Rh Disease In newborns,What is it?

<p><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">About eighty-five percent of the people in this country have a substance contained in the red cells of their blood. This is known as the Rhesus factor, or more commonly, the Rh factor. When a person&rsquo;s blood contains the Rh factor, they are referred to as being Rh positive (Rh+), and those persons whose blood do not contain the Rh factor, are Rh negative (Rh-).If a Rh- person receives Rh+ blood, the destruction of the red corpuscles of their blood usually occurs. This hemolytic disease also could happen if a woman&rsquo;s blood is Rh- and she is carrying a baby whose blood is Rh+.The transfer of the blood between the fetus and the mother would cause the woman&rsquo;s blood system to produce Rh antibodies because her immune system would act as though the fetal blood cells were foreign. Very few first-pregnancy babies are damaged as the Rh antibodies have not formed sufficiently to harm the first baby. However, a previous miscarriage, abortion, or amniocentesis in which the fetus&rsquo;s blood was Rh+ might have sensitized the woman. During subsequent pregnancies, antibodies can cross the placenta and attack the fetal blood cells. This causes the destruction of fetal red corpuscles and results in anemia of the newborn. Death or permanent damage to the infant often results.</span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; background: white; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> A simple blood test can tell if a woman is Rh-negative. Every woman should be tested at her first prenatal visit, or before pregnancy, to find out if she is Rh-negative. Another blood test can show if an Rh-negative woman has become sensitized.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; background: white; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; background: white; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">An unsensitized Rh-negative pregnant woman can be treated with injections of a purified blood product called Rh immune globulin to prevent sensitization. She most likely receives RhIg at 28 weeks of pregnancy and again within 72 hours of giving birth if a blood test shows that her baby is Rh-positive (ACOG, 1999). She does not need an injection after delivery if her baby is Rh-negative. Some health care providers recommend an additional RhIg injection if a woman&rsquo;s pregnancy goes past her due date.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; background: white; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><br /></span></p>