Rh Factor

[rebeccac]

I was checking out information about HELLP on the Internet and on one site the subject of having Rh negative blood came up. Many women who posted their experience with HELLP indicated that they are Rh negative. I too am Rh negative and had an emergency c-section at 35 weeks. I did receive Rho Gam (sp?) shots as required. (I found out I was Rh negative after my first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage at 7 weeks). Has anyone else heard of this?

[gilma]

I've seen something about it....I'm just not sure where. I too, wonder as I am also RH negative. I had HELLP with my first pregancy, PIH w/second, and severe PE w/third. I'll try to find the article I was reading and let you know.

[deerhart]

Nope sorry never heard of it. The only connection between RH negativity and problems I have ever heard dealt with RH sensatitivity (which is why we get the rhogam shots).

I don't think the corrolation would be that strong. 15% of the population is RH - (but estimates of european descent individuals is 1 out of every 7 is RH- Eurpoeans are much higher because the mutation is thought to have occured in europe, about 7% of African-Americans are RH-), so you not only have to look at the woman being RH- but also the RH factor of the husband and the child (I have a RH + and a RH - child.. had PE/PIH with both).

One study I found between RH- and Hellp indicated that it was O- woman who had the increased risk
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12410371&dopt=Abstract

[rebeccac]

Erin, that is interesting because I'm O-.

Rebecca

[alviarin]

Interesting. I'm O- as well (and my husband and son are O+).

[alviarin]

quote:

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Originally posted by alviarin

Interesting. I'm O- as well (and my husband and son are O+).

ETA: My mother-in-law is also O- and she had very mild PE with both her children. With her first they called it "toxemia" and told her to cut back on salt, and with her second they induced close to term.

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[onfaith]

I have not heard of this theory either...I am O+.

[deerhart]

I thought for 22 years I was A+, but the hospital I was born at mistyped me. I am actually A-.

[izabel]

I am O- as well

[annamarie89]

I'm also O- and had hellp syndrome. Father is O+.