Negative blood is compatible with positive blood for conception. What do you need to know about the compatibility of people by blood type in sexual and family relationships? Blood compatibility for conceiving a child - the occurrence of Rh conflict

Formed elements circulate in people's blood. One of them is red blood cells. On their surface there are antigens (a set of proteins) that form four different blood groups (BG) and the Rh factor (Rh). When planning a pregnancy, parents can identify blood group compatibility for conceiving a child. The combination of certain antigens leads to the appearance of unhealthy offspring and the risk of complicated pregnancy. To exclude them, contact your doctor, he will prescribe blood tests that prevent the development of a pathological pregnancy.

General ideas about blood groups

There are many antigenic structures on the surface of red blood cells, but the most common are two of them, which are designated by Latin letters (A, B). Based on their location, 4 blood groups are distinguished:

  • I (0) - complete absence of antigens;
  • II (A) - presence of antigen A;
  • III (B) - presence of group B;
  • IV (AB) - manifestation of both groups.

As already mentioned, there are Rh factors on the surface of red blood cells. They are determined jointly with the Civil Code. These are proteins that may or may not be present in the intravascular fluid. Therefore, Rh is marked on the analysis form with a plus or minus.

Information about human BG is necessary for doctors during transfusions, organ transplants, and pregnancy planning. If medical staff transfuses blood with the opposite group of antigens into a patient, an irreversible reaction will occur, which will lead to worsening of the condition and death. Red blood cells stick together (agglutination reaction), their number sharply decreases, hemolytic anemia and organ failure occur.

If a conflict arises in antigenic structures, the embryo may be rejected or its condition may deteriorate after birth, congenital pathologies may appear, or organ function will decline. Therefore, before conception, it is recommended that both parents donate blood, find out which group and Rh they belong to, and whether they are compatible according to the Rh factor.

The influence of antigenic structures on conception

Doctors have proven that the ability of partners to conceive depends on their state of health. HA only affects the process of bearing a child. The exception is a conflict regarding Rh, the blood group in the first pregnancy, after which the ability to become pregnant and bear the next baby decreases. The impossibility of conception occurs with the appearance of sexually transmitted infections, hormonal disorders, abnormal structure of the male and female genital organs, their inflammatory diseases, and abnormal sperm structure.

GK, the Rh factor of men and women affects the embryo that has already appeared. Its structure, development, and formation of internal organs depend on the compatibility of the parents’ blood group. Rh is of greater importance for the stable course of gestation, therefore, after pregnancy occurs, the doctor orders a test to determine it in both parents.

If the analysis was not performed during the preparation for pregnancy, the incompatibility was identified after fertilization of the egg, the pregnancy is maintained. Many methods have been developed that allow you to bear fruit. This requires constant monitoring of the condition of the mother and child.

Important! Pregnancy is considered safe if the baby and mother have the same Rh factor. During the first pregnancy, the risk of complications is minimal. Antigens accumulate in the mother's body, so a rejection reaction is possible during the second conception.

Planning a pregnancy

The ideal combination of HA and Rh is rare. But conflict on these indicators does not happen often; it does not appear during primary gestation. This requires incompatibility for HA and Rh at the same time.

When determining that the mother has a negative Rh and the father has a positive Rh, negative reactions will occur only if the fetus has the same antigenic composition as the father.

There are combinations of HA that lead to complications during pregnancy and the postpartum state:

  1. The mother is in the first positive group - there is a risk of conflict of the ABO system. This occurs if the baby has inherited the antigenic composition from the father. The risk of conflict is low. It rarely happens that when antibodies A and B encounter the mother's blood cells, they destroy the red blood cells containing the foreign protein. After delivery, the newborn's blood type is immediately determined. If she is identical to the mother, there is no need to worry. If they differ, the child is monitored in the maternity hospital. With subsequent pregnancy, the risk of conflict complications decreases.
  2. The mother has the second negative group - the risk appears if the baby inherited group 3 or 4 from the father. Conflict is a rare occurrence.
  3. The mother has the third group, and the father has the fourth - there is a possibility of developing complications.
  4. The mother has group 4 - there is no risk of conflict, since GC 4 is considered compatible with all other antigenic elements.

Important! Even despite the existing risk, the incidence of Rh conflict is low, this does not mean that partners should not have children. Most often, pregnancy proceeds normally under the supervision of doctors.

Formation of a child's blood type

Using the table, you can calculate the possible combinations of HA that the unborn baby will have. If the parents have similar antigens, the fetus's blood type is more likely to be the same. When antigenic elements differ, each GC has a 25% probability.

Rhesus conflict and its causes

Human red blood cells contain a protein called the Rh factor. If the pregnant woman and the fetus are incompatible according to this criterion, complications are possible. It is important that the mother has this protein, then even if the father does not have it, there is no danger.

In a situation where the mother does not have Rh, and the child inherits it from the father, gestational complications arise. The maternal body produces immunoglobulins against the fetus, which has a foreign antigen. For this reason, a woman develops symptoms of malaise and is at risk of miscarriage or premature birth.

The risk of hemolysis of the infant's red blood cells due to opposite Rh occurs during childbirth, when the baby's umbilical cord blood enters the mother's bloodstream.

