Key Points

Rhesus (Rh) factor is a type of protein found on the surface of red blood cells.
Rhesus incompatibility occurs when an expectant mother is rhesus-negative but carrying a rhesus-positive child.
A woman of childbearing age must pay attention to her rhesus blood type.
An injection called RhoGAM is routinely given to Rhesus-negative women to drastically reduce the risk of miscarriages.
Through telemedicine, doctors can explain how Rhesus factor compatibility works and discuss any necessary tests.

Are you aware that extra care is taken in pregnancy for women with a rhesus-negative blood group (O-, B-, AB-) because they are often prone to the risk of a miscarriage? Yes, that is just as closely related rhesus factor and miscarriage are.

For many years, most intending couples focus only on the big genotype issue. Once the genotypes are compatible, they always feel they are good to go.

But tons of medical research has revealed that compatibility with a partner does not end with a compatible genotype only.

Ever known couples who take in, lose the pregnancy, and find it almost impossible to have another baby again? Sure, at least one or two come to mind. Rhesus factor incompatibility remains one of the top reasons for such an experience.

Rhesus factor compatibility — *Source: Pexels*

The big question is this: How much information do people really have about Rhesus factor and its implications on conception, pregnancy, and miscarriage? Your guess is as good as ours.

If you read on, you will understand in clear terms the role of Rhesus factor and how it relates to pregnancy loss and the condition of future pregnancies.

Rhesus Factor Explained

Rhesus (Rh) factor is a type of protein found on the surface of red blood cells. A person is Rhesus-positive when they have this protein on their blood cells and Rhesus-negative when they do not.

The rhesus factor of a person is determined by their inherited genes, in the sense that they are passed from parents to offspring.

Thus, Rhesus-positive parents will likely have Rhesus-positive children. When either parent is Rh-positive or Rh-negative, the child will either be positive or negative.

It is important to note that a higher percentage of people are Rhesus-positive.

Nevertheless, the positivity or negativity of a person’s Rh is not supposed to be problematic to their well-being or detrimental to their health until it has to do with pregnancy.

This is where Rhesus incompatibility occurs when an expectant mother is rhesus-negative but carrying a rhesus-positive child.

Rhesus (Rh) Factor and Pregnancy

There is no risk involved when all parties are of the same rhesus type (either positive or negative).

However, when a rhesus-negative woman is pregnant with a rhesus-positive fetus from a rhesus-positive partner, there is a tendency of the woman’s system to develop antibodies triggered by the blood cells from the fetus in the bloodstream either late in the pregnancy or even during delivery.

Antibodies are proteins contained in the blood that the body develops in reaction to strange elements in the body to protect itself from infections.

Rhesus antibodies are triggered when the blood of the fetus comes in contact with that of the mother whose system recognizes it as strange or odd and thereby tries to destroy it.

Interestingly, this does not immediately affect the unborn child because antibodies do take time to build up. The real challenge begins with future pregnancies (irrespective of whether the first was carried full term, aborted, or miscarried).

By this time, the antibodies are fully developed and can attack Rhesus-positive blood cells through the placenta causing a serious type of anemia in the new fetus and in turn leading to pregnancy loss.

Anemia results from the destruction of red blood cells at a rate faster than the body can replace them.

The red blood cells are very important because they are responsible for supplying oxygen to various parts of the body, without which the fetus will suffer and die (miscarriage).

Rhesus Factor Compatibility to Avoid Miscarriage

A miscarriage is not directly caused by just an expectant mother being Rhesus-negative. The risk of pregnancy loss comes only when the pregnant woman has been sensitized.

To be rhesus-factor sensitized implies that the expectant mother’s system has developed a reaction to the fetus’ blood cells. It is stated earlier that the Rhesus-negative mother develops antibodies that can attack Rhesus-positive blood cells through the placenta and cause serious anemia to the new fetus as a result of incompatibility.

Remember that the anemia usually does not affect the first Rhesus-positive pregnancy because the antibodies do take time to develop.

Future pregnancies are where the challenge comes in because, at this stage, the antibodies are fully developed and automatically fight subsequent fetuses.

So, whether the first pregnancy was carried to full term or not, the following pregnancies will suffer the brunt.

Good News!

Thanks to advancements in medical science and health care, Rhesus-negative women should not be at risk for rhesus-related miscarriages. An injection called RhoGAM (short form for Rh immunoglobulin or RhIg) has been invented to be routinely given to Rhesus-negative women to drastically reduce the risk of miscarriages.

