Blood match. General ideas about blood groups. Blood type for transfusion

15.05.2019

Pregnancy planning becomes a special event for many parents-to-be. Most of them wonder, how important is the compatibility of blood types for conception? This question worries people, probably, from the moment of the discovery of blood groups, therefore, quite a lot of attention was paid to its study. In the process of birth, the blood of both parents mixes, this is how it is formed in the fetus. At the same time, the baby has a chance to get any group, because at the moment of conception all four blood groups are formed, but their percentage is different. Naturally, the largest percentage is given to parental blood. Therefore, most often the child receives a blood type of one of them. If both parents have the same group, then the possibility of the baby forming it is about ninety-eight percent.

The Rh factor is a specific protein found in erythrocyte cells, regardless of group. If this protein is determined during the analysis, then, and in case of its absence, it is negative.

When determining the presence of the Rh factor in the mother, that is, positive blood, and the father is negative, then the child has a great chance of getting exactly positive blood. In this case, at conception, blood incompatibility may occur. Throughout pregnancy, the body of the expectant mother produces special antibodies, the purpose of which is to fight foreign objects, which may include the body of the unborn child. The result can be attacks of these antibodies on the cells of the fetus. It is these attacks that can become a serious danger to a child still inside the mother's womb. In this case, even the death of a child is possible.

Even if the baby survives and the body repels all these attacks, the course of pregnancy is likely to occur with numerous complications. The expectant mother will certainly experience a number of difficulties, at least she will experience strong manifestations of toxicosis and a noticeable weakening of the body.

The influence of blood features on pregnancy

The entire gestation period will pass without problems if the child's fetus is not perceived by the antibodies produced by the mother's body as a foreign object. It should be noted that if the mother has the first group, then usually the bearing and birth of a child occur without any complications. Moreover, there are no difficulties even if the groups and Rh factors of the father and mother do not match.

The most optimal combinations of blood groups of the father and mother are shown in the table below:

	A (II group)	B (III gr.)	AB (IV gr.)	0 (I gr)
BUT	+	—	—	+
IN	—	+	—	+
AB	+	+	+	+
0	—	—	—	+

However, if the future parents have mismatched groups, then you should not especially worry, because in this case the conflict does not always arise and, as a rule, the course of pregnancy occurs quite normally.

But the mismatch of rhesus can have much more unfortunate consequences. At the same time, you need to know that the presence of positive blood in the mother almost always allows you to survive the conception and the period of pregnancy without trouble. Even if the father has negative blood, then the Rh-conflict of the child and the mother does not arise, they are completely compatible. In this situation, the child will be born with the presence of protein inside the red blood cells.

If the mother's blood is negative, then it is possible to speak with full confidence about the successful course of pregnancy only if the father has the same blood. Otherwise, there is a high probability that the child will receive negative blood, which will also not cause trouble, but another option is also possible. Problems can arise only if the child and mother have, however, this does not always happen.

conflict pregnancy

A conflict pregnancy occurs almost inevitably if the mother has a negative Rh factor, and the fetus in the womb is positive. The tragedy of this situation lies in the fact that the mother's body perceives the fetus as a foreign object, and this forces it to make every effort to reject it. This is precisely the reaction of the body, which defends itself and tries by any means to eliminate the foreignness found in itself. In the mother's body, an increased production of antibodies begins, which, after penetrating the placenta, immediately attack the fetus, trying to destroy its red blood cells.

According to the experience of doctors, a conflict pregnancy can end like this:

miscarriage (loss of fetus);
excessive work (almost wear and tear) of the spleen and liver of the fetus;
the development of anemia in a child, which is the result of an abnormal enlargement of the liver, which is overloaded during pregnancy.

It is in connection with the danger of conflict pregnancy that all expectant mothers are recommended to undergo special testing without fail to determine the compatibility of blood at conception. Ignoring this study greatly increases the likelihood of a newborn developing pathologies such as anemia, jaundice, dropsy and mental retardation.

How to avoid the consequences of a rhesus conflict

The conception of a child can occur quite successfully in parents who have an Rhesus conflict. However, in this case, the expectant mother will have to be regularly observed by a gynecologist for the entire period of pregnancy. Only an experienced doctor will be able to determine the necessary measures for the proper development of the fetus, and all recommendations must be followed without question.