Symptoms of incompatibility of blood groups and Rh factor

If antigenic elements are incompatible, the pregnant woman’s body begins to produce antibodies against the embryo. The fetus is considered a foreign object. During massive attacks, it is rejected, causing miscarriage at the beginning of pregnancy. If a woman produces a small number of antibodies, pregnancy continues, but is complicated by the following symptoms:

  • general signs of malaise (weakness, fatigue, aching joints, dizziness, drowsiness);
  • severe toxicosis, which leads to vomiting 7-10 times a day every day (the mother’s body is depleted, dehydration and lack of nutrients appear, which leads to underdevelopment of the fetus).

The fetus experiences the development of jaundice due to the clumping of red blood cells, anemia (decrease in the number of red blood cells), an increase in the size of internal organs, edema, an increase in the amount of amniotic fluid, and jaundice. Some abnormalities are visible on ultrasound, others are detected after birth.

Diagnosis of conflict by blood groups and Rhesus

Diagnosis of the condition should be carried out before conception. If the father and mother have the same protein structures, there is no need to worry. No further diagnostics are needed.

If a woman has a negative Rh, with the opposite in her husband, the doctor takes an anamnesis (questioning the patient about his complaints, symptoms). He will find out how many pregnancies the patient has had, whether there have been miscarriages, abortions, or intrauterine fetal death. These conditions indicate the accumulation of a large number of immunoglobulins against the appearance of antigenic proteins.

Blood sampling to study antibody titers

The patient is prescribed a monthly blood donation to study the titers (amount) of antibodies produced in her body. The more there are, the higher the risk of premature termination of pregnancy and the development of its pathologies.

Ultrasound is used to monitor the condition of the fetus. Particular attention is paid to monitoring his heart and brain. The degree of development of the placenta and the size of the child’s abdomen are assessed (to exclude ascites - the appearance of fluid in the abdominal cavity).

The last resort for diagnosing the condition is amniocentesis. This is a study that is carried out using amniotic fluid sampling. The procedure is not dangerous for women without Rh-conflict, but patients become nervous during it, the amount of hormones increases, and the heartbeat quickens. This has a negative impact on the child. Using testing, the titer of anti-Rhesus antibodies is determined.

Read about how the procedure is carried out.

During amniocentesis, there is a risk of fetal blood entering the woman's bloodstream, which will cause even greater immune activity. Therefore, it is not advisable to use the procedure for Rhesus conflict. It is safer to determine the indicator using venous blood.

Complications of lack of therapy

If, after the first gestation, rhesus conflict therapy was not carried out before subsequent gestations, complications will appear for the second baby in the form of hemolysis of red blood cells. A lesser side effect will be the development of anemia, which occurs due to gluing and destruction of some red blood cells. Reduced oxygen reaches the organs.

With a moderate degree of complications, after childbirth, prolonged jaundice with hepatosplenomegaly (enlarged liver and spleen) is observed. Emergency measures will be required to eliminate the condition.

The edematous form is a severe damage to the heart and brain, forming dropsy (fluid accumulation). Even with adequate therapy for the baby, he will still have mental retardation and heart failure.

The extreme degree of complication is the death of the baby after childbirth. This occurs due to massive hemolysis (destruction) of red blood cells.

Treatment

Incompatibility therapy is carried out symptomatically and pathogenetically. For the first option, vitamins, hormones, antihistamines, proper nutrition, and oxygen therapy are used.

In the second half of gestation, plasmapheresis is prescribed according to indications. This is a procedure of transfusion of the patient’s own blood, which has passed through a purification machine. Filtration removes excess immune cells. Cleaning takes place over time. After the procedure, the antibody titer is checked every two weeks; if it becomes high, the plasmapheresis procedure is repeated.

Plasmapheresis procedure

If there is a significant risk of complications for the child, early delivery by cesarean section is performed. If the pregnancy period does not allow the operation, it is performed through the umbilical vein. This eliminates hypoxia (oxygen starvation), anemia, and prolongs gestation time.

If a hemolytic disease is detected in a child after birth, he immediately undergoes a transfusion procedure. His blood is completely replaced with donor blood. Treatment of hemolytic disease is carried out.

After treatment, there is no prohibition on breastfeeding, even if the mother is given anti-Rhesus serum. Antibodies are only dangerous during the prenatal period.

Prevention of Rhesus conflict

With the help of modern medicine, prevention methods have been developed that will allow a woman to bear a child even if the future parents are found to be incompatible with BG and Rh.

Proteins on the baby’s red blood cells are formed during the 2-3rd month of pregnancy. Complications depend on the number of children born. If a woman is pregnant for the first time, the risk is minimal, since when a foreign object first appears, only immunoglobulins (Ig) G appear, which are not able to penetrate the placental barrier. Antibodies accumulate in her body and circulate in her blood. With the advent of subsequent conception, more and more antibodies begin to attack the fetus. Immunoglobulins M appear and penetrate the placenta.

Important! Even if the first fertilization was artificially interrupted and did not end in natural delivery, memory immunoglobulins have accumulated in the patient’s body, so the second pregnancy is at risk.

