Is it dangerous for parents to have different Rh factors during pregnancy? Expectant parents: important information about the Rh factor and characteristics of blood groups Which Rhes are not compatible for conception

Blood type compatibility is a fairly pressing topic in medicine, and more precisely in the field of family planning. Having learned about pregnancy, the father and mother of the unborn child must first do a blood test. This main test, which determines the blood type and Rh factor, plays an important role in the health and further well-being of mother and baby.

There are four key blood groups (types): O (I), A (II), B (III) and AB (IV). Blood type is inherited at birth and remains for life. Each of the four blood types is classified based on the presence or absence of protein. These proteins are known as "antigens". Some of them are associated with blood group, others are responsible for the Rh factor, which is determined by three markers (antigens): D, C and E. The most common is the “D” antigen. Rh-positive organisms have a substance called D antigen on the surface of their red blood cells. They are called RhD-positive. In Rh-negative organisms, the “D” antigen is absent from the blood, and such people are called RhD-negative.

Blood type has a very important purpose - it maintains the vitality of the entire organism. Therefore, before planning to conceive, it is necessary to check compatibility with your partner.

Antibodies are part of the body's natural defense against invading germs and bacteria. They do not recognize anything “foreign” in the body and alert the immune system to get rid of it. Human blood is grouped into four types: A, B, AB, or O. Each letter refers to the type of antigen found. For example, type A has proteins known as A antigens. Each blood group has its own Rh factor (Rh) - positive (Rh+) or negative (Rh−). Worldwide, the most common blood types are O+ and A+. About 85% of the population has Rh+, the remaining 15% are holders of “Rh−”

The Rh factor is 50 types of different proteins; if at least one is present, then Rh is considered positive. The child inherits the blood type and Rh factor from the parents. During pregnancy and during childbirth, RhD plays an important role when an RhD-negative mother is expecting an RhD-positive baby. This only occurs when the child's father is Rh positive. However, not all babies with an RhD+ father receive a positive Rh factor.

Research over the past 40 years has shown that infertility and recurrent miscarriage can be the result of antibodies in a woman's vaginal secretions that react with blood antigens in male sperm.

Video: Tatyana Malysheva about the Rh factor

Incompatibility problem

The Rh factor is checked using a blood test. “Rh−” poses a threat to the mother in labor if her Rh does not coincide with the baby’s Rh. Research has shown that some problems are related to blood type incompatibility between mother and fetus or between parents. As written above, markers (antigens) protect the body from external pests such as bacteria and viruses. When an antigen encounters a foreign object, it creates antibodies against it. The same thing can happen when trying to get pregnant. The body will react by producing antibodies to the appearance of sperm or a fetus, which will prevent conception.

The problem appears when the Rh of the mother's blood does not match the Rh of the fetus, and the body begins to produce antibodies against proteins on the baby's red blood cells. An Rh-negative mother does not always pose a threat to fetal development:

if both parents are Rh-negative and the child also receives “Rh−”, then no complications arise;
if the mother has “Rh−” and the father “Rh+”, and the fetus receives Rh negative, then there is no threat of conflict;
if the woman in labor has “Rh+” and the child has Rh negative, protein incompatibility will not occur.

The chance of a child inheriting Rh and the probability of conflict in the table.

Rh factor

Father	Mother	Child	Probability of conflict
+	+	75% +	No
+	-	50% +	50%
-	+	50% +	No
-	-	-	No

How does the Rh factor affect the course of pregnancy?

Problems with the Rh factor appear when the mother's Rh is negative and the baby is Rh positive. This is called "Rh incompatibility". As a rule, such conflicts do not arise during the first pregnancy, but will be possible during subsequent conceptions. If the "Rh+" blood of the fetus mixes with the negative Rh of the mother during pregnancy or childbirth, then the mother's blood will begin to create antibodies against "Rh+", as when encountering harmful substances.

Rh antibodies can cross the placenta and attack the baby's blood. Such actions lead to hemolytic anemia, which destroys red blood cells. At the same time, the amount of bilirubin in the child’s blood increases. After birth, the baby experiences low muscle tone, lethargy and yellowness of the skin and whites of the eyes. Red blood cells are responsible for the presence of oxygen in all parts of the body. If there are not enough red blood cells, the child's body is not enriched with the required amount of oxygen, and hemolytic anemia can lead to serious illnesses, as well as fetal death.

When a woman is pregnant, the placenta acts as a barrier between the red blood cells of the mother and the child. There are times when small portions of the baby’s blood can enter the mother’s blood:

most often this happens during childbirth;
the risk of blood mixing occurs during a miscarriage or during an abortion;
in situations accompanying pregnancy - such as amniocentesis (chorionic villus sampling);
with vaginal bleeding or abdominal trauma.