What actions will the expectant mother have to take:

As soon as it is diagnosed, it will be necessary to immediately take a biopsy of the chorion. With this procedure baby.
You may need regular administration of immunoglobulin to the expectant mother.
In some cases, when there is a danger to the life of the fetus or mother, artificial induction of labor may be offered.
As a last resort, if the fetus still in the mother's womb is at immediate risk, a cordocentesis may be offered by a gynecologist.

Of course, these are only the most common recommendations, there are often more. But even according to these recommendations, which can significantly facilitate the course of gestation in case of an Rhesus conflict, it becomes clear how important the Rh factor of future parents is in a timely manner.

Specificity of blood groups

Today it is generally accepted that the first or zero group is the most powerful and aggressive. People with this group should prefer meat in food and are ideal donors. This group is combined with any others, the main thing is that the Rh factor matches. The second group (A) consists of people who are vegetarians and lovers of berries. The owners of the third group (B) usually prefer cereals and bread.

The fourth group (AB) is considered the most low-quality, but at the same time the most adaptive. Doctors call its owners "universal vampires", which should not be surprising, because if they match Rhesus, they can accept any other group.

Of course, the ideal option for conception would be a complete match in the parents of the group and the Rh factor of the blood, alas, this happens quite rarely. However, loving spouses who want to raise a child will be able to overcome all difficulties and even become parents with Rhesus incompatibility. The main thing is to be observed by good specialists and steadily follow all their recommendations.

There is a table that, with a certain probability, allows you to predict:

Of course, the exact determination of the blood group of the unborn child is possible only in one case, but even such an approximate prediction is sometimes very valuable.

When the issue of conceiving a child is of great importance, especially if it is not possible to get pregnant for a long time, many couples turn to specialists. In fact, the family planning office must be visited from the very beginning. The examination will help determine all the compatibility factors between parents so that the baby is born healthy. The compatibility of blood types for conception plays a particularly important role.

What effect does group compatibility have on conception

The human erythrocyte membrane contains many antigens, which are protein or carbohydrate molecules. In the blood serum, antibodies to these antigens can form. By binding to antigens, antibodies cause the destruction of red blood cells (hemolysis). More than 4 dozen antigenic systems are known, but the most famous are the AB0 systems and the Rh factor, it is he who influences the success of bearing a child. All doctors agree that the main influence on the fact of conception is the state of health of the parents, and stories about the incompatibility of certain blood types, which leads to the inability to become pregnant, are a myth.

If partners, despite unprotected sexual intercourse, do not conceive at the moments of ovulation, this does not indicate the incompatibility of groups, but the presence of serious diseases, often of the reproductive system. Common ones are:

diseases of the genitourinary system, provoked by infection;
diseases of the thyroid gland, endocrine system;
obstruction of the fallopian tubes, other similar pathologies;
problems with sperm motility in men, others.

As for infectious diseases of the genitourinary system, both spouses have them at once, so treatment is prescribed for both the husband and the wife. In other cases, only one of the partners may need therapy.

Of course, genetic heredity is an important factor in determining the possibility of normal development of a child, so many women are worried about blood group compatibility. But, as already mentioned, the conception and full development of the embryo is affected by the compatibility of the parents in terms of the Rh factor of the blood.

What you need to know before conception

The main thing you need to know is which group both partners have. In addition to the analysis for its determination, it is also recommended to go for a study on antibodies to the Rh factor. The following describes in more detail in which cases a Rh conflict can occur that interferes with the bearing of a healthy child.

Also, every expectant mother needs to learn more information about such facts:

In some cases, problems can arise not only because of the Rh factors, but also as a result of differences in the group itself: a woman has a second, a man has a third / fourth; a woman has a third, a man has a second / fourth.
According to statistics, the owners of the fourth group have the most problems with bearing a fetus, so they are usually under the special supervision of a doctor.
The ability to conceive decreases not only because of incompatibility in blood type, it can also be affected by pelvic diseases, fibroids, cysts, and other neoplasms.

To prevent the occurrence of possible problems, it is recommended to visit a gynecologist, a family planning office before conception.

Blood group compatibility table - I, II, III, IV

Many couples strive to find out the blood type of the future baby, this can be done without waiting for his birth, and earlier than the sex of the child on ultrasound. To do this, it is enough to know the groups of both parents in order to predict the blood type of the unborn baby with a certain accuracy.

