గర్భధారణ ల్యాబ్ పరీక్షలు
Blood Group and Rh Factor in Pregnancy
Done once at booking — critical for transfusion safety and Rh incompatibility prevention
ఇది దేనిని కొలుస్తుంది?
This test identifies your ABO blood group (A, B, O, or AB) and your Rh factor status (positive or negative). The Rh factor is a protein on the surface of red blood cells. About 85% of people have it (Rh positive); the remaining 15% do not (Rh negative). In pregnancy, blood group typing is essential for two reasons: ensuring compatible blood is available if transfusion is needed during delivery, and identifying Rh-negative mothers who are at risk of Rh incompatibility with their baby.
ఇది ఎప్పుడు సూచించబడుతుంది?
At the first antenatal (booking) visit — done once for the entire pregnancy. Blood group does not change, so it does not need to be repeated. However, the antibody screen (indirect Coombs test) may be repeated at 28 weeks for Rh-negative mothers.
గర్భధారణ సమయంలో సాధారణ పరిధులు
అసాధారణ ఫలితం అంటే ఏమిటి?
If you are Rh negative and your baby inherits the Rh positive factor from the father, small amounts of the baby's blood can cross into your bloodstream during pregnancy or delivery. Your immune system recognises the Rh protein as 'foreign' and produces antibodies against it — this is called sensitisation. In the first Rh-incompatible pregnancy, the risk of significant sensitisation is low. But in a second or subsequent Rh-positive pregnancy, these antibodies can cross the placenta and attack the baby's red blood cells, causing Haemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN) — ranging from mild anaemia to severe jaundice, hydrops fetalis, and in severe cases, fetal death. This is entirely preventable with Anti-D immunoglobulin.
దక్షిణ భారత మహిళలకు దీని అర్థం ఏమిటి
Rh-negative blood type is less common in South India than in North India or Western populations. Blood banks at major government and private hospitals maintain Rh-negative stocks, but supply can be limited in smaller cities and rural areas. If you are Rh negative, inform your hospital early, know your blood group card, and ensure the hospital you plan to deliver at has Rh-negative blood available. Carry your blood group card with you throughout pregnancy.
తరచుగా అడిగే ప్రశ్నలు
I am Rh negative. What exactly happens during pregnancy?
Being Rh negative itself causes no symptoms or harm to you. The concern is for the baby. If your baby is Rh positive (possible if the father is Rh positive), tiny amounts of baby's blood may enter your circulation during pregnancy (especially at delivery, miscarriage, procedures, or trauma). Your immune system may produce Anti-D antibodies — sensitisation. These antibodies can cross the placenta in future pregnancies and harm an Rh-positive baby's red blood cells. Anti-D injections prevent this from happening.
What is the Anti-D injection and is it safe?
Anti-D immunoglobulin is a blood product injection that 'mops up' any Rh-positive fetal blood cells that enter your circulation before your immune system can make permanent antibodies. It does not contain live virus and is safe in pregnancy. It is given at 28 weeks of pregnancy (prophylactic) and within 72 hours of delivery if the baby is confirmed Rh positive. It should also be given after any miscarriage, bleeding episode, or invasive procedure (amniocentesis) in an Rh-negative mother.
My husband is also Rh negative. Do I still need the Anti-D injection?
If both parents are Rh negative, the baby will be Rh negative too — there is no incompatibility and no Anti-D is needed. Your doctor can confirm this by checking the father's blood group. However, if there is any uncertainty about paternity, standard protocol is to give Anti-D to be safe.
I had Anti-D with my first pregnancy. Do I need it again?
Yes. Anti-D provides protection for one pregnancy or sensitising event — it does not confer lasting immunity. You need Anti-D with each Rh-positive (or unknown) pregnancy. The antibody screen (indirect Coombs test) at 28 weeks checks whether sensitisation has already occurred from a previous pregnancy.
What if I was never given Anti-D in a previous pregnancy?
If you had a previous Rh-positive pregnancy without Anti-D, there is a chance you are already sensitised. The indirect Coombs test will check for this. If sensitisation has occurred, Anti-D cannot reverse it, but close monitoring of the current pregnancy with Doppler scans of the baby's brain (to detect fetal anaemia) and specialist fetal medicine care can identify and manage problems early.