If the expectant mother has a negative Rh and the partner has a positive Rh, then the female body may reject the fetus. Only specialists can prevent this phenomenon.

Video: Rh negative during pregnancy

How to avoid problems

If incompatibility is detected, the doctor organizes several blood tests for the still pregnant woman to monitor the level of antibodies. After birth, the baby's blood is also tested. If the baby is “Rh+”, then the mother is offered an injection of anti-D (immunoglobulin) within a few days after birth. Anti-D prophylaxis is taking a drug that prevents a woman’s body from producing antibodies against Rh+ cells. Today, Rh sensitization during pregnancy and after childbirth can be largely prevented. This is achieved through prophylaxis with anti-D immunoglobulin.

All Rh-negative expectant mothers are offered anti-D immunoglobulin injections. This procedure prevents harm from Rh incompatibility.

Typically, all pregnant women who are Rh-negative and do not have antibodies to the D antigen are recommended prophylaxis with anti-D immunoglobulin. This is either one injection between 28-30 weeks of pregnancy, or two - at 28-34 weeks. This kind of prevention is called ongoing prenatal (antenatal).

The process by which the mother's body begins to produce antibodies against antigen D is called potentially sensitizing. Sometimes, after such circumstances arise, additional injections of anti-D immunoglobulin are necessary. Such situations include the following:

threatened miscarriage or miscarriage;
ectopic (ectopic) pregnancy;
abortion;
vaginal bleeding;
obstetric intervention;
abdominal trauma, such as after a fall or car accident.

Any event, be it vaginal bleeding or abdominal trauma, should be reported to your midwife or doctor as soon as possible.

A timely consultation with your doctor is the right step towards a trouble-free pregnancy and the birth of a healthy baby.

What is anti-D

Anti-D immunoglobulin is produced from a component of donors' blood called plasma. At the same time, as with any other medicine made from blood, there is a possibility of transmission of the virus from the donor to the recipient of anti-D immunoglobulin. However, all donors are carefully selected, and the production of the drug includes operations to remove and destroy viruses, which ensures a minimal likelihood of their transmission.

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Blood group compatibility is information that is often decisive. Knowing compatibility allows you to quickly find a donor for blood transfusion, as well as avoid a difficult pregnancy and the development of pathologies in the embryo.

Which blood type is suitable?

Blood is a substance that contains plasma and formed substances. There are several classification systems, among which the most common is the AB0 system, according to which this biological material is divided into 4 types: I, II, III, IV.

Plasma consists of two types of agglutinogens and two types of agglutinins, which are present in a specific combination:

In addition, plasma may contain a specific antigen. If it is present, then the person is considered to have . If absent, negative.

How often do you get your blood tested?

Poll Options are limited because JavaScript is disabled in your browser.

Only as prescribed by the attending physician 30%, 377 votes

Once a year and I think that’s enough 18%, 224 vote

At least twice a year 14%, 182 vote

More than twice a year but less than six times 11%, 146 votes

I take care of my health and rent once a month 7%, 88 votes

I'm afraid of this procedure and try not to pass 5%, 62 vote

21.10.2019

When a person requires a transfusion, it is necessary to know which blood groups are compatible and which are not. Through numerous studies and experiments, scientists have found that I is universal, which is suitable for all others. This blood can be transfused to each other. IV (positive Rh factor Rh+) is also characterized by versatility; biological material of all others can be transfused into such blood.

Detailed characteristics of the four groups:

I - universal. People with a positive Rh factor have universal donor material, since it can be used for transfusion in any case. But recipients of this biological fluid are less fortunate - they only require single-group material. According to statistics, 50% of the world population have a universal blood composition.
II - inferior in versatility to the first. As a donor material, it is suitable only for owners of the second and fourth.
III - suitable only for owners of the third and fourth groups, provided they have the same Rh factor. The recipient of the third group can receive biomaterial from the first and third.
IV is a rare type of biological material. Recipients can accept any blood, but can only become donors for members of their own group.

Compatibility scheme for human blood transfusion groups:

Give away	Accept
1	1, 2, 3, 4	1
2	2, 4	1, 2
3	3, 4	1, 3
4	4	1, 2, 3, 4

The issue of compatibility is also taken into account in the field of family planning. The health of the mother and the unborn child depends on the group and Rh factors of the parents, therefore, before planning conception, you should get tested. Blood compatibility for conceiving a child is presented in the table.

Compatibility table:

		Father
		1	2	3	4
Mother	1	+	—	—	—
	2	+	+	—	—
	3	+	—	+	—
	4	+	+	+	+

“+” - compatible;
“-” - conflict.

