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Rh Incompatibility Effects Symptoms Risk factors Diagnosis Treatments Complications Prevention What is Rh incompatibility?

When a woman and her unborn baby carry different Rhesus (Rh) protein factors, their condition is called Rh incompatibility. It occurs when a woman is Rh-negative and her baby is Rh-positive. The Rh factor is a specific protein found on the surface of your red blood cells.

Like your blood type, you inherit your Rh factor type from your parents. Most people are Rh-positive, but a small percentage of people are Rh-negative. This means they lack the Rh protein.

How does Rh factor affect pregnancy? 

A positive or negative symbol after your blood type indicates your Rh factor. For example, "blood type: AB+" might be written on your medical record.

Your Rh factor doesn't directly affect your health. However, Rh factor becomes important during pregnancy. If a woman is Rh-negative and her baby is Rh-positive, then the woman's body will approach the Rh-positive protein as a foreign object, if her immune system is exposed to it.

This means that if blood cells from your baby cross your bloodstream, which can happen during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, your immune system will make antibodies against your baby's red blood cells.

Who is at risk for Rh incompatibility?

Any woman who is Rh-negative and is having a child with someone who is Rh-positive or with an unknown Rh status is at risk for Rh incompatibility. However, given the low percentage of people with rH-negative blood types, this doesn't happen often.

According to the Stanford Blood Center, the percentage of blood types breaks down roughly as follows:

O+ 37.4% O-

6.6% A+ 35.7% A-

How is Rh incompatibility diagnosed?

A blood test to determine your Rh status will likely be done at your first prenatal visit with your doctor.

If you're Rh-negative, your partner may also be tested. If your partner is also Rh-negative, you don't have anything to worry about. If your partner is Rh-positive and you're Rh-negative, your doctor will look for the following signs of Rh incompatibility.

A positive indirect Coombs test is a sign of Rh incompatibility. This test uses a blood sample to look for the presence of cell-destroying antibodies within the plasma of your blood.