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We have different blood types according to the antigens in our blood cells. There are four
main blood groups: O, A, B, and AB. Some also have a substance called Rh factor in our red blood
cells. Those who have Rh factor are Rh positive, and those who don’t, are Rh negative. As an
example, if you’re Rh positive, you can receive positive or negative blood. If you’re Rh negative,
you can only receive Rh negative blood. It’s important that the blood used in a transfusion works
with your own blood type. If it doesn’t, your own antibodies will attack the new blood and make
you sick. People who have type O (-) blood are called universal donors because type O(-) blood is
safe for almost everyone to receive. Type O (-) blood is used in emergency situations when there’s
no time to test a person’s blood type. People with type AB(+) blood are called universal recipients
because they can receive almost any type of blood transfusion.
Rh INCOMPATIBILITY
The Rh factor is inherited. The fetus can inherit the Rh factor from the father or the
mother. When a woman is Rh negative and her fetus is Rh positive, it is called Rh incompatibility.
During pregnancy, a woman and her fetus usually do not share blood. But sometimes a small
amount of blood from the fetus can mix with the woman’s blood, during labor and birth. Health
problems usually do not occur during an Rh-negative woman’s first pregnancy with an Rh-positive
fetus. But if treatment is not given during the first pregnancy and the woman later gets pregnant
again with an Rh-positive fetus, she can make more antibodies. More antibodies put a future fetus
at risk. An Rh-negative woman also can make antibodies after: Miscarriage, Ectopic pregnancy or
Induced abortion. Rh immunoglobulin or (RhoGAM) is the medication that stops the body from
making antibodies. It can prevent severe fetal anemia in a future pregnancy. It is given as an
intramuscular injection during second trimester of pregnancy and/or after birth. It also may be
needed: after an ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, abortion, even though the blood type of the
fetus is unknown
Rh INCOMPATIBILITY