![]() ![]() It's also possible to become Rh sensitized if you have a miscarriage, an amnio, an ectopic pregnancy, or other bleeding during pregnancy. Since a Rh-negative mother's body won't start creating antibodies until it comes into contact with blood that is Rh-positive, this usually isn't a problem during a first pregnancy, unless you have a complication that causes your blood and baby's blood to mix. Rh incompatibility occurs when an Rh-negative mother's blood comes into contact with blood from her Rh-positive fetus, causing the mother's body to make antibodies which then attack the Rh factor in your baby's blood! She explained that, "RhoGAM is an immunosuppressive drug that is given to Rh-negative moms who are pregnant with a Rh-positive baby, and it prevents the mom's body from making antibodies that will fight against the baby's blood." Shakira is a nursing school graduate who works at her local hospital administering hearing screenings to newborn babies. Since I didn't know very much about Rh factor, Rh incompatibility, or the RhoGAM shot, I asked my sister-in-law, Shakira Nash, for more information. If both of you are Rh-negative, your baby will also be Rh-negative. If you are Rh-negative, but the daddy is Rh-positive, your baby could be Rh-positive or Rh-negative. Like almost everything else, the Rh factor is hereditary. If you (or your baby) are Rh-negative, you do not have the Rh factor. If you're Rh-positive, you have the Rh factor, which is a protein found on the surface of your red blood cells. ![]() So what is the Rh factor? Everyone's blood is either Rh-positive or Rh-negative. And most importantly, there is now a treatment called RhoGAM, or Rh immunoglobulin, that can help keep your baby healthy (more on that in a minute) if you discover you're Rh-negative and your baby is Rh-positive! So it's rare enough that most pregnant mamas don't need to worry about it, but it's also common enough that your doctor will be prepared to take care of you and your baby if you are Rh-negative. Luckily, only about 15 percent of people are Rh-negative. In the 1950s, it was definitely not the norm for a Rh-positive baby born to a Rh-negative mother to survive. At the time, it was a miracle he survived, and my grandparents were lucky he grew up to be healthy and strong. She and my grandpa had two healthy little girls, and then a long-awaited son was born! Soon after his birth, they discovered that he was Rh positive, and he had to have two complete blood transfusions. As if it isn't overwhelming enough to have a baby, imagine having your third child, finding out he has a life-threatening condition, and knowing he will be your last baby. ![]()
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