The table below helps to determine the combination of different parent groups among themselves:


I positive and negative	I	I and II	I and III	II, III
II positive and negative	I and II	I and II	I, II, III, IV	II, III, IV
III positive and negative	I and III	I, II, III, IV	I, III	II, III, IV
IV positive and negative	II, III	II, III, IV	II, III, IV	II, III, IV

The table shows that when the groups of parents are the same (except 4), then the child will have either exactly the same, or 1, if they are different - he can have one of them, maybe completely different. In some cases, for example, when parents have groups 2 and 3, children can have absolutely any group.

Rhesus conflict during conception

Rhesus conflict is a serious problem that can be an obstacle to pregnancy or successful gestation. It occurs in cases where a woman has a negative Rh factor, and a man has a positive one, while the fetus acquires a positive gene from the father.

To understand what happens in the female body, why it rejects the fetus, it is necessary to have a shallow knowledge of genetics. When the erythrocytes of the embryo carry antigen proteins related to the positive Rh factor (Rh +), the mother's body perceives the baby's erythrocytes as foreign bodies and produces antibodies to them. These antibodies bind to antigens on the surface of red blood cells and destroy them.

However, the first pregnancy most often proceeds normally, because the circulatory circles of the fetus and mother are normally isolated from each other. Only during childbirth does the mixing of the blood of the mother and child occur - then the sensitization of the mother's body occurs, and the production of antibodies begins. By the next pregnancy, antibodies to Rh-positive red blood cells are already circulating in the maternal blood. Their feature is that they are able to penetrate into the blood of the fetus and destroy its red blood cells.

Consider how the Rh factor is inherited.

Rh factor of the mother	Father's Rh factor
Rh factor of the mother	Rh+ (DD)	Rh+ (Dd)	Rh-(dd)
Rh+ (DD)	Rh + (DD) - 100%	Rh+ (DD) - 50% Rh + (Dd) - 50%	Rh + (Dd) - 100%
Rh+ (Dd)	Rh+ (DD) - 50% Rh + (Dd) - 50%	Rh + (DD) - 25% Rh + (Dd) - 50% Rh- (dd) - 25%	Rh + (Dd) - 50% Rh- (dd) - 50%
Rh-(dd)	Rh + (Dd) - 100%	Rh + (Dd) - 50% Rh- (dd) - 50%	Rh- (dd) - 100%

There are cases when there is a Rh-conflict.

As can be seen from the table, even if both parents are carriers of a positive Rh factor, this is not a guarantee that they will not have an Rh-negative child.

Important! Some partners do not know their Rh factor, they are not even aware of the consequences of their negligent attitude to the issue of conception. Doctors urge everyone to find out the characteristics of their blood type, doing this not only during a transfusion in a critical situation, but in advance.

Consequences of Rh conflict for the fetus

Hemolytic disease of the fetus is an inevitable consequence of the Rh conflict during conception. If the embryo managed to survive, serious changes begin to occur with it. The mother's body continues to intensively produce antibodies, when they enter the fetal bloodstream, binding to its Rh-positive red blood cells, the latter are destroyed. This happens in the spleen of the unborn child, the newborn has an enlarged spleen.

Hemoglobin is released from collapsing erythrocytes, which, breaking up, passes into bilirubin through several successive transformations. It is the increased content of bilirubin, which has a yellow color, in the blood, organs and tissues that causes the yellow color of the child's skin - this disease is called hemolytic jaundice of newborns.

Bilirubin is neurotoxic, it can affect both the cortex and subcortical structures of the brain. Delayed effects can be paralysis, hearing impairment, mental retardation.

Also, due to the breakdown of red blood cells, their number in the blood decreases, the child develops hemolytic anemia. Since there are few erythrocytes, which are oxygen carriers, the tissues of the fetus and newborn suffer from a lack of oxygen - hypoxia and intrauterine growth retardation occur.

There are three main forms of hemolytic disease in a newborn:

Anemic. The easiest option. The main symptom is excessively pale skin, enlarged liver and spleen. In the blood, erythrocytes and hemoglobin are reduced. Treated with blood transfusion. Usually there are no serious health problems in the future.
Icteric. In addition to anemia, there is jaundice, an enlarged liver, spleen. The skin may become intense yellow or even yellow-brown. Amniotic fluid may be yellow. Reflexes in newborns are reduced, they are lethargic, they suck badly. Requires urgent treatment.
Edema. The most severe form. Massive intrauterine destruction of red blood cells leads to severe anemia, hypoxia, metabolic disorders, tissue edema. The fetus dies before birth or is born in an extremely serious condition with widespread edema. The skin is very pale, shiny. The child is lethargic, reflexes are depressed, severe cardiac and respiratory failure, severe enlargement of the liver and spleen, large, barrel-shaped abdomen.