First group

It does not contain antigens, so it is compatible in any case. The first positive characteristic is characterized by universality. During transfusion, 1 positive can be combined with II, III and IV, but it only accepts its own kind. The first negative is valued for the compatibility of blood for transfusion to any person in an emergency. But it is used in small quantities (no more than 500 ml).

For routine transfusion, single-group biological material should be used, and the Rh factors of the recipient and donor should be identical.

Options for compatibility of group 1 for conception:

There is a pattern in inheritance. If both parents have the first group, then the child will inherit it with 100% probability. If parents have 1 and 2 or 1 and 3, then the probability of having babies with groups 1 and 2 or 1 and 3 is 50/50%.

Second group

The presence of antigen A in it allows it to be combined with 2 and 4, which include this antigen. In terms of compatibility, 2 positive conflicts with 1 and 2. The reason is the presence of antibodies to antigen A in the latter.

If a person is second positive, then only the same blood group 2 is suitable for transfusion. If you are Rh negative, you need to look for a donor with Rh negative biomaterial. In case of emergency, blood type 2 can be combined with 1 Rh-.

The second group is compatibility when planning pregnancy:

Third group

It is not characterized by a combination with 1 and 2 (there are antibodies to antigen B), since group 3 contains antigen B. A person with the third negative is transfused only with identical biomaterial. In emergency cases, the first negative is used, subject to regular monitoring of compatibility.

Blood group 3 positive is rare, so it is difficult to find a donor for transfusion. Suitable biomaterial for transfusion to a person with a third positive - 3 Rh+ and Rh-, as well as 1 Rh+ and Rh-.

Blood group compatibility for conceiving a child:

Fourth group

It contains antigens A and B, for this reason, in relation to donation, group 4 is suitable only for people with the same group.

People with the fourth group are considered universal recipients, since they can be transfused with any blood. And rhesus does not always matter:

4 positive - full compatibility with others (1, 2, 3), regardless of the Rh factor.

You need to know which biomaterial is suitable for 4 negative. Anyone, but only with negative Rh.

Blood group 4 - compatibility with other groups during pregnancy:

Which blood types are incompatible?

Blood group compatibility during transfusion allows you to avoid situations where the body does not accept unsuitable donor blood. A dangerous complication This situation is considered to be transfusion shock, so you need to know which types of blood are incompatible. Moreover, when transfusion occurs, the Rh factor (Rh) matters.

The Rh factor is a protein that is found on the membrane of blood cells and exhibits antigenic properties. The transmission of this protein occurs by inheritance. Based on its presence, a conclusion is drawn regarding rhesus:

positive (Rh+) - protein is present on red blood cells;
negative (Rh-) - there is no protein on the red blood cells.

Transfusion of donor material should be carried out only taking into account rhesus. It is impossible for cells of Rh-positive biomaterial to interact with cells of Rh-negative material. Otherwise, the process of destruction of red blood cells begins.

Incompatibility:

I Rh+ - with everyone who has Rh-;
II Rh- - with I and III;
II Rh+ - with all except II and IV Rh+;
III Rh- - I and II;
III Rh+ - with all except III and IV Rh+;
IV Rh+ - c I, II, III and IV Rh-.

The types of blood that are incompatible for conceiving a child are the same as in the case of transfusion.

Rhesus conflict

Many people are interested in how the biomaterial of parents can affect the conception of a child and how the Rh factor affects conception. It has been established that the parents different groups with the same Rh factor are suitable for conceiving a healthy baby. If the biomaterial of the parents matches the background of different Rhesus, then difficulties in conceiving are possible.

The problem is that in case of incompatibility, a conflict regarding the Rh factor is possible - negative and positive red blood cells stick together, this is accompanied by a number of complications and pathologies.

If the positive Rh factor of the pregnant woman is stronger, then the risk of conflict is minimal. Pregnancy in women with Rh- will proceed normally, provided that the partner has the same Rh factor. If the partner has Rh+, then there is a high probability that the child will inherit it. In such a situation, Rh conflict between mother and child may arise. The Rh of the unborn child is determined based on the indicators of the mother and father.

Influence of Rh factors:

In practice, Rh conflict occurs in no more than 0.8% of cases. But this problem is given special attention, because it carries danger. Rh-positive fetal plasma poses a threat to a pregnant woman with Rh-negative plasma, so the woman’s body starts producing antibodies. Hemolysis occurs - a process in which antibodies begin to interact with the red blood cells of the embryo and have a detrimental effect on them.

During the metabolic process, the fetal bloodstream is enriched with nutrients and oxygen. At the same time, waste products of the embryo enter the bloodstream of the pregnant woman. A partial exchange of red blood cells occurs, as a result of which some of the baby’s positive cells enter the mother’s blood, and some of her cells enter the fetal bloodstream. In a similar way, antibodies enter the embryo’s body.

