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Why does erythroblastosis fetalis occur with a second pregnancy and normally not the first pregnancy?
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
The mother is exposed to fetal blood during childbirth or abortion. The Rh+ proteins on the surface of fetal erythocytes can trigger an immune response in the mother. This creates antibodies in the mother and memory lymphocytes that are able to create more antibodies.
In the second pregnancy with a fetus with Rh factor, the antibodies in maternal blood can cross the placenta to the fetus and attack the fetus's erythocytes to cause erythroblastosis fetalis. The maternal blood in the first pregnancy does not contain such antibodies to cause the problem because the mother has never been exposed to the Rh factor until the time of first childbirth with the antigen.
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
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Why does the first born child not have erythroblastosis fetalis?
The first child born of a female is generally not at risk for erythroblastosis fetalis because the mother's immune system has not been exposed to the fetal blood antigens and therefore has not produced antibodies against it. However, by the second pregnancy there is a slight risk if the blood type of the fetus is not compatible with the mother's blood type.
Which baby gets erythroblastosis fetalis?
The second baby, normally. Erythroblastosis Foetalis is when a baby with a positive blood group is born to a mother of a negative blood group, and the mother has been 'sensitized' during a previous pregnancy. The mother's body identifies the fetus as a 'foreign' protein and her body's immune system tries to fight the foreign protein, much like an allergic reaction.
Can a rhesus negative mother with antibodies in her bloodstream go on to have a normal healthy baby?
Erythroblastosis Fetalis is a disease that affects mothers with a positive RH factor when their unborn babies have a negative RH factor. It only has negative side-effects during the second pregnancy.
Why would there be cause of concern if a pregnant mother is Rh- and her husband is Rh and this is their second child?
If the second child is Rh+ and the mother did not take RhoGAM, there is a chance that the child will develop erythroblastosis fetalis and die before birth.
Can a mom with Rh positive blood have an Rh positive baby?
The most severe form of erythroblastosis fetalis is that resulting from Rh incompatibility. But you can have erythroblastosis fetalis with ABO incompatibility as well. And this can occur with any child, even the first, and even with an Rh-negative child. However, if you're referring to Rh-incompatibility erythroblastosis fetalis, the answer to your question is, "Not usually" (assuming she hasn't had a previous Rh-positive child). In Rh-incompatibility, erythroblastosis fetalis occurs with the woman's second Rh-positive child. The first Rh-positive child's blood gets into the mother's bloodstream (e.g. at childbirth). The mother's blood makes antibodies to Rh. Since the first child is already born, this does not affect the first child. Then, when she has a second Rh-positive child, her antibodies cross the placenta and attack that child's blood cells. On the other hand, if the mother is exposed to the Rh factor of the first child's blood earlier in the pregnancy somehow, then I suppose she could develop enough antibodies to cause a problem for that first child.
Why is it important to check the Rh factor?
when a Rh+ mother carries a Rh- baby for second time, there is a high risk for the baby to suffer from a fatal disease called erythroblastosis fetalis , so it is necessary for one to know her Rh factor as well as her baby.
How does erythroblastosis fetalis develop?
It happens when the father is of a positive blood group (having Rhesus (Rh) factor) and mother of a negative blood group (devoid of Rh factor), the fetes' blood group will be of the positive type, i.e., having Rh factor as having Rh factor is a dominant trait and can mask the negative blood group. So, this creates problems for the kid as well as mother during pregnancy. Usually, the first pregnancy will not have much complications. But, the second pregnancy onwards, the antibodies present in the mother from the first pregnancy will be present and is harmful for the fetes. It happens when the father is of a positive blood group (having Rhesus (Rh) factor) and mother of a negative blood group (devoid of Rh factor), the fetes' blood group will be of the positive type, i.e., having Rh factor as having Rh factor is a dominant trait and can mask the negative blood group. So, this creates problems for the kid as well as mother during pregnancy. Usually, the first pregnancy will not have much complications. But, the second pregnancy onwards, the antibodies present in the mother from the first pregnancy will be present and is harmful for the fetes.
How might erythroblastosis fetalis?
It happens when the father is of a positive blood group (having Rhesus (Rh) factor) and mother of a negative blood group (devoid of Rh factor), the fetes' blood group will be of the positive type, i.e., having Rh factor as having Rh factor is a dominant trait and can mask the negative blood group. So, this creates problems for the kid as well as mother during pregnancy. Usually, the first pregnancy will not have much complications. But, the second pregnancy onwards, the antibodies present in the mother from the first pregnancy will be present and is harmful for the fetes. It happens when the father is of a positive blood group (having Rhesus (Rh) factor) and mother of a negative blood group (devoid of Rh factor), the fetes' blood group will be of the positive type, i.e., having Rh factor as having Rh factor is a dominant trait and can mask the negative blood group. So, this creates problems for the kid as well as mother during pregnancy. Usually, the first pregnancy will not have much complications. But, the second pregnancy onwards, the antibodies present in the mother from the first pregnancy will be present and is harmful for the fetes.
How does implantation blood look?
It is normally bright red. I didn't have it with my first pregnancy (only 1 -3 women have it and normally there is not much the woman doesn't even know she had it) With my second pregnancy I had 2 tiny dots on the toilet paper. Normally you can test about 4 days after you see implantation bleeding.
At what point in a woman's pregnancy does she normally get an ultrasound?
Most pregnant women get an ultrasound at the second trimester of pregnancy where the young fetus is most visible but it is possible to get an early ultrasound in case there may be any complications in early pregnancy.
When can you feel a baby?
normally around 16 weeks, but they say it depends whether its your first or second pregnancy, as on your first you don't really know what you are looking for.
Fetal movement is generally felt at how many weeks?
It is different for every woman, because pregnancy is different for every woman. Normally, fetal movement is felt earlier in a second or more pregnancy than in a first. Fetal movement is also likely to be felt earlier in thinner people than fatter people and in people have multiples. In a first pregnancy, fetal movement is normally first felt at around 17-20 weeks of pregnancy. In a second time or more pregnancy it is normally felt at around 15-20 weeks. It is not necessarily because it can be felt earlier, but more because the woman knows exactly what she's looking for because of her previous experiences.
