![pregnancy a negative blood type pregnancy a negative blood type](https://i.stack.imgur.com/KF6zF.png)
Part of the normal blood workup for the pregnant woman is testing for blood type and Rh factor. Her blood is also checked for the presence of Rh antibodies. If antibodies are present, the mother has already been exposed to RH positive blood at some point in her life and her body already has antibodies to the Rh factor. Treatment for Rh incompatibilities may be necessary. If you already have antibodies for the Rh factor your doctor will want to monitor you and baby closely. If your baby is Rh negative, no treatment will be needed. (If both baby's mother and father have Rh-negative blood type, baby will be Rh negative, however Rh positive fathers can produce Rh negative or Rh positive babies.) If your baby is Rh positive, your doctor will have to run tests to monitor your baby's status. She may check your blood for antibody levels. She may also check your amniotic fluid for the breakdown of baby's red blood cells. The ultimate goal will be to hold off delivery until baby is mature at around 36-37 weeks, but it may be necessary to deliver baby early if baby shows signs of distress. Sometimes doctors will recommend an intrauterine transfusion for baby. As with all procedures, there are risks involved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized in writing by ADAM Health Solutions.Thankfully with advancements in technology, Rh incompatibility is usually very preventable and treatable. Links to other sites are provided for information only - they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy editorial process and privacy policy. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. is accredited by URAC, for Health Content Provider (URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. This is because special immune globulins called RhoGAM are routinely used.Ī.D.A.M., Inc. This problem has become less common in places that provide good prenatal care. Rh incompatibility develops only when the mother is Rh-negative and the infant is Rh-positive. All children she has later who are also Rh-positive may be affected. This is because it takes time for the mother to develop antibodies. The level of bilirubin in the infant's blood may range from mild to dangerously high.įirstborn infants are often not affected unless the mother had past miscarriages or abortions. This causes an infant to become yellow (jaundiced). When red blood cells are broken down, they make bilirubin. They destroy the baby's circulating red blood cells. These antibodies may cross back through the placenta into the developing baby.
![pregnancy a negative blood type pregnancy a negative blood type](https://www.birthinjuryhelpcenter.org/photos/rh_factor___pregnancy.jpg)
![pregnancy a negative blood type pregnancy a negative blood type](https://cdn.britannica.com/16/99116-050-6FE5813E/hemolytic-disease-Rh.jpg)
The mother's body makes antibodies against the fetal blood cells. If the mother is Rh-negative, her immune system treats Rh-positive fetal cells as if they were a foreign substance. During pregnancy, red blood cells from the unborn baby can cross into the mother's blood through the placenta.