It has been noted that Rh conflict occurs less frequently during the first pregnancy than during the second. When the mother's cells first interact with the embryo's cells, large IgM antibodies are produced. They rarely and in small quantities enter the fetal bloodstream, so they are not capable of harm.

During the second pregnancy, IgG antibodies are produced. They are small in size, so they easily penetrate into the bloodstream of the unborn baby. As a result, hemolysis continues in his body and the toxic substance bilirubin accumulates. Fluid accumulates in the fetal organs, and the functioning of all systems in the body is disrupted. After birth, this process continues for some time, which aggravates the condition of the newborn. In such cases, a diagnosis is made.

In severe cases, Rh conflict negatively affects conception - the pregnant woman has a miscarriage. For this reason, pregnant women with Rh- need careful monitoring of their condition and all tests and studies.

Knowing blood compatibility allows you to prevent a number of complications, sometimes incompatible with life. And this applies not only to the transfusion procedure. Finding out compatibility should be one of the important stages in planning conception. This will help eliminate severe pregnancy, miscarriages, and the development of defects and pathologies in the child.

When planning a pregnancy, a married couple needs to undergo certain examinations. At the same time, it is important to find out the compatibility of blood groups for conceiving a child, because this will avoid many complications during pregnancy and ensure the healthy development of the baby.

What kind of blood is there?

You can take a special test to determine your parents’ blood group and Rh factor in any clinic. The results will help the gynecologist make the right prescriptions during the gestation period in order to minimize the possible influence of different Rh factors of the parents on the baby.

The blood group division system is based on specific sets of proteins A and B. Genetics define them as alpha and beta agglutinogens.

Group 1 – no alpha and beta agglutinogens

Group 2 – alpha agglutinogens are present

Group 3 - beta agglutinogens are present

Group 4 – alpha and beta agglutinogens are present

You also need to find out the value of the Rh factor, since it is it that affects the compatibility of blood for conception. There are Rh factor negative and positive. If human red blood cells contain specific proteins and antigens, Rh positive is diagnosed. If they are absent, it is negative.

There is an opinion that women in the first group do not experience problems with pregnancy and they give birth to healthy babies. Such people are the best donors, because this blood group has excellent compatibility with all others (in the case of a Rh match). It is believed that these people prefer to eat meat products. There is an opinion that people with blood type II prefer vegetable and fruit dishes. And on the third, they prefer flour.

Myths about compatibility

There is a blood group compatibility table for conceiving a child floating around the Internet.

Allegedly, women with the first blood group are incompatible with men of the second, third and fourth. Women with the second - with men who have the third or fourth group, etc. There is another opinion: if the spouses have the same blood type, then conception is unlikely, or in this case weak children are born.

Obstetricians and gynecologists say: all this is complete nonsense. Such tables have nothing to do with medicine; they are completely invented by unscrupulous “healers” or illiterate authors of articles. The blood of the parents does not affect the conception of the child in any way!

To eliminate any last doubts, conduct a short survey of your own parents, relatives or friends who have children. You will see that babies are born to couples with a very different combination of blood groups: 1 and 2, 2 and 4, 1 and 4, and so on.

In some rare cases, a woman cannot become pregnant due to so-called immunological incompatibility. A man's seminal fluid contains certain components that are rejected by the woman's immune system. The partner develops a kind of “allergy” to the man’s sperm. In some articles, this phenomenon is associated specifically with blood type. But blood has nothing to do with it; this phenomenon is of a completely different order. By the way, such incompatibility can be successfully treated.

Rhesus conflict

When parents have the same Rh factor, we can say with confidence that they will have excellent compatibility. Determining compatibility by Rh factor is an important component when planning pregnancy. Having the necessary information and, accordingly, receiving the correct medical treatment, such couples can significantly reduce the risk of spontaneous abortions and avoid problems with the health of the unborn baby.

If the mother has a Rhesus sign with a plus sign, and the father has a Rhesus sign with a minus sign, then this will not affect conception in any way. Moreover, geneticists claim that in most cases the baby is also born “positive”. In this case, we can say that the parents are compatible to conceive a child.

If the situation is the opposite (mother is a minus, father is a plus), then this can lead to certain problems. If a child inherits Rh negative from his mother, then everything will be fine. If the fetus has +, and this is not the first pregnancy, then a conflict is possible.

See table.

The conflict will not affect conception, but it may interfere with the natural development of the fetus or the pregnancy may end in spontaneous abortion.

The female body perceives the baby as something foreign that needs to be gotten rid of. The active confrontation between the mother's particles and the protein in the baby's cells leads to a conflict that significantly affects the condition of the fetus. And pregnancy is accompanied by such unpleasant complications as severe toxicosis, general weakness and severe fatigue.