There is a technique for removing accumulated immunoglobulins after the completion of the first pregnancy. After childbirth or removal of the embryo, a woman is injected with serum that contains anti-Rhesus immunoglobulin. The procedure is carried out within 48 hours, until the Ig has time to disperse throughout the body and accumulate in the lymph nodes. The sooner the injection is given, the safer it will be for the mother and the subsequent state of pregnancy.

Conclusion

Many expectant parents do not think about checking their body before conceiving a child. This has a negative impact if there is a discrepancy between BG and Rh. Many consequences can be avoided by conducting timely laboratory tests. The antigenic conflict is especially dangerous for women with a negative Rh factor. With the help of modern medicine, it is possible to achieve the birth of a healthy child, even with complicated gestation.

This is why doctors insist on regular blood tests. If a problem is detected in the early stages, it is possible to control the process without allowing the appearance of hemolytic disease of the newborn. If the mother has a negative Rh, the absence of scheduled visits to the gynecologist is excluded and the birth is planned at home - in such conditions, both mother and child will die.

In a responsible and balanced approach to planning pregnancy and childbirth, future parents need to take into account not only the health of their bodies, but also many factors that can affect the health of the unborn baby. One of these factors is incompatible blood groups of future parents.

In medicine, the following are distinguished:

  • 1 blood group – 0 (I).
  • – A (II).
  • – B (III).
  • – AB (IV).

Depending on whether the antigen, best known as , is present or absent on the surface of red blood cells, the blood can be either Rh positive (Rh+) or Rh negative (Rh-).

A person's blood type is a constant characteristic. It is determined by genetic laws and does not change under the influence of external factors. perhaps as early as the third month of intrauterine development.

As a rule, most doctors deny the fact that future parents have incompatible blood groups for conceiving a child. A woman’s inability to fertilize, carry a pregnancy and give birth to a healthy baby is more due to the immunological and genetic incompatibility of a man and a woman, as well as the production of sperm by the female body against the partner’s sperm.

Parents' blood groups for pregnancy may be incompatible due to the Rh factor. This factor should never be neglected in matters of pregnancy planning.

For conception, the Rhesus antigen has no significance. It also does not affect the development and bearing of the baby if a woman is pregnant for the first time or if she and her husband have Rhesus - positive blood type.

Only in the case when the father of the unborn child is Rh positive, this can lead to incompatibility of the blood groups of the mother and the pregnant child, and, as a result, to the development of such a life-threatening condition for the baby as an isoimmune conflict for the Rh factor , better known as during pregnancy.

Conflict during pregnancy arises because the mother’s Rh-negative blood reacts to the red blood cells of the developing baby, on the membranes of which specific proteins are present, as if they were a foreign organism. As a result, the female body begins to actively produce antibodies directed against the fetus.

The consequences of Rh conflict for a pregnant woman can be irreversible and include:

  • in the threat of miscarriage in early pregnancy or premature birth;
  • in the formation of intraorgan edema in the fetus, which can lead to intrauterine growth retardation;
  • in the development of a hemolytic disease in a newborn, characterized by the destruction () of its red blood cells by maternal blood cells, which continues to circulate in the child’s body for some time after birth.

For the woman herself, the development of an autoimmune conflict does not pose any danger. She will feel well even if the developing fetus begins to suffer in utero.

Therefore, it is extremely important for pregnant women who have had antibodies in their blood using a Coombs test to strictly follow all the recommendations of the doctor monitoring the development of pregnancy, promptly donate blood for examination and not neglect an ultrasound examination, since this will help identify the appearance of edema in the baby and the onset of development. hemolytic disease.


Are there always complications?

If a woman with Rh negative factor becomes pregnant for the first time in her life, there are still no specific antibodies in her blood. Therefore, the pregnancy will proceed completely normally, and there will be no threat to the health and life of the unborn baby. Immediately after giving birth, she will be given anti-Rhesus D serum, which will help stop the formation of these antibodies.

In addition, since antibodies in the blood of a Rh-negative woman do not disappear over time, but on the contrary, their number only increases with each subsequent pregnancy, the administration of this serum is indicated after each pregnancy, regardless of how it ends (childbirth, spontaneous or drug-induced abortion).

If a woman with a negative Rh factor already has antibodies in her blood, the administration of serum is strictly contraindicated.

Types of conflicts

There is also the concept of incompatible blood groups during pregnancy in mother and child, which can also lead to the development of conflict, but according to the ABO system.

This type of complication is as common as Rhesus incompatibility, but its consequences are less catastrophic. It can develop if the mother, that is, does not contain agglutinogens, and the child inherits any other group from the father, and accordingly his blood contains antigens A and B, both individually and together.

A conflict in the ABO system can develop even during the first pregnancy, but the fetus will not develop pathological conditions, and there will be no signs of anemia. But just as in the case of Rh-conflict, in the first days after birth the level of bilirubin in the child’s blood will be significantly increased and in order to eliminate the manifestations of pathological jaundice in him it will be necessary to carry out the same therapeutic measures as in the case of an isoimmune conflict for Rh- factor.


