Rh Negative: Frequently Asked Questions

The rhesus antibody (rhesus factor) of this blood type will be negative. If the father's rhesus factor of the blood type is also negative it will pose no problem for the baby. If the father's Rh factor is positive, there's a chance that the baby will also be Rh positive. Should the baby's blood get into the mother's system it could cause the mother's body to to create antibodies against the positive Rh factor. As a result the mother's body would treat the Rh positive baby as an intruder in her body. 27

The rhesus antibody (rhesus factor) of this blood type will be negative. If the father's rhesus factor of the blood type is also negative it will pose no problem for the baby. 39

A blood test performed in our lab will determine your RH factor. If your blood is RH negative, you will be given an injection of MicroRhoGAM following the procedure. 37.

A blood test performed in our lab will determine your Rh factor. If your blood is Rh negative, you will be given an injection of MICRhoGAM or RhoGAM, depending on your gestation, following the procedure.

Most people are Rh-positive -- 85%. Percentages vary between ethnic/racial groups. For the 15% who are Rh-negative, their blood type causes no special health concerns and becomes important only when they give or receive blood and, most importantly, during pregnancy. When an Rh-negative woman and an Rh-positive man conceive a child, Rh status becomes especially important. The Rh factor is the "+" (Positive) or "=" (Negative) after your blood type (A, B, AB, or O). ...

RED BLOOD CELLS: Yes, if it is an emergency or if large amounts of blood may be used. PLATELETS: ABO and Rh compatible platelets will be released for transfusion. If this is not feasible because of limited inventory and /or emergent need for the component, ABO and /or Rh incompatible platelets may be issued. ...

Before birth, your doctor will determine if blood testing will be done to determine the blood type of the baby. Historically, many doctors do not do blood testing and assume that the baby is Rh-positive and administer RhoGAM ® Brand during pregnancy. If your baby is determined to be Rh-negative at birth, you do not need a second dose of RhoGAM ® Brand.

We will determine your Rh factor in the lab, and provide Rhogam© only if needed. This shot protects future pregnancies in women who are Rh Negative, but is unnecessary for women who are not Rh Negative. The price is included in the fee for termination.

The mother’s body may form an immune response against the Rh markers on the baby’s red cells, causing a breakdown of the baby’s cells. Since blood testing is routinely performed on pregnant women, such situations can be detected early and treated appropriately.

When an Rh-negative woman carries an Rh-positive baby, small numbers of the baby’s red blood cells may get into the mother’s bloodstream. This can happen during your pregnancy as well as at delivery. The mother’s immune system sees the baby’s Rh-positive red blood cells as foreign and goes to work to produce antibodies against them.

HDN usually does not affect the mother’s first baby, but once she has produced Rh antibodies, all future Rh-positive babies are at risk. RhoGAM ® Ultra-Filtered PLUS prevents the production of these antibodies.

All Rhogam injections are provided at no additional cost to you. A blood test will be performed on the day of your procedure to determine your RH factor.