Pregnancy and Rhesus

Even if a woman is Rh negative and a man is Rh positive, conflict usually does not occur during the first conception, since the mother’s body has not yet developed antibodies to foreign proteins. Therefore, it is especially dangerous for women with Rh negative to have an abortion if she is pregnant for the first time.

But subsequent pregnancy due to the effects of antibodies, as a rule, causes certain difficulties. The following maternal diseases provoke an increase in the number of antigens:

Preeclampsia;
Diabetes;
Increased uterine tone.

The result of such a conflict can be anemia, jaundice, and dropsy in the baby. However, this does not mean that such married couples have no chance of giving birth. If you follow all the recommendations of the attending physician, a healthy child will be born.

Find out the baby’s Rh factor using a chorionic villus biopsy;
Periodically destroy antibodies by administering immunoglobulin;
If necessary, perform a puncture of the fetal umbilical cord;
Prescription of anti-allergy drugs and vitamin complexes;
If a danger to the life of the mother or child is predicted, induce labor.

The best way out in this situation would be to register with a gynecologist long before planning a pregnancy if you want a second child. In this case, the woman will be prescribed anti-Rhesus immunoglobulin, which will significantly reduce the risk of possible complications.

What group will the child have?

Parents are also interested in what group and Rhesus their baby will have. Will they inherit the blood characteristics of mom or dad or will their indicators be different? Geneticists say that children inherit blood parameters in the same way as other characteristics.

If mom and dad are the owners of the first blood group, then their baby will also not have the antigen in the blood;

Parents with the first and second groups will pass on their groups to their offspring;

If the spouses are owners of the fourth group, then their child can be born with any indicator except the first;

The presence of parents of groups 2 and 3 makes it possible for a baby to be born with any of the four possible groups.

As for the Rh factor, everything is much simpler here. The presence of negative indicators in parents indicates that the child will be born with the same sign. If mom and dad have different Rhesus values, then the baby can have both positive and negative Rhesus.

Competently: an obstetrician-gynecologist answers questions

Our consultant is obstetrician-gynecologist Elena Artemyeva.

— I have 1 positive blood group, and my husband has 1 negative blood group. Is this bad for our unborn child?

- No. This difference will not have any effect on either conception or pregnancy.

“Both my husband and I have the third group, Rh positive. I heard that this is bad for conception.

— Blood type does not affect conception in any way.

- I can't get pregnant. Could this be due to the fact that my husband and I have the same blood type (2) and the same Rh factor (+).

- No, he can not. Look for the cause in the state of reproductive health, you need to be examined.

- If I have 1 negative and my husband has the same, is this bad for the unborn child?

- No, in your case there will be no Rh conflict, since the child will have a negative Rh factor.

— I am Rh negative, my husband is positive. The first child was born healthy. During the second pregnancy, doctors did not detect the conflict in time, and the child died. What should I do now to ensure that my third pregnancy goes well?

— You need to prepare for such a pregnancy in advance. One option is to “cleanse” the blood of existing antibodies (for example, using plasmapheresis) so that the risk is minimal. During pregnancy, antibodies to the Rh factor should be monitored monthly. As soon as signs of sensitization appear, plasmapheresis is performed.

Another option is to go eco. In this case, Rh-negative embryos are identified and implanted.

— My blood is negative, my husband’s is positive. This is my first pregnancy and is going well. Is it necessary to give immunoglobulin after childbirth so that there is no conflict during the next pregnancy?

- Yes, this must be done in the first 72 hours after birth.

Issues of blood compatibility are a fairly pressing topic in modern medicine. It gained its significance with the development of genetics and immunohistochemistry, which were able to substantiate absolutely paradoxical cases in medical practice. After all, sometimes something happens that defies absolutely any logical justification. This happens especially often when determining blood compatibility for conception during family planning, pregnancy, or the need for a transfusion. All these paradoxes once again confirm that there is nothing absolute in medicine, since many things are still covered in secrets that humanity has yet to uncover. But what is already known deserves close attention.

Basic concept of Rh factor

The specificity of any organism is determined by a set of proteins or antigens that are part of any tissue. In relation to blood and its red blood cells, these are their surface antigenic complexes. One of them is the Rh factor or Rh antigen. Depending on its presence, all people are divided into Rh-positive (carriers of the antigen) and Rh-negative (people who do not have the Rh antigen). All life situations that involve the need to mix blood different people are determined by the ability of the blood not to disrupt its structure after such a procedure. This largely depends on Rh compatibility.

Important to remember! Compatible blood according to the Rh factor system is that which will be perceived by the body as its own. This means that only blood identical in Rh factor can be so!

Blood compatibility for conception

Family planning is a very good direction in obstetrics, which has significantly reduced the number of complicated or unwanted pregnancies. This was manifested by the birth of fewer seriously ill children. Today, every woman knows about all the threats that can await her and her child if she has a cold-blooded attitude towards some of the details of proper family planning. One of these details is the compatibility of the blood of sexual partners.