The blood groups of the child and the mother may also be incompatible for the birth of a child if the expectant mother has a history of a disease such as thrombocytopenia, that is, a decrease in the number of platelets in her blood. In this case, the woman experiences the formation of antibodies directed against the platelets of the fetus.

Conclusion

When making an initial visit to the antenatal clinic, the expectant mother will initially receive a referral to donate blood to determine her blood type and Rhesus affiliation. In the case of Rh(-) factor, her husband will receive the same direction. If the Rh factors of the future parents coincide, there will be no development of an autoimmune conflict.

In the case of different Rh factors of the spouses, the pregnancy will proceed under close supervision by a gynecologist, in order to early determine signs of the development of Rh conflict during pregnancy between mother and fetus, as well as the increase in signs of hemolytic disease in the baby. If they are detected, the woman will need urgent hospitalization and specific treatment.

Under no circumstances should you be upset and refuse to become pregnant and give birth to a baby if, for one reason or another, the blood groups of the future parents are incompatible.

Subject to careful medical supervision of the development of pregnancy, compliance with all recommendations and prescriptions of the gynecologist, it is possible, if not avoided, then to minimize all the negative consequences caused by different blood types of future parents. We hope you learned what incompatible blood groups are for pregnancy.

Incompatibility of partners in approximately 30% of cases is the cause of infertility for couples wishing to have a child. And today many are interested in questions about why such a problem occurs and whether there are effective methods for its treatment. After all, thousands of people suffer from infertility, and their number increases every year.

Incompatibility of partners: what is it?

It is worth thinking about infertility if, within a year, a couple who has regular sexual intercourse without contraception has been unable to have a child. It's no secret that quite often the cause is some kind of inflammatory or infectious disease of one of the partners or anatomical features of the body.

But sometimes conception does not occur in a couple where both partners are completely healthy. In such cases, doctors, as a rule, make a not very comforting diagnosis - incompatibility of partners. This means that, despite the normal functioning of the body, there is some factor that interferes with the fertilization process. This problem can arise under the influence of various factors. In most cases, incompatibility can be corrected, but occasionally such a diagnosis can be final.

Blood type incompatibility: how dangerous is it?

In some cases, the cause of infertility is the incompatibility of partners. And here it is not the group itself that is of great importance, but the Rh factor. It is immediately worth noting that the Rh factor is a protein compound that is located on the surface of the red blood cell membrane. If a person has an antigen, then the Rh factor is positive (Rh+); if it is absent, then it is negative (Rh-).

Of course, ideally, the Rh blood factors of both spouses should be the same. But this does not always happen. According to statistics, 85% of women on the planet have a positive Rh factor - they are out of danger. But if your partner does not have this protein in her blood, then you should be more attentive to your health.

What is Rh conflict?

Rh conflict occurs when the mother and the fetus are positive. This is possible when the father of the child has the specified antigen in his blood. Thus, the mother begins to produce antibodies to the “foreign” protein.

Such incompatibility of partners during conception does not mean that pregnancy is impossible. But the risk of interruption is much higher. According to statistics, the first pregnancy is considered relatively safe, but the second can lead to serious consequences for both the fetus and the mother.

Fortunately, this condition can be controlled with special therapy. In particular, special tests on the mother’s level need to be carried out every month. And immediately three days before giving birth, the woman is given a special drug that prevents the formation of antibodies. After all, childbirth involves the transfer of fetal blood into the mother’s body, which can increase the activity of the immune system and lead to complications.

Incompatibility of microflora of partners

It's no secret that the human reproductive system has its own microflora, which is represented by beneficial bacteria. But conditionally pathogenic microorganisms also live in the mucous membrane of the genitourinary organs. These microbes are not dangerous for their host, since their number is strictly controlled by the immune system. But what is safe for one partner may pose a threat to another.

This is the incompatibility of the microflora of partners. Its symptoms, as a rule, are visible - after each sexual intercourse without using condoms, a man or woman experiences itching and burning in the external genital area, and sometimes uncharacteristic discharge. Thrush develops quite often.

It is worth noting that such incompatibility only rarely (in 2-3%) becomes a cause of infertility.

What to do if microflora is incompatible?

Despite the fact that microflora only in some cases affects the reproductive function of the body, such incompatibility brings a lot of troubles into the life of a couple. And this problem should not be left to chance - it is better to consult a doctor immediately. After all, repeated candidiasis can lead to more serious diseases.

Many patients ask whether a partner compatibility test is carried out. You can undergo it at any clinic - this is a regular smear from the vagina or urethra, followed by bacteriological culture. This technique allows you to determine the type of pathogen and evaluate its sensitivity to certain drugs. As a rule, to get rid of such a nuisance, you only need a course of taking suitable antibacterial agents. Both partners should undergo therapy. After this, you need to retake the tests.

Immunological incompatibility and its consequences

Infertility, which is associated with the immunological characteristics of the body, is quite complex. What is such incompatibility between partners? In such cases, for one reason or another, the female immune system begins to produce specific ones that have a detrimental effect on male sperm. Thus, even completely healthy people can experience difficulties with fertilization.

