PREGNANCY-BIRTH Messages for July, 2000: Re: ??????s ABOUT RH FACTOR

Re: ??????s ABOUT RH FACTOR

From: Lynn D. Montgomery, MD (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed, 19 Jul 2000 15:27:30 -0500 (CDT)

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At Wed, 19 Jul 2000, SONJA wrote: >
>I am O negative and have been reading messages from women who are either
>Rh sensitized or their babies are suffering with complications after
>they're born. Could someone please explain the possible implications of
>having a negative blood type. I did not nor did my daughter, who is
>(+), experience any complications after her birth five years ago. I am
>certainly not looking for any problems but would like to be more
>informed since I am pregnant again.

Sonja, In women with Rh negative blood, there is the potential for them to form antibodies against any Rh positive blood that enters their system. During pregnancy, there is ALWAYS a small amount of baby's blood that crosses the placenta. If the baby happens to have Rh positive blood, there is the potential for mom's system to form antibodies against those Rh positive cells. Usually that won't harm that pregnancy, but the next pregnancy, if the baby happens to have Rh positive blood again, the antibodies can effect that baby, even causing death in extreme cases. To prevent this from happening, Rhogam is given at 28 weeks of pregnancy in Rh negative mothers, in hopes that it will prevent this antibody formation. It is given again following delivery if the baby's blood type is discovered to be Rh positive. Obviously, as you have noted, the prevention is not perfect and we still occasionally see moms who are "Rh sensitized" and some of them have very problematic pregnancies... Lynn

--
Lynn D. Montgomery, MD
Director, Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Rocky Mountain Perinatal Center
Missoula, Montana

**Note:  Opinions expressed here are for educational purposes only and, as such, do not constitute a physician-patient relationship.  This information is not intended to supplant the need for you to consult with your physician prior to choosing therapeutic options and/or interventions.

**Private e-mails cannot be entertained due to time constraints, consequently no private e-mails will receive a response.

**Thank you for your understanding ;-)

Next message: Michelle: "Re: Another preterm labor question for Ms. Twisdale or anyone else?"
Previous message: Lynn D. Montgomery, MD: "Re: Caffine"
In reply to: SONJA: "??????s ABOUT RH FACTOR"
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