Important! When registering a pregnant woman, it is imperative to determine the blood type and Rh factor of the mother and father to identify the risk of Rh conflict. It is possible to recognize hemolytic disease in the early stages, if timely performed on ultrasound with a mandatory study of placental blood flow, at least 3 times to do a blood test for the concentration of anti-rhesus antibodies, consultations with the attending physician are required.

Rh factors matching each other

The most optimal for successful conception are the same Rh factors for partners, while it does not matter what group they have. For example, 2 positive and 3 positive are perfectly combined, with conception, fetal development, there can be no problems associated with blood incompatibility.

Problems arise when a combination of 1 negative and 1 positive, and if negative - in a woman. As described above, it all depends on whose gene the fetus acquires, if the paternal one is positive, then an Rh conflict will occur.

You can determine the Rh factor in most clinics by donating blood from a finger. You can also purchase a special test sold in pharmacies. The package usually contains an applicator, containers where blood is placed, and special solutions. Doctors advise not to use such tests without special skills, but to contact the laboratory.

Incompatibility between the organisms of the mother and fetus can occur due to different Rh factors when an Rh conflict occurs. Its consequences for the child may be different: the embryo may die in utero, or be born with a certain form of hemolytic disease. There is a chance that a completely healthy baby will be born. In any case, before planning a conception, every couple is advised to contact a family planning center.

Most parents-to-be know their blood type, but few know what is behind the symbols I, II, or Ph+. The importance of these parameters for conception cannot be underestimated. These data are recognized and rechecked among the first when planning a pregnancy. What is the compatibility of blood types for conception in spouses and how to calculate it.

What is blood type and Rh factor

Blood type is a complex of specific proteins on the surface of red blood cells (erythrocytes). The main system by which the incompatibility and compatibility of blood for conception and transfusions is determined is the ABO system. According to this system, 4 groups are distinguished, each of which has its own combination of agglutinogens (A, B) and agglutinins to them (a, b). The table below describes the data on the content of these components in each of the 4 groups.

Rh factor (RH) is the second clinically significant blood classification after the ABO system. The key antigen is antigen D. If it is on the surface of the erythrocyte, then the blood is considered Rh-positive, if not, then, respectively, Rh-negative. Most people on the planet, about 85% are Rh positive, the rest will be negative.

In addition to the Rh factor and the ABO system, there are several other classifications of blood groups according to other antigens. However, the importance for checking parents for blood compatibility at conception is given, in most cases, only to these two.

ABO Compatibility

Data on the group of the future mother and father is clarified at the stage of planning the child. In situations where immunological infertility is suspected in partners, parental incompatibility may be one of the causes of the problem.

Incompatibility develops when agglutinogens are in the blood of one person, and agglutinins corresponding to them, for example, A and a or B and b, are in the blood of another. In these situations, an agglutination (gluing) reaction occurs and the erythrocytes cannot fully perform their function. At conception, the fetus, in most cases, inherits the mother's blood type. The table below shows what the blood type of a child can be if the blood type of both parents is known.

If a child begins to form a paternal or third blood type that is incompatible with the mother, then an immunological conflict may occur. In these cases, there is a high probability of miscarriage in the early stages of pregnancy. In addition, this condition can lead to the development of hemolytic disease in a child.

Rh compatibility

If incompatibility in the AB0 system is rare, then the development of the Rhesus conflict is observed much more often. What circumstances in this matter can lead to the development of incompatibility? If an Rh-negative mother becomes pregnant with an Rh+ fetus.

In such a situation, fetal erythrocyte proteins enter the general bloodstream to the mother. There they are met by the immune system, which perceives these proteins as a foreign object. The woman's body begins to produce protective antibodies that cause the death of the baby's red blood cells. This means that mother and fetus are incompatible with each other.

If the pregnancy is the first, then serious problems usually do not arise, since the immune system works slowly and does not have time to create a sufficient number of protection cells. With a second pregnancy with an Rh-negative child, the woman's immune system works much faster. Mom's immune cells are produced in large numbers and begin to kill the baby's red blood cells. This leads to oxygen, starvation, developmental disorders and can provoke intrauterine fetal death.

To prevent this from happening, partners with different Rh factors are checked in advance, and the pregnancy takes place under the supervision of a doctor. In addition, after the first pregnancy, a woman is injected with a special serum that prevents the development of blocking antibodies during a subsequent pregnancy.