Moreover, sometimes the male body produces antibodies to its own germ cells. In any case, the sperm die, and not

Of course, even with such a problem, women sometimes manage to get pregnant. But most often, pregnancy proceeds unfavorably - immune cells damage the embryo in the early stages of development. There is a high probability of severe toxicosis, spontaneous abortion, as well as delays in fetal development. In any case, during planning for conception, testing for the presence of antisperm antibodies is recommended for all couples wishing to have a child.

Causes of immunological incompatibility

Unfortunately, the reasons for the development of immunological incompatibility are not yet fully understood. After all, if in some women a similar “allergic reaction” develops upon contact with the sperm of any man, then in other representatives of the fair sex the activity of the immune system increases only when the sperm of a particular man enters the body.

In some cases, such activity of the immune system may be associated with a woman’s mental state, for example, her fear of pregnancy or a hidden reluctance to have a child. Some studies have shown that even pheromones can influence the production of such antibodies. In some cases, infertility is associated with hormonal imbalances or certain diseases. In any situation, special testing and additional research will be needed.

How to pass the partner compatibility test?

In fact, there are many studies to determine the compatibility of a couple. For example, if immunological causes of infertility are suspected, the following compatibility test is performed for conception. In particular, to assess the body's reaction to sperm, you need to go to the doctor six hours after the last sexual intercourse (but no later than 12 hours). Specialists collect mucus from the cervix and then examine it under a microscope.

In this way, you can estimate the number of live and dead sperm, as well as study their motility. In this case, the pH of the vaginal environment, the degree of crystallization and the consistency of mucus are also measured.

Sometimes couples are recommended to test for genetic compatibility. After all, some partners, even if they are absolutely healthy, may be carriers of potentially dangerous genes. This study allows us to determine possible genetic diseases of the unborn baby, as well as the degree of risk of their development.

Issues of blood compatibility are a hot topic in modern medicine. It gained its significance with the development of immunohistochemistry and genetics, which were able to substantiate the paradoxical cases occurring in medicine.

What is blood type

The test must be taken in order to find out the genetic predisposition to pathologies and identify compatibility by blood groups. An increased level of white blood cells will reveal the presence of an inflammatory process or infection. Red blood cell counts that deviate from the norm will help determine if the body systems or organs are not functioning properly.

Knowing your blood type will help you quickly find a suitable donor or become one yourself. Also, blood compatibility will be a decisive factor if a woman tries to get pregnant.

Blood has the following composition:

  • Plasma;
  • Platelets;
  • Red blood cells;
  • Leukocytes.

Previously, people had only one blood type, but over time, man had to adapt to the environment through mutation. And today there are 4 blood groups.

Blood group discovery table

As a result of a study of red blood cells, special proteins (antigens A, B) were identified in some, the presence of which means that the carrier belongs to one of the III blood groups. Later a fourth group was identified.

In 1904, a new discovery was made - the Rh factor (negative - Rh-, positive - Rh+), which is inherited by one of the parents. Based on the information obtained, a classification was developed, expressed in the AB0 system. The table below shows the existing blood types.

Blood group designationOpeningDiet featuresPersonal qualitiesPlace and time of occurrence
First I (0)Meat foodPhysical strength and courageAbout 40 thousand years ago
Second II (A)Karl Landsteiner – 1891, AustraliaVegetarianismCommunityWestern Europe
Third III (B)Karl Landsteiner – 1891, AustraliaMono-diet is not recommendedPersistence and patienceIndia, Pakistan, Himalayas
Fourth IV (AB)Decastello, 1902Drinking alcohol is prohibitedResistance to allergic reactionsAs a result of mixing II (A) and III (B) blood groups about 1 thousand years ago.

The concept of Rh factor

The set of antigens or proteins that make up any tissue determines the specificity of the organism. Regarding blood and red blood cells, these are antigenic surface complexes, one of which is the Rh antigen or Rh factor. According to its presence, people can be divided into antigen carriers (Rh+) and people who do not have the Rh antigen (Rh-).

All situations in life associated with the need to mix blood are determined by the ability of the blood to maintain its structure after such a procedure. This largely depends on the Rh compatibility factor.

Something to remember! Blood compatible with the Rh factor is blood that the body will perceive as its own. This means that only blood with an identical Rh factor can be such!

Blood groups and their compatibility

The theory of blood group compatibility was developed in the mid-twentieth century. Since then, the procedure of blood transfusion (hemotransfusion) has been used to restore blood volume, replace certain of its components (plasma proteins, leukocytes, red blood cells), to restore pressure, for burns, infections, and hematopoietic aplasia. To receive a blood transfusion, your Rh factor and blood type must be compatible.

There is a rule that determines blood compatibility: donating red blood cells should not be agglutinated by the recipient's plasma.

So, if the same agglutinogens and agglutinins (A and α or B and β) occur, the process of sedimentation and further hemolysis (destruction) of red blood cells starts. Being the main mechanism for oxygen transfer, the blood stops its respiratory function.

It is believed that the first I(0) blood group is universal, and it can be transfused to people with any blood group. Blood group IV (AB) is a universal recipient, that is, carriers of this blood group have the ability to accept blood of any group. In practice, the rule of exact compatibility is usually followed, transfusing blood taking into account the Rh factors of the recipients' blood.