The injection of RhoGAM contains antibodies that are embedded in the Rhesus-positive blood cells to avoid harm. This also stops the expectant mother’s system from its own antibodies that are detrimental to future pregnancies.

The major function of this medication is to stop the body from formulating such antibodies. RhoGAM shot is to be given to the expectant mother at the 28th week of pregnancy and if the baby is Rhesus-positive, the injection will be given again just after childbirth.

In the case of an abortion or a miscarriage, the RhoGAM injection is administered within three days.

Steps to Take

First and foremost, as a woman of childbearing age, it is important that you pay attention to your rhesus blood type. Is it positive or negative?

You can find out your Rhesus factor by having a simple blood test at a good laboratory. Your rhesus status can be noted by checking for the sign (- or +) after your blood group. The major blood groups are – A, B, AB, and O. Each of these groups can either be Rhesus-positive or Rhesus-negative.

For Rhesus-negative women, you can hinder the development of fetus-attacking antibodies by getting the RhoGAM injection. How the injection works has been carefully explained above. You just have to endeavor to ensure that treatment is given at the right time during or after pregnancy.

It is worth reiterating that the main goal of the treatment is to prevent the rhesus-negative expectant mother from developing antibodies that are problematic to the rhesus-positive fetus in the first place.

If you are a rhesus-negative woman, there is no cause for alarm. Kindly Speak to a Certified Ob/Gyn about your options and the best way forward. If you do not share the same Rhesus factor with your partner, Consulting a Health Provider is a step in the right direction as they will help you know whether you need the shot and when you should be given the injection.

NOTE that the injection is only very helpful if your body has not already developed the Rhesus antibodies.

Detecting rhesus incompatibility on time and taking the right medication will help you focus on other aspects of carrying your pregnancy to full term.

Congratulations on welcoming your healthy baby!

Medically reviewed by Dr. Andrew Akor

How Telemedicine Can Help

Rhesus factor compatibility is important during pregnancy because it can affect whether a baby is born healthy. If a pregnant woman is Rh-negative and her baby is Rh-positive, it can cause serious problems, like a miscarriage or stillbirth in the second or third trimester.

Through telemedicine, expecting mothers can easily talk to their doctors online to better understand Rhesus factor compatibility. This means that they don’t have to wait for an in-person appointment to get important information and advice. Doctors can explain how Rhesus factor compatibility works, discuss any necessary tests, and monitor the mom’s health closely. This way, any issues can be caught early and treated right away.

Telemedicine also makes it easier to get quick answers to any worries or questions. If a mom is feeling anxious about her Rh status or needs advice on what to do next, she can simply have a video call with her doctor. This fast, easy access to medical care can make a huge difference, helping to reduce stress and keep the pregnancy on track for a healthy delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What happens if the mother is Rh-positive and the baby is Rh-negative?

When the mother is Rh positive and the baby is Rh negative, the mother’s system will develop antibodies triggered by the blood cells from the fetus in the bloodstream either late in the pregnancy or during delivery. These antibodies will enter the baby’s bloodstream and try to destroy those cells. Consequently, the baby’s red blood cells will swell and rupture, causing hemolytic or Rh disease of the newborn.

2. Can rhesus disease cause miscarriage?

A miscarriage is not directly caused by just an expectant mother being Rhesus-negative. The risk of pregnancy loss comes only when the pregnant woman has been sensitized. However, the Rh-negative blood type can pose risks during pregnancy, including increasing the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth in the second or third trimester, or low blood count in the baby.

3. How to prevent Rh incompatibility?

Nowadays, Rh incompatibility can be prevented by giving women with a negative blood group the Rho GAM injection. The Rho GAM injection stops the expectant mother’s system from its own antibodies that are detrimental to future pregnancies.

4. What two blood types are not compatible for pregnancy?

The Rh-negative and Rh-positive blood types are not compatible for pregnancy. This occurs when the father is Rh-positive, and the mother is Rh-negative. Rhesus incompatibility also occurs when an expectant mother is rhesus-negative but carrying a rhesus-positive child. If the mother is Rh-negative and the unborn baby is Rh-positive, problems will likely develop during that pregnancy or future pregnancies.

5. Which Rh factor is bad?

No Rh factor is bad. Having an Rh-negative blood type is not a disease and it will not affect your overall health. However, the combination of the Rh-positive and Rh-negative blood types is bad and can affect pregnancy.