What is Rh incompatibility?
If you are a mother with Rh incompatibility, there is a substance on the surface of your baby’s red blood cells that is not on your blood cells. This substance is called the Rh factor. People who have the Rh factor are Rh positive. People who do not have it are Rh negative. Being Rh negative or positive is something you inherit from your parents, just like you inherit the color of your eyes or hair. Being Rh positive or negative does not affect your health. While you are pregnant or delivering the baby, some of the baby’s red blood cells may come in contact with your blood. If you are Rh negative and the baby has the Rh factor on his or her blood cells (Rh positive), your body will probably have a reaction to those cells and make antibodies to the Rh factor. This reaction is called sensitization. The antibodies may cross the placenta and destroy the red blood cells in your baby or any Rh-positive babies you have later. This destruction of red blood cells is called hemolytic disease. Th
If you are a mother with Rh incompatibility, there is a substance in your baby’s red blood cells that is not in your blood cells. This substance is usually called the Rho(D) factor. The baby is Rh positive and you are Rh negative. Some of the baby’s red blood cells may come in contact with your blood. Your body may then produce antibodies to the Rho(D) factor. This is called sensitization. The antibodies may cross the placenta and destroy the red blood cells in your baby or in the next Rh-positive baby you have. This destruction of red blood cells is called hemolytic disease.
