Rh Negative Mother

 
Rh is a factor in the mother's blood that if positive means there is a substance known as factor D in her blood. An Rh negative person does not have factor D. If an Rh negative mother and father have a child, then there is no problem because the child will also be Rh negative. However, if the Rh negative mother has a child with an Rh positive father, then problems may arise if the baby is Rh positive as well.

The Rh negative health risk to fetuses is not of concern to a first born child since fetal and maternal blood may mix only after the child is delivered, when the placenta is separating. However, for future children, the presence of these antibodies in the mother's circulation could harm the red blood cells of future children, causing a disease known as 'hemolytic disease of the newborn'.

This problem can be corrected through administration of anti-D gammaglobulin. With the use of this gammaglobulin, the risk of antibody production in an Rh negative mother can be reduced to 0. 06 percent. Thus, all women should have their blood tested early in pregnancy to determine if they are Rh negative or positive. During amniocentesis, where the fetal and maternal blood may mix, a woman may be given anti-D gammaglobulin as soon as possible to reduce the risk to her present and future fetuses.

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