Important! The severity of the manifestation of incompatibility according to the Rh factor increases with each subsequent pregnancy.

What else needs to be remembered in such a situation? The development of memory cells in an Rh-negative woman occurs with any contact with Rh-positive blood. If the expectant mother had a history of abortions, transfusions, miscarriages, then this may mean that she has already met with Rh-positive blood. With such a history, the first is already at risk.

Clinical case: Patient M., 26 years old,Rh- first pregnancyRh+ fruit. The child was born prematurely at 32 weeks with severe hemolytic jaundice, extensive edema, and cardiomegaly. It turned out that the woman did not remember that at the age of 3 she underwent an operation with a transfusion of donor blood.Rh+.

In other cases, the Rh factor does not affect the normal development of pregnancy. So, if a Rh + woman becomes pregnant with an Rh- fetus, then there will be no conflict, since there are no antibodies foreign to the mother in the fetal blood.

What is hemolytic disease?

This diagnosis is understood as the development of hemolytic anemia (anemia) in the fetus and newborn as a result of immunological incompatibility in parents. This disease can develop when partners are incompatible both in terms of Rh, and in the AB0 system, and in other antigens.

In these cases, during pregnancy, the death of fetal erythrocytes occurs. This death is caused by the mother's immune cells, which perceived them as a foreign object. The death of red blood cells causes their increased production and the appearance in the bloodstream of indirect bilirubin, which is highly toxic for the child.

The table below shows the likelihood of conflict with different blood types in parents.

The clinical manifestations of the disease depend on how much antibodies from the mother crossed the placenta. In the most severe cases, fetal death occurs. Severe edema, jaundice, dropsy of the abdomen may develop, the size of the liver and heart, etc., increase. There are three degrees of severity of this disease, in accordance with which the child is treated.

What to do and how to prevent partner incompatibility

In order for future parents not to have problems, girls need to be very careful about abortions and transfusions. With transfusions, there is a risk of introducing blood with the wrong Rh, and there is always a risk of immunization for other antigens. Transfusion should be performed according to vital indications.

In most cases, maternal immunization occurs after the first birth. In this regard, a special vaccine should be introduced to the woman in labor during the day, which will prevent the occurrence of problems in the future.

Differences in Rh and blood type in spouses or in an unborn child should not become an indicator of global problems. No one will choose a spouse based on data on his proteins on red blood cells. Modern medicine allows us to overcome this incompatibility and control the reaction of the body. To do this, you need to be attentive to your health, and follow the doctor's instructions.

There comes a time in every couple's life when they decide to have a baby. For some, everything goes well, while for other parents it is not possible to get pregnant for quite a long time. There are many reasons for this, and one of them is the compatibility of blood types for conception.

Does the blood type of parents affect the conception of a baby?

During pregnancy planning, many couples are interested in the question of what blood type their unborn child will have. During the appointment of a consulting gynecologist, the future father and mother are usually given a special table in which all possible combinations of the child's blood type are provided, depending on the one that the parents have.

Often the question arises - can a blood type prevent conception?

This question often arises in parents who do not have a long-awaited pregnancy. Young people are beginning to turn to doctors with this issue. And they almost always get the same answer: “the blood type itself does not affect the possible conception, however, the Rh factor and its incompatibility among partners can interfere with this.”

Let's take a closer look at how the Rh factor can prevent the conception of a child.

Does the Rh factor of the blood of parents affect the conception of a child?

First, let's figure out what the Rh factor is. This term refers to a group of specific antigens located on the surface of erythrocyte membranes (there are about 50 antigens that determine the inheritance of Rhesus, which the table of variations allows you to understand).

Antigen D plays a special role among the bottom, the presence or absence of which determines the type of blood. If this molecule is present on the surface of the erythrocyte, then the blood is considered positive for this antigen. If it is not, then, accordingly, the Rhesus of a particular person is negative.

During the formation of a zygote, a combination (or fusion) of the two germ cells of the parents occurs - the egg and the sperm. Each of them carries certain genetic information, in this case - about the Rh factor. If both gametes carry the D gene, a child is also born with a positive factor. If one of the gametes of the parents does not have the D antigen (for example, the presence of the D gene in a man and its absence in a woman), as a result of fertilization, the baby can have both positive and negative Rh. Problems during pregnancy can occur if the mother does not have the D antigen, but the child has it (i.e., an Rhesus conflict develops).

