Similar Blood Groups
December 20th 2006 04:36
Blood type does not affect the ability of a couple to conceive a child. When we talk about blood type, we are describing the proteins on the surface of the red blood cells. The plus or minus sign after the letter is a specific protein called the Rh factor (someone with an O protein who lacks Rh factor is O-, for example). While these proteins don't play a role in conception, they can play a role in the pregnancy and life of the newborn.
If a woman is Rh negative (she doesn't have the Rh factor on the outside of her red blood cells) and her fetus is Rh positive (inherited from its father) it is possible for some of the fetus blood to leak into the mother's blood circulation and cause her to develop an immune response against the baby's Rh factor. In subsequent pregnancies this can lead to the breakdown of the red blood cells in the fetus or newborn and can be a serious problem. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent this now, which is one reason that it is so important for all pregnant women to have routine prenatal healthcare.
If a woman is Rh negative (she doesn't have the Rh factor on the outside of her red blood cells) and her fetus is Rh positive (inherited from its father) it is possible for some of the fetus blood to leak into the mother's blood circulation and cause her to develop an immune response against the baby's Rh factor. In subsequent pregnancies this can lead to the breakdown of the red blood cells in the fetus or newborn and can be a serious problem. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent this now, which is one reason that it is so important for all pregnant women to have routine prenatal healthcare.
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