How the Body Works : The Rh Factor

The Rh Factor

There are many different blood groups of which the two most important are the ABO and the Rhesus or Rh groupings. More than 85 percent of the world's population possess the Rh antigen in their blood---and are considered Rh positive. In all other individuals the antigen is lacking and they are classified as Rh negative. Should the antigen enter the bloodstream of an Rh negative person, serious consequences follow. If a Rh negative woman is impregnated by a Rh positive man, the fetus may be Rh positive, too. If the Rh antigen enters the maternal bloodstream via the placenta, it induces the woman to produce anti-Rh antibodies, which could attack subsequent Rh positive fetuses, causing jaundice and possibly death. Treatment in such cases is to transfuse the baby immediately after birth with Rh negative blood.

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[730ize]

all negative people should get killed so that we remain only pure positives in the world!

[codeyismename]

this shit is so gay, makes this looks like you.

[BF1]

@machacoification Woops I typed that wrong. If you have Rh+ you can recieve both + and - groups. IF you have Rh- then you can only receive negative.

[BF1]

@machacoification nope. Rh- is ok to Positive blood groups and negative blood groups can only receive negative.

[Vote4RonPaulLiberty]

Immediate blood transfusion or death is not a given. I was born to a rhesus negative mother and have rhesus factor. Yes, I was jaundiced but I recovered without ever having received a blood transfusion. This was back in the late '60s.

[gramirez101]

sooo...is having this type of blood a good thing or bad?

[IrminsulRM]

@shiney94 this is done to stabilize the babies blood, which will after a while be replaced by healthy rh-positive blood

[machacoification]

@ha09200 thank you, much clearer now

[ha09200]

@machacoification no, the Rh+ blood type can receive both Rh+ and Rh- blood without a haemolytic reaction taking place. Its only when you give someone who is Rh- ( i.e the mother in this case, who is likely to have produced anti-D bodies against her fetus during her first pregnancy [sensitization] ), Rh+ blood that a haemolytic reaction will take place. In short Rh+ can have both Rh+ and Rh- blood transfused, whereas a Rh- patient should only be transfused with Rh- blood. Hope that helps.

[machacoification]

if the baby is rh+ and you transfuse Rh- blood as it is said the baby will die....am i right