Summarizing what has been said, it can be understood that the Rh antigen does not affect the process of conception itself. Problems develop already in the process of maturation of the zygote, when the fetus and a new circle of blood circulation between the baby and the woman's body are formed.

It is because of this antigenic conflict that various complications can develop during pregnancy, which can cause significant damage to a woman's health and lead to miscarriage. To prevent its development, some measures must be taken to allow the mother to bear the child normally until the moment of his birth.

How to reduce the risk during pregnancy with Rhesus conflict to a minimum?

A characteristic feature of the Rh conflict is that it does not develop during the first pregnancy. The first pregnancy of an Rh-negative mother proceeds favorably, however, in the process of gestation, the formation of antibodies to the D-factor occurs. A subsequent pregnancy with an Rh-positive fetus will cause maternal antibodies to attack the baby's red blood cells, causing intrauterine hemolysis. All subsequent pregnancies will be even more aggressive and may harm the health of the mother.

In order to prevent such immune incompatibility, certain measures must be taken to protect the mother and child.

First of all, it is necessary to determine the possibility of a Rh conflict in a timely manner. Immediately before conception, each of the spouses (especially the mother) is recommended for a preliminary assessment of the risk of immune mismatch. As already mentioned, if both partners have the D antigen, then there is no need to worry. If one of the parents has Rh-negative blood, then after conception (after about 8-10 weeks), it is recommended to conduct a blood test of the mother to determine circulating antibodies to antigen D in her. This test should be repeated before childbirth.

It is important to remember: for the current pregnancy, the introduction of anti-Rhesus immunoglobulin is harmless - it is administered for the possibility of a normal second and subsequent pregnancies

To prevent further Rh conflicts in a D-negative mother, immediately after the first birth, during the first two days, a woman should be given a special serum that suppresses the activity of anti-Rh antibodies. This serum allows the mother to become pregnant in the future without fear for the immune incompatibility between her body and the developing fetus.

It is extremely rare (less than 0.1% of cases), but it is still possible to develop a repeated conflict between the antibodies and antigens of the mother and baby.

But what to do if the anti-Rhesus immunoglobulin was not administered to the mother in a timely manner and a subsequent pregnancy developed with an antibody conflict? In this case, the tactics of doctors should be as follows - the baby is given a transfusion of special concentrated blood, which will help maintain normal gas exchange in the growing body and prevent the developed antibodies from acting. This procedure is purely symptomatic and is aimed at maintaining the viability of the child until the moment of delivery. In the case of a transfusion, the pregnancy is extended to 35-36 weeks, after which labor is induced.

Additional Research

In some cases, even if both partners are Rh+, there may be a genetic paradox when they have an Rh negative child. In this case, the presence of hereditary or acquired mutations should be suspected and DNA testing of both partners should be performed. Some viruses that have the ability to integrate into strands of DNA or RNA can have an effect on the genetic material. It is especially important to check each of the partners for hereditary diseases of the blood and hematopoietic apparatus.

Timely laboratory diagnosis of immune discrepancy and measures taken against it allow you to effectively become pregnant and give birth to a healthy child, even with a complete mismatch of blood antigens.

Rh factor (Rh factor) is a blood protein found on the surface of red blood cells. If this protein is present, then this means that the person has a positive Rh factor, but if it is not, then it is negative. Rh factor is determined by antigen. There are five main antigens, but the D antigen indicates Rh. 85% of the world's population have positive Rh factors. How to determine your Rh factor? It is enough just to donate blood from a vein once. This indicator does not change throughout life. In the embryo, Rh-affiliation is formed already in the first trimester of pregnancy. Determining this indicator is very important for a future mother, since in the case of an Rh-negative mother and a Rh-positive child, various pregnancy complications are possible. In this case, it will be especially important to follow the doctor's instructions, to avoid infectious and colds, as well as stress. Also on different sites there are so-called calculators that determine the Rh factor of the unborn child.

It must be remembered that blood is taken on an empty stomach. An express test for Rh affiliation can be taken at any independent laboratory where blood is taken (for example, Invitro). The price depends on the price list of the clinic itself. You can find out about the cost of the analysis immediately before delivery. You can also donate blood and find out your Rhesus for free if you become a donor. To do this, you need to fill out a form to register yourself as a blood donor in the appropriate institution.

Also, the Rh factor plays a big role in blood transfusion. Two people are involved in a transfusion: the recipient (the one who receives blood) and the donor (the one who donates blood). If the blood is incompatible, the recipient may experience complications after the transfusion.