During transfusion, the compatibility of the blood groups of the recipient and the donor determines the success of the blood transfusion procedure. In the absence of compatibility, agglutination will occur (this is the gluing of red blood cells, which leads to the formation of blood clots, which can cause death).

Blood group compatibility table for transfusion:

Blood typeRecipientsFrom which donors can a transfusion be given?
I (0)I (0)
II (A)II (A), IV (AB)I (0), II (A)
III (B)III (B), IV (AB)I (0), III (B)
IV (AB)IV (AB)I (0), II (A), III (B), IV (AB)

From the table above, the following practical conclusions can be drawn:

  • Carriers of the first blood group are universal donors, but they themselves can only be recipients of the first blood group;
  • People with blood group IV are universal recipients, although they themselves can only be donors for people with group IV;
  • Donor compatibility is achievable only if the donor's blood does not contain red blood cells with antibodies that will provoke their destruction after blood transfusion.

Something to remember! Compatibility for the Rh factor is determined only in 2 cases, regardless of belonging to any blood group: people with a negative Rh factor can receive only Rh-negative blood, and for recipients with a positive Rh factor, they can become Rh-negative , and Rh-positive donors!

First blood group

It is the first negative (positive) group that is considered the foundation of civilization. Our ancestors had the habits of excellent hunters, they were ready to spend all their strength to achieve the goal - this was reflected in the character traits of carriers of this blood type. Modern owners of the first group need the ability to plan actions in order to avoid rash actions.

Characteristics of carriers of the first blood group:

CharacteristicSigns
Character traitsextroversion;
organizational skills;
natural leadership.
Strengthsphysical endurance;
high ability to survive;
strong digestive system.
Weak sidesincreased acidity (increased risk of developing peptic ulcers);
poor blood clotting;
predisposition to arthritis and allergies.

Second group

Gradually, evolution moved forward, as a result of which people began to engage in more farming. Vegetables and fruits began to be used for food - the human digestive system began to adapt to new environmental conditions. Vegetable protein became the main source of energy for humans - this is how the “vegetarian” blood group appeared - the second positive (negative).

Characteristics of carriers of the second blood group:

Third group

When stressed, the body of a group III carrier produces an increased amount of cortisol, so they usually experience a lack of motivation. It is difficult for carriers of blood group III to experience a violation of internal balance and balance in the team.

Characteristics of carriers of the third blood group:

CharacteristicSigns
Character traitsversatility;
openness to people;
flexibility in decisions.
Strengthsa penchant for creativity.
easily tolerate changes in diet;
strong immunity.
Weak sideslack of self-confidence and motivation;
increased susceptibility to autoimmune diseases.

IV blood group

Carriers of the fourth blood group appeared as a result of the symbiosis of II and III. They quickly get tired of solving everyday issues and have a penchant for creativity. This is the rarest blood group - only about 6% are carriers.

Characteristics of carriers of the fourth blood group:

Pregnancy and compatible blood groups


There is no controversy about the need for such an area of ​​obstetrics as family planning. It made it possible to significantly reduce the number of unwanted or complicated pregnancies, which was reflected in the birth of a much smaller number of sick children. And one of the aspects of family planning can be called the compatibility of the blood of future parents.

Here it is necessary to consider issues of blood compatibility and immunological compatibility of future parents at conception. These aspects have been confused and discussed as one issue, but they are not. Decisions should not be made on the basis of unreliable information and on the results of only a blood test of spouses for compatibility.

You need to understand that:

  1. If it is impossible to get pregnant, the compatibility of a husband and wife is determined not by the compatibility of the Rh factor or blood groups, but by the immunological compatibility of a man and a woman. This means that the female body produces antibodies to the components of a particular man’s sperm, and he simply does not perceive it. The Rh factor and blood type have absolutely nothing to do with it;
  2. A mother with Rh- can give birth to an Rh-positive child. This can only affect the condition of the fetus and the course of pregnancy, but is not regarded as incompatibility for conceiving a child;
  3. Partners with different Rh factors can have healthy children. There is no need to destroy relationships because the Rh factors of the mother and child may be potentially incompatible. However, you should definitely follow the recommendations that will be given by family planning specialists. Some of these recommendations are listed in the next section.

Combination of blood groups during pregnancy

If a couple decides to have a child, they must control this process at all stages from planning the child to its birth. For conception, blood type is less important than the Rh factor.

The fact is that when an antigen (Rh factor) enters the body, which the body does not have, an immunological reaction occurs when the recipient’s body produces destructive proteins (agglutinins) to the Rh factor. When Rh+ erythrocytes enter the recipient's blood again, gluing (agglutination) and destruction (hemolysis) of the resulting erythrocytes occur.

Rh conflict is the incompatibility of the blood groups of the mother with the Rh-negative group and the Rh+ child, due to which the breakdown of red blood cells is observed in the fetus's body.

