In pregnancy, the RH factor can cause complications such as:
- Hemolytic Disease- breakdown of red blood cells
- Erythroblastosis Fetalis- producing immature red blood cells, in the fetus
This occurs when the fetus or the fathers’ blood type is incompatible with that of the mothers (i.e.. typically the mother being RH-negative and the father RH-positive).
The mother is to receive an injection called RhoGAm or Rho (D) which is a sterile solution (made from human blood plasma) at 28 weeks of gestation and within 72 hours after birth to avoid the development of antibodies from the mother towards the fetus (an allergic reaction could be possible). The injection works like a vaccine, it contains RH-positive blood, the mothers’ body then detects these antibodies and reacts as though the immune system had already taken action against the “foreign” Rh-positive red blood cells. Therefore distracting the mothers’ immune system from attacking the fetus.
Blood types and transfusions:
Blood type compatibilities
- AB is the universal blood type receiver, but can only donate to AB.
- A can receive blood type from A or O, and can donate to A or AB.
- B can receive blood type from B or O, and can donate to B or AB.
- O can only receive from blood type O, and is the universal blood type donor.
- Individuals with type O RH D negative blood type are often called universal donors, and those with type AB RH D positive are called universal recipients.
Plasma compatibility
- AB can only receive plasma from AB, and is the universal plasma donor to any blood group.
- A can receive from A and AB, but can only donate to A and O.
- B can receive from B and AB, but can only donate to B and O.
- O is the universal plasma receiver, but can only donate plasma to O.
- Type O plasma containing both anti-A and anti-B antibodies can only be given to O recipients. Conversely, AB plasma can be given to patients of any ABO blood group, due to not containing any anti-A or anti-B antibodies.