Today we'll explore Rh factor, a crucial protein found on red blood cells.Rh factor is a protein that can either be present or absent on the surface of your red blood cells.When these proteins are present on your red blood cells, you are considered Rh positive, or Rh plus.If these proteins are absent, you are Rh negative, or Rh minus.This protein was first discovered in Rhesus monkeys in 1940, which is why it's called the Rh factor.The distribution of Rh factor in the population is quite interesting.About eighty-five percent of people are Rh positive, having the protein on their red blood cells.While only fifteen percent are Rh negative, lacking the protein.Understanding your Rh status is essential for medical care.Blood type compatibility becomes more complex when we consider the Rh factor.In emergency situations, finding Rh negative blood can be challenging due to its rarity.Only fifteen percent of the population has Rh negative blood, making it a precious resource that must be carefully managed.During pregnancy, Rh factor becomes critically important when an Rh negative mother carries an Rh positive baby.Sometimes during pregnancy or delivery, a small amount of the baby's Rh positive blood can enter the mother's circulation.When this happens, the mother's immune system recognizes the Rh factor as foreign and begins producing antibodies against it.While the first pregnancy is usually safe, these antibodies can cross the placenta in subsequent pregnancies and attack an Rh positive baby's red blood cells.Fortunately, modern medicine has developed RhoGAM, a preventive treatment that stops the mother's immune system from developing these harmful antibodies.RhoGAM is typically given at week 28 of pregnancy and again within 72 hours of delivery.With RhoGAM treatment and proper monitoring, Rh factor complications are now highly manageable, with a success rate of over 99 percent.Remember these key points about Rh factor in pregnancy.Thanks for learning about Rh factor in pregnancy with Spark.E!
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