In fact, this topic is a little misunderstood in the media. Everyone who has misunderstood it interprets everything in their own way, spreading unreliable and, most importantly, untrue information. In this regard, it is worth considering the issues of immunological compatibility of spouses and blood compatibility of spouses at conception, which were mixed with each other and are discussed as one and the same problem. This spreads panic and forces people to search for a non-existent truth. Therefore, it is important to understand that:

The compatibility of spouses when a woman is unable to get pregnant depends not on the compatibility of blood groups or the Rh factor, but on the immunological compatibility of the woman and the man. This means that antibodies are produced to the components of a particular male sperm in the woman’s body, which simply does not perceive it. The group and the Rh factor have nothing to do with it at all;
An Rh negative mother can give birth to a baby with Rh positive blood. This can only affect the course of pregnancy and the condition of the fetus, but cannot be regarded as incompatibility with the Rh factor for conceiving a child;
A couple with different Rh factors can easily have healthy children. There is no need to ruin relationships because the Rhesus of the mother and fetus could potentially be incompatible. But you should definitely follow the family planning recommendations that experts will point out. Some of these recommendations are listed in the next section.

It is impossible to reliably predict the development of Rh-conflict pregnancy.

Blood compatibility during pregnancy

If a married couple decides to become pregnant, they must follow this process from the planning stage until the birth of the child. With regard to the potential possibility of Rh conflict during pregnancy, you should be wary of:

Married couples in which the woman is Rh negative and the man is Rh positive. The maximum probability of a conflict pregnancy is 50% if the partner is homozygous (each of the chromosomes of one pair encodes the Rh antigen) and 25% if he is heterozygous (Rh is encoded by only one chromosome from the pair);
Spouses whose blood mixing could potentially result in an Rh-conflict pregnancy, with previous pregnancies and births. Their favorable outcome does not mean anything. On the contrary, the likelihood of developing maternal-fetal blood incompatibility increases with each subsequent pregnancy.

Blood group compatibility and the table are compatible according to the Rh factor with possible options its inheritance by a child.

Mother's Rh factor	Father's Rh factor	Probability of Rh-ness of the child	Probability of Rh-conflict pregnancy
Positive	Positive	If the parents are homozygous – 100% positive; If the parents are heterozygotes – 50% positive; If one of the spouses is homozygous and the other is heterozygous, 75% positive.
Positive	Negative	If the partner is Rh positive or the partner is homozygous for Rh – 50% positive; If heterozygous - 25% positive.	The probability of a conflict developing does not exceed 50%
Negative	Positive
Negative	Negative	The child's blood will be Rh negative in 100% of cases.	There is no conflict pregnancy

Note: A homozygote is a person who contains identical genes on similar chromosomes. When they become part of the fetal chromosome set, they will unambiguously encode the synthesis of the Rh factor. A heterozygote contains such a gene in only one of the chromosomes, which significantly reduces the risk of inheriting it.

Important to remember!!!

The blood of an Rh-positive mother is compatible with any blood of the fetus;
The likelihood of a conflict regarding the Rh system is possible only in mothers with Rh-negative blood and does not exceed 50%;
The inheritance of the Rh factor by a child depends not only on the actual Rh factor of the parents, but also on the set of genes that did not manifest themselves but were inherited by the child.

Donor compatibility

Despite all modern concepts and the desire of physicians to avoid transfusion of blood and its components, this is not feasible in practice. After all, thousands of situations arise every day when only these drugs can save a person’s life. One of the main postulates in this regard is the determination of the compatibility of the blood of the donor and recipient. Otherwise, inappropriate blood will not only not help, but will also cause the death of the patient.

With regard to donor compatibility, only red blood cell preparations (packed red blood cells and washed red blood cells) are considered. Before immediate blood transfusion, the compatibility of blood groups and Rh compatibility is determined. In the classic version, only blood with an identical Rh factor and group is considered absolutely compatible. But this rule does not always work in practice. In some situations, when an emergency blood transfusion is required in a matter of minutes, there is no time to determine compatibility. The only salvation remains a transfusion of whole blood or red blood cells on the principle of hypothetical compatibility. Its options are given in table form.

Donor Recipient	First	Second	Third	Fourth
First 0(I)	Compatible	Incompatible	Incompatible	Incompatible
Second A (II)	Compatible	Compatible	Incompatible	Incompatible
Third B(III)	Compatible	Incompatible	Compatible	Incompatible
Fourth AB(IV)	Compatible	Compatible	Compatible	Compatible

From the table the following practical conclusions can be drawn:

People with the first blood group are universal donors, but they themselves can only become recipients of blood of the first group;
People with the fourth blood group are universal recipients, although they themselves can only be donors for people with the fourth group;
Donor compatibility is only possible if the donor's red blood cells do not contain the appropriate antibodies, which will cause their destruction after transfusion.

