Practice diagnosis and treatment of negative RH during pregnancy

About 15% of women have a negative Rhesus (Rh) factor. This condition is especially dangerous when a woman is pregnant with an Rh-positive baby, as the mother's body can produce antibodies against the child's blood type, called Rhesus incompatibility. This may cause neonatal haemolytic anaemia in the child.

Diagnose

Blood tests are done at antenatal visits at 28 and 36 weeks to screen for Rh antibodies.

Treatment

Rh-negative mothers should receive an anti-factor D (anti-D) antibody after birth to prevent the development of anti-D antibodies.

500 international units (IU) of anti-D immunoglobulin (anti-D) serum is administered to all Rh-negative women immediately after:

Spontaneous miscarriage after 12 weeks.

End of pregnancy.

Amniocentesis through the abdomen.

Have an ectopic pregnancy.

Bleeding before giving birth.