The Rhesus (Rh) Factor is a protein present on red blood cells. Most people have Rh factor and are termed Rh positive, others do not and are termed Rh negative. The Rh factor is usually inherited, so if both parents are positive the foetus will in turn be positive. However, if the mother is positive and the father negative, then the foetus can either be positive or negative. Problems associated with the Rh factor in pregnancy arise when the father is positive, mother negative and the unborn foetus happens to be postitive. What really happens is that the mothers blood produces antibodies that attacks the foetus which bears an anti Rh factor from the mothers. The mothers blood antigen so recognizes the foetus as as foreign and attacks it. Even though the foetus and mother hardly share same blood systems, the two bloods sometimes meet during labour, bleeding during pregnancy, Trauma caused to the abdomen during pregnancy and even during breech baby presentation before pregnancy. This can be prevented by giving the Rh negative mother a shot of the Rh immunoglobulin (a drug commonly known as RhoGAM) that targets the Rh positive cells in the blood stream and prevents the production of Rh antibodies. It is best taken 72 hours after delivery of a Rh positive infant. This is however not a problem during the first EVER pregnancy as the mothers antibodies are not formed then. But its best we all be informed.

Very true. Many people don't take this rhesus factor thing seriously. This rhesus factor thing is the major cause of multiple miscarriages in women. It affects women who aborted their first babies with different factors from their spouses more because the Anti-Rh antibody is to be administered during first pregnancy to inactivate and remove any Rh factor that may be transferred from the fetus due to less complications attached to it at first pregnancy. The RhoGAM may even be administered before sensitization.

Thanks for this info. What if the wife is the one with the positive rhesus and the husband is negative? What happens then

HAEMOLYTIC DISEASE OF THE NEWBORN.

Hollyb:
Thanks for this info. What if the wife is the one with the positive rhesus and the husband is negative? What happens then

Exactly wat i'm facing and i've been makin findings on it. I'm Rh-Negative and my wife is Rh-positive.
There is no sensitization and no hazard to the baby if the mother is Rh-positive, even if she is married to an Rh-negative husband. There is also no complication if both husband and wife are Rh-negative or if both are Rh-positive. In other words, they have compatible Rh-blood types.

michaelokoi:

Exactly wat i'm facing and i've been makin findings on it. I'm Rh-Negative and my wife is Rh-positive.
There is no sensitization and no hazard to the baby if the mother is Rh-positive, even if she is married to an Rh-negative husband. There is also no complication if both husband and wife are Rh-negative or if both are Rh-positive. In other words, they have compatible Rh-blood types.

thanks for the timely reply, I'm really grateful

nawtibownie:
Very true. Many people don't take this rhesus factor thing seriously. This rhesus factor thing is the major cause of multiple miscarriages in women. It affects women who aborted their first babies with different factors from their spouses more because the Anti-Rh antibody is to be administered during first pregnancy to inactivate and remove any Rh factor that may be transferred from the fetus due to less complications attached to it at first pregnancy. The RhoGAM may even be administered before sensitization.

Thanks. Please I have a question that is disturbing me. A girl performed an abortion without receiving the anti-rh drug after the abortion. Then she later married and got pregnant which resulted to miscarriage after which the drug was administered on her. Please my question is; is she now condemned to be having a multiple miscarriage or has the drug rectified the abnormally.

kelechiodo:


Thanks. Please I have a question that is disturbing me. A girl performed an abortion without receiving the anti-rh drug after the abortion. Then she later married and got pregnant which resulted to miscarriage after which the drug was administered on her. Please my question is; is she now condemned to be having a multiple miscarriage or has the drug rectified the abnormally.

No. The drug when administered during pregnancy prevents this but I'm not very sure if she'll always have to take it during every pregnancy. I think it makes her immune for life.

Hollyb:
Thanks for this info. What if the wife is the one with the positive rhesus and the husband is negative? What happens then

The baby would be Rh negative. A baby always carries the father's factor.

I am rhesus negative and I take the anti D injection after each birth or miscarriage. I will advice any rhesus negative mum to limit the number of kids because of possible complications. I have two boys and that's it for me

Katier00:
I am rhesus negative and I take the anti D injection after each birth or miscarriage. I will advice any rhesus negative mum to limit the number of kids because of possible complications. I have two boys and that's it for me

I forgot to add that my mum and dad are rhesus positive. O+.

michaelokoi:

Exactly wat i'm facing and i've been makin findings on it. I'm Rh-Negative and my wife is Rh-positive.
There is no sensitization and no hazard to the baby if the mother is Rh-positive, even if she is married to an Rh-negative husband. There is also no complication if both husband and wife are Rh-negative or if both are Rh-positive. In other words, they have compatible Rh-blood types.

Very true. The problem with Rh factor only arise if the woman is negative and the foetus happens to be positive.

nawtibownie:

No. The drug when administered during pregnancy prevents this but I'm not very sure if she'll always have to take it during every pregnancy. I think it makes her immune for life.

On the contrary, the drug doesn't make her immune for life. It is advisable She takes the drug after each delivery/ miscarriage/ abortion and not during d pregnancy.

kelechiodo:


Thanks. Please I have a question that is disturbing me. A girl performed an abortion without receiving the anti-rh drug after the abortion. Then she later married and got pregnant which resulted to miscarriage after which the drug was administered on her. Please my question is; is she now condemned to be having a multiple miscarriage or has the drug rectified the abnormally.

I advice she seeks consultation with a specialist. The truth is, administering the drug at any other time apart from immediately after d miscarriage/ abortion or delivery has less effect in many people. However, that shouldn't deter her because nothing is impossible. I have witnessed a case where the woman was not administered d drug after her first birth, then experienced major complications for her second pregnancy, d drug was administered during pregnancy wen d blood was already attacking d foetus. Twas Gods miracle she gave birth to the baby alive.