Important to remember! Blood compatibility according to the Rh factor is determined in only two ways, regardless of group affiliation: people with Rh-negative blood can only receive Rh-negative blood. People with Rh-positive blood can become recipients of blood from both Rh-positive and Rh-negative donors!

Rh factor is a protein found on the surface of red blood cells. There are about fifty types of these proteins. If at least one of them is present in the body of the expectant mother, it means that her Rh factor is positive, and if it is absent, then it is negative. In this case, only the D antigen influences the occurrence of Rh conflict.

The fact that protein is present or, conversely, absent in the human body does not mean that he has any disease or pathology. It's simply a genetic trait, just like eye color, hair color, or blood type.

According to honey statistics, Rh negative is not such a common occurrence, it occurs in only 15% of people in the world. And yet, if a woman is Rh-, you need to be especially careful when planning a pregnancy, since every unsuccessful attempt can lead to serious Negative consequences for the opportunity to become a mother.

How does it affect conception and fetus in the future?

The Rh factor itself does not affect the likelihood and ease of conceiving a child, but the different Rh factor of the spouses will have an impact on how the pregnancy will proceed later. Thus, the most favorable case is considered to be the case when the Rhesus of both potential parents is the same, but this is not always the case. Conception will not happen faster just because the couple’s Rhesus coincides, since this process is influenced by a lot of factors, but pregnancy will be easier when the future father and mother are both Rh-positive.

Rh negative in husband and wife also significantly reduces the risk of problems in the future. When a child inherits a positive Rh from the father with a negative blood group of the mother, the development of Rh-conflict disease is possible.

We invite you to watch a video about the influence of the Rh factor on pregnancy:

Does the absence of antigen D in a mother affect pregnancy?

The immune system protects a person from infectious diseases and this happens due to the fact that the body’s antibodies destroy foreign proteins and antigens that have entered it.

If the mother’s blood is Rh-negative, then, as her future baby is Rh-positive, the woman’s body perceives the fetus as something foreign and hostile, which is why it begins an immune attack against it. In this case, red blood cells in the blood of the unborn baby are especially at risk, as they are literally destroyed. This phenomenon is called Rhesus conflict and, if nothing is done, this phenomenon can lead to very unpleasant consequences.

It should be understood that negative Rh in the mother is not an indicator that Rh conflict is inevitable.

If the woman and the future baby are Rh negative, these problems simply will not arise. And even if the Rhesus of the mother and child do not match, it does not always occur.

Is it possible to get pregnant with different or the same values?

If positive in women and men

This combination is considered the most optimal. Most often, with it, pregnancy occurs quickly and there are no conflicts during conception.

If mom and dad are negative

As a rule, there are no problems with the possibility of conception in this case either. If infertility exists, it is not associated with negative Rh in both partners, but with some other reasons.

If the spouses are different

In this case, everything is not so clear. Most often, with different rhesus levels in partners, a woman manages to get pregnant, although it is not always possible to carry and give birth to a healthy child. In particular, the pregnancy of a Rh-negative mother with a Rh-positive child can lead to problems with pregnancy, but if the situation is the opposite, then no problems should arise. The body of a Rh-positive mother will not react negatively to a Rh-negative fetus..

What is Rh conflict in obstetrics, and why does it occur?

Rh conflict pregnancy - what is it?

In obstetrics, this concept is understood as any pregnancy accompanied by the production of antibodies directed against fetal cells. The Rh conflict itself develops in the same way as any other immunological reaction. It occurs due to the fact that a mother with a negative Rh factor and an unborn child who has a positive Rh factor exchange blood.

Wherein the immune system The mother regards the presence of the fetus in her body as a foreign threat and begins to produce antibodies against it. For this to happen, it is enough that 35-50 ml of red blood cells from the blood of her future baby enter the woman’s body. However, even if there is incompatibility between the blood of the mother and child due to the Rh factor, the Rh conflict itself does not always arise.

For example, it happens that during such a pregnancy antibodies may not be produced at all, or there may be so few of them that they cannot cause serious harm to the health of the unborn baby.

There are a number of factors that increase the occurrence of Rh conflict during gestation. And not all of these reasons are associated with the blood of her unborn child entering a woman’s body.

The more “bloody” the obstetric intervention was, the greater the risk of immunization. The same thing happens if there was no bleeding, but the placental barrier was broken.

With a cesarean section, this risk increases by 52.5%.
With manual separation of the placenta - by 40.3%.
Antepartum hemorrhage increases it by 30%.
And with eclampsia, when the placental barrier is disrupted, the risk is 32.7%.

