Rh incompatibility occurs when there is a blood incompatibility between the mother and the fetus. It does not occur in every pregnancy. This problem used to be much more prevalent than it is now because now all pregnant women are tested for the Rh factor early in their pregnancy.

Rh Incompatibility Test during First Prenatal Visit

Blood typing
Rh determination
Antibody screening.

How Rh Blood Incompatibility Occurs

Each of us is born with a certain blood type. We are either Rh positive or Rh negative. If a pregnant mother is Rh positive or both the mother and the father are Rh negative, this pregnancy-related condition may not occur. However if the pregnant mom is Rh-negative and the father is Rh-positive, Rh blood incompatibility in pregnancy can occur.

If you are Rh negative and your baby is Rh positive this may also pose a threat to your baby’s health since your body recognizes your baby as an intruder or “foreign” since it detects that the baby’s Rh factor is different from yours.

Your body will react by producing antibodies that will function to destroy your baby’s red blood cells. This will cause anemia for the baby and can also lead to other more dangerous conditions like severe heart and liver problems and even death for the unborn baby.

Once your body produces antibodies due to Rh incompatibility, the result may not reversed and your body will continuously react the same way for the rest of your life. This condition is called being “sensitized.”

Prevention and Cure for Rh Blood Incompatibility in Pregnancy

1. Routine Screening

Routine medical screening will let the mother know if she is sensitized or her body starts producing antibodies for Rh blood incompatibility. If the pregnant mother is “sensitized,” Rh-immune globulin can be given at 28 weeks to prevent the problem. Careful monitoring and medications are important to protect the baby. With early detection and treatment, potential complications from Rh blood incompatibility can be minimized and controlled.

Routine screening also helps to determine other blood group incompatibilities that you may have aside from Rh Blood incompatibility.

2. Tell your prenatal health history to your doctor.

Be sure to mention any previous pregnancies that end up in abortion or miscarriage. Previous pregnancies may lead to your body being “sensitized,” producing antibodies in your body if you are Rh positive and your baby is Rh negative.

If tests show that you have been sensitized with a previous pregnancy, your doctor may periodically re-evaluate the status of the baby during your second trimester through a series of blood tests and amniocentesis. If your baby is in dangerous condition, your doctor will administer immediate treatment.

Aside from blood incompatibilities another potential threat for pregnant women are sexually transmitted diseases.