Blood types are determined by specific markers on the surface of red blood cells. There are four blood groups: A, B, O, and AB. Each blood group is based on the presence or absence of specific markers: people with blood type A have the A marker, those with type B have the B marker, people with AB have both A and B markers, and those with type O have neither marker.
Additionally, the Rhesus (Rh) factor is another marker found on the surface of red blood cells. If this protein is present, the individual is Rh positive (Rh+). If it is absent, they are Rh negative (Rh-). Rh+ is the most common Rh factor in the population.
What Blood Type Will My Baby Have?
Both blood type and Rh factor are inherited based on Mendelian genetics, meaning they depend on the genes passed down from the parents. The baby will inherit a combination of its parents' genes for both blood type and Rh factor.
Rh Incompatibility During Pregnancy
In most cases, the blood type your baby inherits does not cause any issues, except in one scenario: if the mother is Rh- and the father is Rh+. In this case, if the baby inherits the Rh+ factor from the father, the mother's body may develop antibodies against the Rh factor, especially if the baby’s blood mixes with the mother’s blood during pregnancy or childbirth. These antibodies can attack the baby’s red blood cells, leading to hemolytic disease of the newborn (also known as erythroblastosis fetalis), which causes anemia in the baby.
In the first pregnancy, this condition is typically not a concern because it takes time for the mother’s body to create these antibodies, and blood mixing usually happens at birth. However, if the mother becomes Rh-sensitized—either due to a previous pregnancy, a miscarriage, or other reasons—subsequent pregnancies where the baby is Rh+ may be at higher risk.
How Can Rh Incompatibility Be Treated?
During the first prenatal checkup, the mother's blood type is determined. If the mother is Rh-, doctors will test for Rh sensitization to check if she has already developed Rh antibodies. If no sensitization is found, Rh immunoglobulin injections can be given to prevent the mother from developing antibodies. These injections are typically administered during pregnancy and shortly after delivery and are effective for a limited time, so they must be repeated with each pregnancy.
If the mother is already sensitized and has Rh antibodies, the injections will not be effective. In this case, the pregnancy is closely monitored as a high-risk pregnancy, especially tracking the baby’s red blood cell health. Depending on the severity of the baby’s anemia, treatments could range from regular monitoring to an early delivery or even a perinatal blood transfusion.
In the past, Rh incompatibility posed serious risks, but today, with careful testing and treatment, babies born with this condition generally experience minimal complications.
If you have more questions about Rh factor, blood type, or pregnancy concerns, feel free to reach out to Nicosia Fertility for more guidance!
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