The most common myth among couples is that the blood type (like the Rh factor) is inherited from a man. In fact, the inheritance of the Rh factor by a child is a rather complex and unpredictable process, and it cannot change during life. But it is worth remembering that in rare cases (about 1% of Europeans) a special type of Rh factor is determined - weakly positive. In this case, Rh is determined either positive or negative. This is where questions arise on the forums “why did my Rh minus change to plus?”, And also legends appear that this indicator may change. The sensitivity of the test method plays an important role here.

No less popular request on the network is "blood type horoscope". For example, in Japan, decoding by blood type is given great attention. Believe it or not - you decide.

In the world there is such a thing as a medical tattoo, photos of which can be easily found on the net. What do such tattoos mean and what are they for? Its designation is quite pragmatic - in case of a serious injury, when an urgent blood transfusion or operation is required, and the victim is not able to give the doctor data on his blood type and Rh. Moreover, such tattoos (a simple application of the blood type and Rh factor) should be in places accessible to the doctor - shoulders, chest, arms.

Rh factor and pregnancy

Rh factor compatibility during pregnancy- one of the tests that are carried out in the antenatal clinic. When a woman becomes registered with a gynecologist, she will need to donate blood to determine the group and Rh factor. It can significantly affect the course of the next nine months. If the baby inherits a positive father's Rh, and the mother's is negative, then the protein in the child's blood is unfamiliar to the mother's body. The mother's body "considers" the baby's blood as a foreign substance and begins to produce antibodies, attacking the baby's blood cells. With a Rh conflict during pregnancy, the fetus may experience anemia, jaundice, reticulocytosis, erythroblastosis, fetal dropsy and edematous syndrome of newborns (in the last two cases, the probability of death of the child is high).

Blood type and Rh factor: compatibility

The cause of incompatibility can be not only the Rh blood, but also the group.

What are the blood types? They are distinguished by the presence of specific proteins.

Four groups:

the first (most common) - O - there are no specific proteins in it;
the second - A - contains protein A;
the third - B - contains protein B;
the fourth (the rarest of all) - AB - contains both type A protein and type B protein.

First

on the protein of the second group (A);
on the protein of the third group (B);

Second(Rh negative) in a mother can provoke a conflict:

on the protein of the third group (B);
on the protein of the fourth group (B);
for the Rh protein (positive).

Third(Rh factor negative) in a mother can provoke a conflict:

on the protein of the second group (A);
on the protein of the fourth group (A);
for the Rh protein (positive).

Fourth does not conflict with any other group.
The only case when an immune reaction is possible: if the mother has the fourth group and is Rh negative, and the father is positive.

Table 1. Statistics

Blood types parents	Possible blood type of the child (probability, %)

Blood type and Rh - pregnancy without complications

The conflict does not arise if the spouses have Rh compatibility. In this case, the child has Rh compatibility with the mother's body: during pregnancy, the mother's body does not perceive the fetus as a foreign body.

Rh positive during pregnancy

If you are Rh positive, then a negative Rh husband will not affect the course of pregnancy. In the case when the child inherits the Rh factor is negative, there is no protein “unfamiliar” to the mother’s immune system in his blood, and a conflict will not arise.

Rh-positive mother + Rh-positive father = Rh-positive fetus
The child has inherited the positive Rh factor of the parents, and the pregnancy will pass without complications.
Rh positive mother + Rh positive father = Rh negative fetus
Even if the parent's Rh factor is positive, the baby can get negative. In this case, you can still talk about the compatibility of Rh factors during pregnancy: the mother's body is "familiar" with all the proteins in the child's blood.
Rh-positive mother + Rh-negative father = Rh-positive fetus
It is positive for the mother and the fetus, during pregnancy there is no conflict.
Rh positive mother + Rh negative father = Rh negative fetus
Although the mother and fetus have a different blood Rh factor (the mother and child have positive and negative, respectively), there is no conflict.

As already mentioned, blood Rh is a protein. And since this protein is already present in the mother's body, the blood of the fetus does not contain components that are unfamiliar to the mother's immune system.

Rh factor negative during pregnancy

Negative Rh during pregnancy is not always a sentence for the baby. The main thing is that it should be the same for both the baby and the mother.

