#rh incompatibility

Explore the meaning of high-risk pregnancy. Understand the factors and care needed for a healthy pregnancy journey. Learn about High Risk Pregnancy.

Pregnancy can indeed be a joyous time, but it can also be overwhelming and stressful. Expectant mothers need to take care of themselves and their unborn babies. However, for some women, their pregnancy is considered high-risk.What is a high-risk pregnancy? It means the mother has an increased chance of experiencing complications during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and even after birth. Understanding this can help expectant mothers plan accordingly.Factors that contribute to high-risk pregnancy can vary from woman to woman. Some common factors include age, weight, medical history, and lifestyle choices. Awareness of these factors can help women make informed choices during this crucial time.So, let's dive deeper and understand what medical conditions can cause high-risk pregnancies and how to reduce the risks.So, let's get started!High Risk Pregnancy: Quick Overview!Pregnancy is a unique and beautiful journey, but it has challenges. As the name suggests, a high-risk pregnancy involves a higher likelihood of complications than a typical pregnancy. These complications can arise due to various factors, such as pre-existing medical conditions, age, or a history of pregnancy-related issues. Let's explore some common aspects that can categorize a pregnancy as high-risk.Factors that Contribute to High-Risk Pregnancy!Age is one of the factors that contribute to high-risk pregnancy. Women older than 35 are at increased risk. Other factors include Pre-existing medical conditions, Multiple pregnancies, substance abuse, and more.According to the insights, high-risk pregnancies accounted for 11.5% of all pregnancies, whereas moderate pregnancies accounted for 21.6%. 33.1% of pregnancies overall had high or medium risk.Pregnancy brings a lot of physical changes in a woman's body, making it more vulnerable to certain medical conditions. Some medical conditions that can cause high-risk pregnancy include hypertension, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia.1. HypertensionHypertension or high blood pressure is a condition in which the mother's blood pressure is higher than the ideal range. Hypertension can lead to complications such as preterm labor, low birth weight...2. Gestational DiabetesGestational diabetes is a condition that can really affects pregnant women who didn't have diabetes before pregnancy. It indeed leads to high blood sugar levels, which can indeed cause complications such as preterm labor, macrosomia or a giant baby, and respiratory distress syndrome.3. PreeclampsiaPreeclampsia is a condition that affects pregnant women after 20 weeks of gestation. It leads to high blood pressure and damage to organs like the kidneys and liver. Preeclampsia can cause complications such as preterm delivery, low birth weight, and long-term health problems for both the mother and the baby.

Blood classification, scientifically termed as blood typing, involves categorizing an individual's blood into one of the four main groups: A, B, AB, or O. These fundamental blood groups can be further specified by the presence or absence of the Rh antigen, creating eight potential blood types. The importance of blood classification is extensive, particularly in the context of ascertaining the compatibility between donor and recipient blood in various medical scenarios.

1. Blood Transfusions: In critical situations like accidents, surgical procedures, or severe medical conditions, when a patient has experienced a substantial blood loss, obtaining compatible blood becomes an imperative, life-saving requirement. Incompatible blood transfusions can result in a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction known as hemolysis, in which the recipient's immune system attacks the transfused blood cells.

2. Organ Transplants: Organ transplantation is a intricate medical procedure where success hinges not only on the organ match but also on the compatibility of the donor and recipient's blood types. Mismatched blood types can lead to the rejection of the transplanted organ, endangering the patient's life.

3. Pregnancy and Rh Incompatibility: During pregnancy, especially when the mother and the developing fetus possess different blood types, blood classification assumes a pivotal role. If the mother is Rh-negative and the baby is Rh-positive, there exists a risk of Rh incompatibility, which may lead to hemolytic disease in the newborn. Blood grouping is instrumental in monitoring and managing this condition to ensure a healthy pregnancy.

4. Identification of Rare Blood Types: Certain individuals have uncommon blood types that necessitate special attention and care in medical situations. Recognizing and documenting these exceptional blood types is essential for promptly sourcing compatible blood in cases of medical emergencies.

The Rh incompatibility comic is here!

Think of Rh-positive antigen as a target and antibodies as arrows. What is Rh incompatibility? Rh incompatibility occurs when an Rh-negative person is exposed to Rh-positive red blood cells (RBCs). His immune system will destroy the Rh-positive cells by making antibodies (Anti-D antibodies or the arrows). This person is now sensitized.

(Simply put, a sensitized person has arrows against the target or can rapidly make arrows from his memory if exposed to the same target again.)

So yesterday was my first prenatal exam. I got all sorts of prodded but glad it's over!

However this morning, I began to bleed. I have not been that panicked to see blood since my first period! It has since stopped, it only lasted about an hour and a half, although that was one of the worst hour and a half's of my life so far haha...

The nurse believes I was only bleeding because of my exam the day before, it was likely the Paps. Since my blood type is negative, though, I had to go get a shot this afternoon so my antibodies don't start attacking the baby's. We don't know Aaron's blood type, so his and the baby's are likely positive. I'll have to get this shot again in my third trimester as well as after the baby is born if his/her blood type is positive.

RhoGAM, which prevents antibody formation by the mother to the baby, is given:

1. If the mother is Rh negative and the baby is  Rh positive (Example is Type B negative blood type) Mother will form antibodies, or soldiers, to fight off the foreign positive Rh blood of the baby.

2. 28 weeks AOG during the pregnancy and 72 hours after delivery (Antibodies formed by the mother during the first pregnancy attacks the second baby on the SECOND pregnancy, and not the first)