In plain words
The Rh factor is a protein found on the surface of red blood cells. People who have it are Rh positive, and people who do not are Rh negative. It is part of your blood type, along with A, B, and O. Most people are Rh positive. In pregnancy, the Rh factor matters when a parent is Rh negative and the baby is Rh positive. In that case, the parent's immune system can make antibodies against the baby's blood if the two mix, usually during birth or a loss. Prenatal blood tests check your Rh status early. If you are Rh negative, your care team may offer a shot at certain points.
The deeper version
The Rh system's D antigen, encoded by RHD, is the most immunogenic of the Rh antigens. Rh D-negative individuals, about 15 percent of people of European ancestry and a smaller share in other populations, can form alloantibodies after exposure to D-positive fetal red cells through at delivery, , abortion, or procedures. Antenatal and postnatal prophylaxis with Rh D immune globulin is guided by ACOG Practice Bulletin 181 (2017), which covers dosing around 28 weeks and after delivery of a D-positive infant when indicated. Antibody screening and cell-free fetal DNA testing in some settings have refined the management of D-negative patients. The controversy concerns the of antenatal prophylaxis and how far routine genotyping reduces unnecessary treatment.
Where it comes up
- MiscarriageLoss and Complications
- Your body and heart after a miscarriageLoss and Complications
- Ectopic and molar pregnancyLoss and Complications
What mothers here say about Rh factor
No one has posted under this term yet.
Sources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Practice Bulletin No. 181: Prevention of Rh D Alloimmunization (2017)