Alloimmune antibodies are formed in those women who have a Rh factor conflict with the baby. However, many women, having received the results of tests on their hands, do not always understand what consequences this may lead to.
Alloimmune antibodies
First you need to understand the terminology. Such antibodies are formed when there is a conflict with Rhesus red blood cells. In particular, they can bother a woman who has a negative Rp, but has a baby with a positive. In this case, a miscarriage may occur, and while maintaining the pregnancy, the baby may acquire a hemolytic disease.
Knowing that it is a carrier of negative Rhesus, a woman must be observed by a doctor and regularly take tests to determine the antibodies.
Throughout pregnancy, girls should be more attentive to their health: drink vitamins, strengthen their immunity. Otherwise, there is a risk of catching any virus or infection. This can damage the placenta, which is a kind of conductor from mother to baby. In this case, the red blood cells of the child will fall into the circulatory system of a woman, and this will inevitably lead to a Rhesus conflict.
When can a conflict happen?
Rp children will inherit from their parents. If it is positive for both, then for the child, most likely, he will be the same. However, exceptions occur. If mum and dad have Rh negative and positive, then the baby can take both one and the other factor.
If both have a negative, then in this case there is nothing to worry about. The child will completely take the negative Rhesus, which means that there will be no conflict.
At what point can it happen?
- Childbirth. With bleeding, as a rule, the blood of the newborn enters the mother’s, and this leads to the formation of antibodies. Fortunately, if the first pregnancy, it does not affect either one or the other. But with repeated they can affect the child.
- Injury to the placenta. Detachment or damage to its integrity will lead to the fact that the two circulatory systems mix, and this will cause the appearance of antibodies.
- An abortion or an ectopic pregnancy with a Rh-positive fetus also leads to the release of red blood cells into the mother’s blood, where the conflict will occur.
- Forced transfusion. There are situations when a woman mistakenly “digs” the blood of the wrong rhesus. By the time of pregnancy, there will already be antibodies in her body.
First pregnancy
The womb is the first place of residence of the baby. She protects him from various injuries and helps to develop until birth. But even being in it, the child can feel the consequences of a Rhesus conflict. For this, the following condition is necessary: the mother has a negative Rp, the fetus has a positive.
The first pregnancy is the safest, even if both have different rhesus. If it proceeds seamlessly, then the risk of antibody formation is very low. Only after birth, when two types of blood are mixed, can they get into the mother’s blood.
There are several factors that affect the fetus during the first pregnancy.
- Abortions on medical (and not only) indications.
- Infectious diseases that caused a violation of the integrity of the placenta.
- Injuries that result in maternal blood loss.
Rhesus conflict analysis
It is carried out to all girls with a negative Rhesus. As soon as a woman finds out about her situation, she needs to inform the doctor about her problem. He will give direction to the analysis that determines alloimmune antibodies during pregnancy.
In the first weeks, a conflict can manifest itself, causing an involuntary miscarriage. Some do not even have time to find out that they are pregnant, as the body rejects the fetus with another rhesus. It is necessary to carefully consider this issue and register with a gynecologist as soon as possible.
Starting from the twentieth week, a woman will be tested for alloimmune antibodies once a month. By the beginning of the last trimester, the frequency will be increased up to two times. But closer to delivery, at 35 weeks, you will have to take samples every week.
If the situation will be complicated by a high amount of antibodies, the expectant mother will be transferred to a hospital for closer monitoring.
In order to determine the presence of conflict, a woman gives blood from a vein, which is tested using special reagents. In the most severe cases, cordocentosis is performed. To do this, the umbilical cord is pierced, from which blood is taken. However, this method is very dangerous for the baby. They resort to it in exceptional cases when there is a suspicion of a hemolytic disease of the child.
When will there be no conflict?
The womb is a barrier to various viruses and infections during the development of the baby before it is born. In it, the fetus feels completely safe. But, unfortunately, she cannot always save him from Rhesus conflict. It is not worth worrying about him if the mother and the child have a negative Rp. This means that the baby inherited the maternal rhesus, and now their blood will no longer “conflict”.
There is no reason to worry about those moms who have a positive Rp. The majority of such people in the world are 85%. Even if the child took the paternal negative Rh, there will be no conflict.
If in time to determine the presence of antibodies and regularly examined by a doctor, then in this case there will be no problems. Alloimmune antibodies can affect only the second and subsequent pregnancies. But by this time, the mother will have already been prepared and will inform the doctor in advance about her negative Rh.
Effects
What to do if a Rhesus conflict occurs during pregnancy? The consequences for the child may be different.
- Firstly, in such a situation, the mother’s body perceives the fetus as a foreign body. Red blood cells in the blood begin to produce special antibodies that can lead to the destruction of the embryo. In response to this reaction, the child's body actively increases bilirubin. This hormone affects the functioning of the liver, spleen and other internal organs. It can also negatively affect the baby’s brain, leading to various kinds of disorders.
- Rhesus conflict leads to a decrease in fetal hemoglobin levels. A child begins oxygen starvation, which is very dangerous and can lead to a fading pregnancy.
- A large amount of bilirubin causes jaundice in the newborn.
- For the mother herself, who was not examined in time for the presence of antibodies, this can end in disrepair. Rhesus conflict can lead to premature birth.
Conclusion
Fortunately, there are not many women with negative Rp. On the whole planet there are no more than 15%. Future mothers have a huge responsibility - to bear and give birth to a healthy baby, if nevertheless there was a Rhesus conflict during pregnancy. The consequences for the child can be very serious. For this reason, a woman should be thoroughly examined, and if necessary, go to hospital for close monitoring.