By Annette Pinder
Women who are pregnant quickly learn that pregnancy involves a lot of testing and monitoring, including routine bloodwork. Women who learn that they are Rh negative will likely have to undergo a little extra during and possibly after pregnancy, involving something called the “RhoGAM” shot.
What is Rh factor? Blood types are broken down into A, B, AB, and O. Each blood type is further classified as positive or negative, determined by a protein called the Rh factor. Rh positive blood types have this specific protein present, while Rh negative blood types do not, explains the American Red Cross. Most people are Rh positive.
Rh factor and pregnancy. Rh factor becomes an issue for pregnant women or individuals undergoing transfusions, as this is when “Rh incompatibility” may occur. Rh incompatibility strictly affects pregnant women who are Rh negative. If the mom is Rh negative and the biological father is Rh positive, the baby can inherit the dad’s positive Rh factor. This can cause Rh incompatibility, or Rh disease, says the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. When this occurs, the Rh-negative mom may make antibodies that can fight Rh positive blood cells in the baby’s body, producing various complications, particularly if fetal cells that form between the baby’s blood and the mother’s mix in the placenta.
Rh Complications. Complications from Rh incompatibility include fetal anemia, which can cause a life-threatening condition known as hydrops fetalis, causing internal bleeding, heart and kidney failure, and shock. However, a first pregnancy is typically fine as the mother’s body does not have enough time in nine months to produce significant antibodies for Rh-positive blood to be a concern. However, if a miscarriage occurred prior, or if this is a second or third pregnancy, precautions must be taken using RhoGAM, which prevents RH incompatibility in mothers who are Rh-negative. If the father of the infant is Rh-positive or if his blood type is not known, the mother is given an injection of RhoGAM.
Administration of RhoGAM. RhoGAM is made from donated human blood plasma and is administered as an injection between the 26 and 28 weeks of pregnancy when the placenta starts to thin. While unlikely, blood can transfer from the mom baby to mom, says Healthline.com. Rh incompatibility can transfer after any invasive test of the baby’s cells, such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. An obstetrician may determine that RhoGAM is needed during pregnancy, and the injection is effective for approximately 13 weeks.
Postpartum shot. After the baby is born, a pediatrician will test the infant’s blood to determine the Rh factor. If the baby shares mom’s negative Rh, no additional RhoGAM shot is needed. If the baby’s blood is Rh positive, the mother will need an additional shot 72 hours after giving birth, to prevent future pregnancy complications from antibody production. Rh factor isn’t much of a concern unless a person requires blood transfusions and is pregnant. However, Rh incompatibility can be mitigated with a special shot.
Call 716-427-8181 or visit https://www.kedplasma.us/kedplasma-donation-centers/amherst-ny
to learn about our community’s need for donated plasma and how you can help.