Regarding the likelihood of rhesus conflict, you should be careful:

  • Spouses whose blood mixing could potentially lead to Rh conflict, with previous pregnancies/births. A positive outcome does not guarantee anything. On the contrary, the likelihood of incompatibility between the blood of the child and the mother increases with each new pregnancy;
  • Married couples where the woman has Rh- and the man has Rh+. The maximum probability of developing a conflict pregnancy is 25% when the partner is heterozygous (only 1 chromosome of the pair encodes Rh) and 50% when he is homozygous (each chromosome encodes Rh).

Table of Rh conflict during pregnancy:

Father's RhesusMother's RhesusProbability of Rh factor in newbornThe likelihood of developing Rh conflict
Rh+Rh+If the parents are heterozygous - 50% positive;
If one spouse is heterozygous and the second is homozygous, 75% positive.
If both parents are homozygous - 100% positive.
Rh-Rh+If the Rh positive partner is heterozygous – 25% positive;The probability of a conflict occurring is less than 50%
Rh+Rh-If the Rh positive partner is homozygous – 50% positive.
Rh-Rh-The child will be Rh negative in 100% of cases.There is no conflict pregnancy

Important to remember!!!

  1. If the mother's blood is Rh positive, then it is always compatible with the blood of the fetus;
  2. The possibility of Rh conflict exists only if the mother is Rh negative. The risk is no more than 50%;
  3. Inheritance of the Rh factor is determined not only by the actual Rh factor of the parents. It also depends on the set of genes that the child inherited, but which did not manifest themselves.

Video

When the issue of conceiving a child is of great importance, especially if it has not been possible to get pregnant for a long time, many couples turn to specialists. In fact, a family planning office must be visited from the very beginning. The examination will help determine all factors of compatibility between parents so that the baby is born healthy. Blood group compatibility for conception plays a particularly important role.

What effect does group compatibility have on conception?

The membrane of human red blood cells contains many antigens, which are protein or carbohydrate molecules. Antibodies can be formed in the blood serum to these antigens. By binding to antigens, antibodies cause the destruction of red blood cells (hemolysis). Over 4 dozen antigenic systems are known, but the most famous are the AB0 systems and the Rh factor, which influences the success of bearing a child. All doctors agree that the main influence on the fact of conception is the health status of the parents, and stories about the incompatibility of certain blood groups, which leads to the inability to get pregnant, are a myth.

If partners, despite unprotected sexual intercourse, fail to conceive at the moments of ovulation, this does not indicate incompatibility of the groups, but the presence of serious diseases, often of the reproductive system. Common ones are:

  • diseases of the genitourinary system caused by infection;
  • diseases of the thyroid gland, endocrine system;
  • obstruction of the fallopian tubes, other similar pathologies;
  • problems with sperm motility in men, others.

As for infectious diseases of the genitourinary system, both spouses have them at once, so treatment is prescribed for both husband and wife. In other cases, only one partner may need therapy.

Of course, genetic inheritance is an important factor determining the possibility of normal development of a child, so many women worry about blood type compatibility. But, as already mentioned, the conception and full development of the embryo is influenced by the compatibility of the parents according to the Rh blood factor.

What you need to know before conceiving

The main thing you need to know is what group both partners have. In addition to analysis to determine it, it is also recommended to test for antibodies to the Rh factor. Below we describe in more detail in which cases a Rh conflict can occur that interferes with bearing a healthy child.

Also, every expectant mother needs to find out more information about the following facts:

  1. In some cases, problems can arise not only due to Rh factors, but also as a result of differences in the group itself: a woman has the second, a man has the third/fourth; for a woman it is the third, for a man it is the second/fourth.
  2. According to statistics, women in the fourth group have the most problems with bearing a fetus, so they are usually under special medical supervision.
  3. The ability to conceive is reduced not only due to blood type incompatibility, it can also be affected by pelvic diseases, fibroids, cysts, and other neoplasms.

To prevent possible problems, it is recommended to visit a gynecologist or a family planning office before conceiving.

Blood group compatibility table - I, II, III, IV

Many couples strive to find out the blood type of the unborn baby; this can be done without waiting for his birth, and earlier than the sex of the child on an ultrasound. To do this, it is enough to know the groups of both parents in order to predict the blood type of the unborn baby with a certain accuracy.

The table below helps determine the combination of different parent groups among themselves:

I positive and negativeII and III and IIIII, III
II positive and negativeI and III and III, II, III, IVII, III, IV
III positive and negativeI and IIII, II, III, IVI, IIIII, III, IV
IV positive and negativeII, IIIII, III, IVII, III, IVII, III, IV

The table shows that when the parents’ groups are the same (except for 4), then the child will either have exactly the same one, or 1; if they are different, he may have one of them, or maybe a completely different one. In some cases, for example, when parents have groups 2 and 3, children can have absolutely any group.

Rhesus conflict during conception

Rh conflict is a serious problem that can be an obstacle to pregnancy or successful pregnancy. It occurs in cases where a woman has a negative Rh factor and a man has a positive Rh factor, while the fetus acquires a positive gene from the father.

To understand what happens in the female body, why it rejects the fetus, you need to have a shallow knowledge of genetics. When the embryo's red blood cells carry antigen proteins related to the positive Rh factor (Rh+), the mother's body perceives the child's red blood cells as foreign bodies and produces antibodies to them. These antibodies bind to antigens on the surface of red blood cells and destroy them.

