you and your fetus have a rhesus condition like that, then your blood can not be mixed with fetal blood, until you give birth. Fortunately, the formation of antibodies in your body will take time so when you give birth to your first child, this condition usually does not affect the baby.
But it's different when you are pregnant with your second child. At that time, antibodies have formed and can attack red blood cells in the fetus. This of course has the potential to harm the fetus, as when born, the baby is at risk of developing jaundice, anemia, or other more serious illnesses. Similarly, if you are pregnant with a third, fourth, and so on child. In subsequent pregnancies, problems that may occur in infants will be more serious.
There are no special signs if you experience rhesus differences with the fetus in the womb. The way to find out is with a blood test. Do it early in the first semester of first pregnancy to anticipate and treat rhesus differences.
If this happens, you and the fetus must continue to be monitored. At the beginning of pregnancy, you are also advised to do rhesus immunoglobulin injection based on your doctor's schedule. If you experience bleeding during pregnancy, see a doctor immediately.
What if Your Body Has Formed Antibodies?
When you check yourself early in pregnancy, your doctor will check the state of the antibodies. Re-examination was carried out when the pregnancy was 28 weeks old.
Antibodies that have already formed and attack fetal red blood cells are likely to cause miscarriage and / or ectopic pregnancy. For this to be prevented, you will be given an anti-D injection or rhesus immunoglobulin injection if necessary.
Anti-D is only to prevent antibodies from forming and attacking fetal red blood cells, not to eliminate these antibodies. Antibodies will remain for the rest of your life.
Furthermore, the doctor will continue to monitor the development of the baby with the aim of anticipating anemic baby. If anemia is found, it is possible for the baby to have a blood transfusion, even before birth. Alternatively, the baby should get treatment as soon as possible after birth. In this situation, the birth of the baby must be accelerated by Caesarean section.
Pregnant women must know the condition of rhesus themselves, and their husbands. Therefore, it is recommended to do a blood test, especially when the pregnancy is at the beginning of the semester. Know that your actions early in pregnancy will determine the health condition of yourself and the child throughout his life.
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