Rhesus Incompatibility in Marriage: Preventing Miscarriages and Newborn Disabilities

Every blood type (A, B, AB, O) also carries a Rhesus factor: Rh-positive means you have the Rh protein, and Rh-negative means you do not. In marriage, this matters when an Rh-negative mother and an Rh-positive father conceive. During a first pregnancy, the mother’s immune system usually adapts without issue. But after exposure to Rh-positive blood—at delivery, miscarriage or abortion—she can develop antibodies against Rh-positive red blood cells. In later pregnancies, this reaction may cause hemolytic disease of the newborn. Left unchecked, severe cases can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, anemia, jaundice or long-term disabilities such as hearing loss and neurological damage. The good news is that modern medicine offers a simple prevention: Rho(D) immune globulin, given around week 28, after any bleeding event and following delivery if the baby is Rh-positive. Couples should know their blood groups before or early in marriage. If the woman is Rh-negative, alert your healthcare provider promptly to arrange monitoring and anti-D injections. With proper care, many Rh-negative mothers go on to have healthy children.

Use The App To Win ₦1m

Stories are shared by community members. This article does not represent the official view of NaijaWorld — the author is solely responsible for its content.