However, the first pregnancy most often proceeds normally, because the blood circulation of the fetus and mother is normally isolated from each other. Only during childbirth does the blood of mother and child mix, and then the maternal body becomes sensitized and the production of antibodies begins. By the next pregnancy, antibodies to Rh-positive red blood cells are already circulating in the maternal blood. Their peculiarity is that they are able to penetrate the blood of the fetus and destroy its red blood cells.

Let's look at how the Rh factor is inherited.

Mother's Rh factorFather's Rh factor
Rh+ (DD)Rh+ (Dd)Rh- (dd)
Rh+ (DD)Rh+ (DD) - 100%Rh+ (DD) - 50%

Rh+ (Dd) - 50%

Rh+ (Dd) - 100%
Rh+ (Dd)Rh+ (DD) - 50%

Rh+ (Dd) - 50%

Rh+ (DD) - 25%

Rh+ (Dd) - 50%

Rh- (dd) - 25%

Rh+ (Dd) - 50%

Rh- (dd) - 50%

Rh- (dd)Rh+ (Dd) - 100% Rh+ (Dd) - 50%

Rh- (dd) - 50%

Rh- (dd) - 100%

Cases where Rh conflict occurs are highlighted.

As you can see from the table, even if both parents are carriers of a positive Rh factor, this is not a guarantee that they will not have a Rh negative child.

Important! Some partners do not know their Rh factor and are not even aware of the consequences of their negligent attitude towards the issue of conception. Doctors encourage everyone to find out the characteristics of their blood type, doing this not only during a transfusion in a critical situation, but in advance.

Consequences of Rh conflict for the fetus

Hemolytic disease of the fetus is an inevitable consequence of Rh conflict during conception. If the embryo manages to survive, serious changes begin to occur to it. The mother’s body continues to intensively produce antibodies, when they penetrate the fetus’s bloodstream, binding to its Rh-positive red blood cells, the latter are destroyed. This happens in the spleen of the unborn child; the newborn has an enlarged spleen.

Hemoglobin is released from collapsing red blood cells, which, breaking down, turns into bilirubin through several successive transformations. It is the increased content of bilirubin, which has a yellow color, in the blood, organs and tissues that causes the yellow color of the child’s skin - this disease is called hemolytic jaundice of newborns.

Bilirubin is neurotoxic; it can affect both the cortex and subcortical structures of the brain. Long-term consequences may include paralysis, hearing impairment, and mental retardation.

Also, due to the breakdown of red blood cells, their number in the blood decreases, and the child develops hemolytic anemia. Since there are few red blood cells that carry oxygen, the tissues of the fetus and newborn suffer from a lack of oxygen - hypoxia and intrauterine growth retardation occurs.

There are three main forms of hemolytic disease in a newborn:

  1. Anemic. The easiest option. The main symptom is excessively pale skin, enlarged liver and spleen. Red blood cells and hemoglobin are reduced in the blood. Treated with blood transfusion. Usually there are no serious health problems in the future.
  2. Jaundice. In addition to anemia, there is jaundice, enlargement of the liver and spleen. The skin may take on an intense yellow or even yellow-brown color. Amniotic fluid may be yellow in color. Reflexes in newborns are reduced, they are lethargic, and suck poorly. Requires urgent treatment.
  3. Edema. The most severe form. Massive intrauterine destruction of red blood cells leads to severe anemia, hypoxia, metabolic disorders, and tissue edema. The fetus dies before birth or is born in an extremely difficult condition with widespread edema. The skin is very pale and shiny. The child is lethargic, reflexes are depressed, severe cardiac and respiratory failure, severe enlargement of the liver and spleen, large, barrel-shaped abdomen.

Important! When registering a pregnant woman, the blood type and Rh factor of the mother and father must be determined to identify the risk of Rh conflict. Hemolytic disease can be recognized in the early stages if a timely ultrasound is performed with a mandatory study of placental blood flow, a blood test is performed at least 3 times to determine the concentration of anti-Rhesus antibodies, and consultations with the attending physician are required.

Rh factors that match each other

The most optimal for successful conception are the same Rh factors in partners, and it does not matter what group they have. For example, 2 positive and 3 positive combine perfectly; there can be no problems associated with blood incompatibility with conception or fetal development.

Problems arise when 1 negative and 1 positive are combined, and if it is negative, it is in a woman. As described above, it all depends on whose gene the fetus acquires; if the father’s is positive, then a Rh conflict will occur.

The Rh factor can be determined in most clinics by donating blood from a finger prick. You can also purchase a special test sold in pharmacies. The package usually contains an applicator, containers where the blood is placed, and special solutions. Doctors advise not to use such tests without special skills, but to contact laboratories.

Incompatibility between the organisms of mother and fetus can arise due to different Rh factors when Rh conflict occurs. Its consequences for the child can be different: the embryo may die in utero, or be born with a certain form of hemolytic disease. There is a possibility of a completely healthy baby being born. In any case, before planning a conception, every couple is recommended to contact a family planning center.



Random articles

Up