We invite you to watch a video about what Rh conflict is during pregnancy:

Probability when expecting your first baby

The first pregnancy is considered relatively safe in terms of Rh conflict. The fact is that usually the placenta reliably protects the fetus from the effects of antibodies, and they themselves either do not have time to be formed, or, if they are produced, then in very small quantities. To put it simply, the mother’s body does not seem to notice the developing fetus, and therefore the production of antibodies does not occur until the child’s blood begins to mix with the woman’s blood.

During the normal course of pregnancy, this usually happens during childbirth.

The likelihood of a baby coming into contact with antibodies produced by the body of his Rh-negative mother is extremely low, although possible. In general, the occurrence of Rh conflict during the first pregnancy is not frequent and is approximately 10%.

Probability when carrying a fetus for the second time

During the second and subsequent pregnancies, the likelihood of Rh conflict increases significantly. This is explained by the fact that a Rh-negative woman has already developed an immune memory, which leads to increased formation of antibodies to the D antigen contained in the blood of her Rh-positive baby.

The second and any subsequent pregnancies, regardless of how they proceeded and how they ended, become a catalyst that triggers the production of antibodies in the mother’s body.

However, this does not mean at all that a woman who has given birth to one child can no longer become pregnant, since this will certainly lead to an Rh conflict. A woman just needs to be more careful and responsible about controlling antibodies.

And the first thing that is required is not to refuse an injection of anti-Rhesus immunoglobulin when prescribed by the attending obstetrician-genecologist, if you plan to carry and give birth to your second baby healthy. This will allow the binding of foreign Rh-positive antigens and prevent the production of antibodies in the mother’s body, which significantly reduces the risk of complications during a subsequent pregnancy.

If antibodies were not produced during the first pregnancy, and immunoglobulin serum was administered on time, then when carrying a second baby, the probability of an Rh conflict will be equal to the same initial 10%.

What is the danger when a conflict develops?

Rh conflict can be very dangerous during pregnancy, since antibodies seriously attack the fetus’s body and destroy its red blood cells. In case of Rhesus conflict, massive destruction of red blood cells is observed, due to which a large amount of bilirubin, which has pronounced toxic properties, is released into the blood.

As a result, all organs and tissues of the fetus are damaged, but the nervous system baby, for example, the tissues of his brain soften, which can lead to mental retardation. The spleen and liver, the main purpose of which is to rid the body of bilirubin, do not cope with their function. And the massive death of red blood cells itself leads to the baby developing anemia and hypoxia.

All these three factors, launched together, lead to a serious complication - hemolytic disease of the fetus.

The consequences of complications - hemolytic disease of the fetus can be:

As for the Rh-negative mother, who has become the unwitting culprit of all these troubles, the Rh conflict itself will most likely not affect her health in any way, even if the developing fetus suffers from this. serious pathologies.

Sometimes, but not always, with a Rh conflict, the expectant mother may develop preeclampsia, which is a truly serious complication.

We invite you to watch a video about the dangers of Rhesus conflict:

Why can't abortions be done?

Why can’t a mother’s pregnancy be terminated if she has a negative Rh?

Doctors do not recommend women with negative Rhesus to have abortions, unless for medical reasons, but even in this case it is advised to think carefully before making such a decision. With each subsequent pregnancy, antibodies in a woman’s body are produced at an ever-increasing speed and in ever-larger quantities. And the possibility of a successful gestation of the fetus decreases significantly with each termination of pregnancy.

Parental blood group compatibility chart

What to do for prevention?

Even at the stage of pregnancy planning, a woman needs to have a blood test done in order to determine her group (if this has not been done before) and Rh status. If the potential mother is Rh negative, it will be necessary to find out the Rhesus affiliation of the future father. This should be done before pregnancy in order to keep the formation of antibodies under control from the very beginning.

It is advisable, even at the planning stage, to obtain specialist advice regarding the possible risks of Rh conflict occurring during gestation and its possible outcome.

In this situation, it is important to treat family planning methods with all possible responsibility.

That is, do not have abortions and try to preserve the first pregnancy as much as possible. And from the very beginning, from about 7-8 weeks, It is recommended to register and be observed by a doctor so that in case of complications associated with a negative Rh factor, the expectant mother was promptly provided with the necessary assistance.

Receive all necessary appointments from the supervising obstetrician-gynecologist, including mandatory vaccination with human anti-rhesus immunoglobulin rho(d).

To summarize, I would like to say that the negative Rh factor itself is not nearly as scary as it might seem. It is not always the cause of Rh conflict, but it is advisable to take care of its prevention as early as possible - preferably even at the stage of pregnancy planning. Only in this case will it be possible to reduce the likelihood of complications to a minimum.