Rh negative mother + Rh negative father = Rh negative fetus
The baby inherited the Rh factor of the parents. And since both the mother and the fetus have no protein (rhesus) in the blood and their blood is similar, then there is no conflict.
Rh negative mother + Rh positive father = Rh negative fetus
This is one of the cases when the Rh factor is very important: the compatibility of the blood of the mother and the fetus affects the next nine months of intrauterine life. Although the woman is Rh negative during pregnancy, it is good that the fetus is also Rh negative. There is no Rh in the mother's blood, nor in the blood of the fetus.

When does an Rh-conflict pregnancy occur?

Rh negative mother + Rh positive father = Rh positive fetus
Please note: whatever the mother's group, a negative Rh during pregnancy becomes a cause of conflict. In this case, the fetus inherits it from the father and brings the "new protein" into the body of the Rh-negative mother. Her blood "does not recognize" this substance: there is no such protein in the body. Accordingly, the body begins to defend itself and produce antibodies. They cross the placenta into the baby's blood and attack his red blood cells. The fetus tries to defend itself: the spleen and liver begin to work hard, while they increase significantly in size. If a child has few red blood cells, he develops anemia, or anemia.

What causes Rh conflict during pregnancy?

Rh-negative women should monitor their body very carefully and listen to its signals.
This attitude will help prevent:

dropsy (fetal edema);
anemia
miscarriage;
violations of the brain, speech or hearing of the child.

To protect the baby from these consequences, women with a negative Rh during pregnancy should take all the tests that the doctor prescribes on time.

What to do if you have an Rh-conflict pregnancy?

If your chosen one and you have Rh factors positive and negative, respectively, this must be taken into account when planning a pregnancy. Often, the Rh conflict does not appear during the first pregnancy, although the parents have a different Rh factor. Whatever the blood type of the future mother (Rh negative) during pregnancy, during the second birth, the likelihood of a conflict is very high, since her blood most likely already has antibodies.

Rh negative during pregnancy

There is a vaccine - anti-Rhesus immunoglobulin, which prevents Rh conflict during pregnancy. It binds the antibodies that the mother's body produces and brings them out. Vaccination can be done during pregnancy.

If you have a negative Rh, and your husband is positive, this is not a reason to refuse motherhood. Within 40 weeks, you will have to repeatedly donate blood from a vein:

up to 32 weeks - once a month;
from the 32nd to the 35th week - 2 times a month;
from the 35th to the 40th week - once a week.

If Rh antibodies appear in your blood, the doctor can detect the onset of the Rh conflict in time. In a conflict pregnancy, immediately after childbirth, a newborn is given a blood transfusion: the group, Rh factor should be the same as that of the mother. This is especially important in the first 36 hours of a baby's life - mother's antibodies that have entered the child's body are neutralized by "meeting" familiar blood.

When can immunoglobulin prophylaxis be carried out?

To prevent conflict in subsequent pregnancies, Rh-negative women should be prophylactic. This is done after:

childbirth (within three days);
abortion;
analysis of amniotic fluid;
spontaneous miscarriage;
ectopic pregnancy;
detachment of the placenta;
transfusions.

Remember: if your group and Rhesus are different with your baby, this is not an indicator that there will definitely be problems. Group and Rhesus are just the presence or absence of specific proteins in the blood. The reaction of the body and the development of pathologies in our time can be successfully controlled with the help of drugs. Your attention to your body, as well as an experienced doctor, will help you bear a healthy baby.

How do the chances of conception depend on the blood type?

Quite a lot is already known about the influence of blood groups, for example, on the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease, oncological diseases, blood clots, etc. However, virtually nothing was known about the effect on fertility. And finally, thanks to the efforts of Turkish doctors, a study appeared in this area.

A study published last week says that men with type 0 are four times less likely to develop impotence compared to guys with other blood types. Specialists from Ordu University in Turkey noted that blood type is as important a risk factor as smoking, being overweight, and high blood pressure. The reason is not clear, but scientists have said that in people with blood type A, the penis has a large number of veins, the lining of which can be damaged, which leads to erectile dysfunction.

Blood type also affects female fertility. Girls with the second group are more likely to bear a healthy child for a long time than with the first. Studies have shown that women with the first group quickly deplete their egg reserves early in life. But at the same time, women with type 0 have a lower risk of developing preeclampsia - high blood pressure during pregnancy, which can be dangerous for mother and child.

Naturally, representatives of the rest of humanity should not panic either (of which, by the way, there are a little more than half, because the people of the 1st group account for a little more than 40%) - a higher probability does not mean a 100% chance. As well as representatives of the "happy" group, you should not relax ahead of time - reduced risk does not mean zero at all.