Rh disease

Rh Disease
What is Rh disease?
Rh disease occurs during pregnancy when there is an incompatibility between the blood types of the mother and baby.

(Rh Disease)
What is Rh Disease and what causes it?
Everyone is born with a specific blood type and an RH factor. For example you may have blood type "A" with an Rh factor of "positive" (A+). This blood typing stays with you for life.

Intrauterine fetal blood transfusion for Rh disease
An intrauterine transfusion provides blood to an Rh-positive fetus when fetal red blood cells are being destroyed by Rh antibodies.

Rh disease
Amniotic fluid can be tested for a fetus's Rh factor Opens New Window.

Rh disease - complications resulting from incompatibility between the blood types of the mother and baby.
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About Rh Disease:
What if you're Rh-negative and your mate is Rh-positive? What if you were Rh-positive in a previous pregnancy? What if your mother lost a baby with Rh disease?

Rh disease (ar-h duh-ZEEZ) - See Rh factor. A disease caused only when a baby who is Rh-positive is born to a mother who is Rh-negative.

Rh disease of the newborn, which is caused by an incompatibility between the blood of a mother and her fetus, affects about 4,000 infants a year. It can result in jaundice (yellowing of the skin), anemia, brain damage and death.

Immune hydrops may develop because of Rh disease in the mother. When an Rh negative mother has an Rh positive baby, the mother's immune system sees the baby's Rh positive red blood cells as "foreign.

Rh Disease: If you have a different blood type than your unborn baby, then you might be at risk. Your doctor will determine that with a blood test. During pregnancy, a small amount of the baby’s blood stream.

Anti-D antibody (Rh sensitization, Rh disease)
A protein made by the immune system that binds to a molecule called the D antigen found on the surface of red blood cells.

One huge factor is better management of chronic problems like Rh disease, diabetes and maternal hypertension. There is also more known about the health of the mother. So cutting out smoking and certain drugs can help reduce the rates of stillbirth.

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If a mother is Rh negative and her fetus is Rh positive, it can trigger Rh Disease. (Read about "Rh Disease") Your blood can also be tested for a number of other conditions such as anemia, Hepatitis B and HIV.

In subsequent pregnancies, if your baby is Rh-positive, your antibodies can cross the placenta and begin to attack your baby's red blood cells. This is known as Rh disease.

Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Rh Disease
Gestational Diabetes
Placental Problems (like previa and abruption)
Incompetent Cervix
Preeclampsia
Caesarian Section
Congenital Birth Defects ...

The idea underlying Rhogam is if anti-Rh antibody is given soon after delivery, it blocks the sensitization of the mother and prevents Rh disease from occurring in the woman's next Rh-positive child.

after an abnormality has been noted on an ultrasound
when amniocentesis results aren't conclusive
if the fetus may have Rh disease
if you've been exposed to an infectious disease that could potentially affect fetal development ...

If your blood type is negative, you need a shot when you have either of these procedures to prevent Rh disease.

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See also: Pregnancy, Fetus, Delivery, Ultrasound, Pregnant