What is Rhesus Conflict?

Rhesus-conflict is associated with such a concept as the Rh factor. The latter, as is known, happens to be positive or negative. There is no third. The value of rhesus is usually determined together with the blood group. It remains constant throughout the life of a person.

What is Rhesus Conflict?

This phenomenon occurs most often in the second pregnancy. At the first female organism does not have time to "find" in a new situation, and therefore antibodies are not produced in sufficient quantity to start a "war" with the baby's red blood cells. Rhesus-conflict is characterized by the struggle of the mother's blood cells with the blood of the baby. Occurs when the mother has a negative Rh factor. If the father is Rh positive, then the baby, in all likelihood, will also be positive.

The mother's blood will perceive the baby's cells as foreign or hostile and, naturally, will try to get rid of them. Erythrocytes of the baby are attacked by the antibodies of the mother, which penetrate the placenta. In children's blood, bilirubin is produced, which gives the skin a yellow color. Hence the jaundice in the newborn. But the most dangerous thing is that this substance can harm the child's brain, while the baby's erythrocytes are getting smaller, the liver and spleen are trying to fill in the gaps, speeding up their pace of work. At the same time, both organs increase in size. But even they can not compensate for the lack of red blood cells. This leads to oxygen starvation and, as a consequence, serious developmental disorders of the body. If time does not resist, the risk of miscarriage increases. In the most terrible cases, the baby appears with a diagnosis of congenital dropsy, which leads to his death.

At the first pregnancy the mother's body has not yet developed enough antibodies, so the rhesus-conflict in the second pregnancy has great developmental possibilities. Much depends on how the first pregnancy was resolved. If childbirth, antibodies in the blood are produced in sufficient quantity in 10-15 percent of cases, with miscarriage - in 3-4%, with medical abortion - in 5-6%, with ectopic pregnancy - in 1%. Therefore, the frequency of abortion and regulation is directly proportional to the production of antibodies in the woman's blood.

A child who has been rhesus-born and born, usually has a diagnosis of hemolytic disease of the fetus, is born with anemia.

Women with a negative Rh factor are registered in medical institutions. Potential "negative" mothers form a risk group, followed by a special supervision of medical workers.

During pregnancy, such women often have to donate blood for the presence of antibodies. It is by the number of antibodies in the blood that the doctor can determine the beginning Rh-conflict. An increase in their number signals the beginning of a "struggle". The doctor has an effect on the woman's body with the help of a special means - anti-Rh-immunoglobulin. This vaccine is designed to deter antibodies from "attacking" the baby's red blood cells. Anti-Rh-immunoglobulin can be administered both prophylactically and during pregnancy. The required dose of the vaccine is injected into the mother's blood also within three days after the birth or other pregnancy resolution.

The risk of Rhesus conflict only occurs with a negative mother and positive in the father. In other cases, "confrontation" is not observed. At least, such cases were not registered in practice.

If the couple have opposite rhesus, then do not give up the happiness of becoming parents. The first pregnancy will certainly be resolved successfully. With the help of professional doctors and regular examinations and subsequent pregnancies will bring the coveted and beloved toddlers.