Matching blood group before marriage is important. This is to prevent Rh incompatibility. Rh incompatibility can lead to erythroblastosis fetalis (Hemolytic disease of the newborn-HDN). Fetal RBC gets destroyed & newborn may get severe anaemia, jaundice.
This jaundice is more severe than Physiological jaundice ( which is the most common and will usually resolve on its own). In very severe form, a fetus may die due to heart failure. This is mediated by the antigen-antibodies reaction. Transfer of maternal antibodies across the placenta occurs.
This happens when Rh +ve man marries Rh-ve lady. So Rh +ve man should try to avoid marrying Rh-ve lady. Newborn with erythroblastosis fetalis may need an exchange transfusion. Complete blood count, bilirubin levels are done. High levels of bilirubin may lead to kernicterus.
Kernicterus means deposition of bilirubin in basal ganglia region & can cause severe brain damage (bilirubin encephalopathy). In kernicterus, the baby will be lethargic, slowly responding when breastfeeding is tried. Bulging fontanelles may be seen.
In 1st pregnancy, the problem is less severe but in subsequent pregnancies, a problem becomes more severe. Hemolytic disease of the newborn can be treated before birth by intrauterine transfusion. Incompatibilities of ABO blood types do not cause erythroblastosis fetalis.
Erythroblastosis fetalis can be prevented by giving the mother Rh0(D) immune globulin at 28 wk gestation and within 72 h of pregnancy termination. Due to preventive treatments are given to the mother, erythroblastosis fetalis is less common nowadays Direct antiglobulin test (DAT, Direct Coomb’s test ) is used to diagnose HDN.
BLOOD GROUPS THAT DO NOT MATCH FOR MARRIAGE
Boy:A = Girl:O&B
Boy:B = Girl:O&A
Boy:AB = Girl:O,A& B
Boy:Rh+ve = Girl:Rh-ve
Matching blood groups for marriage
Boy:A = Girl:A&AB
Boy:B = Girl:B& AB
Boy:O = Girl:O,A,B & AB
Boy:AB = Girl:AB
Boy:Rh+ve = Girl:Rh+ve
Boy:Rh-ve = Girl:Rh+ve & Rh-veWhy it is suggested to match blood group before marriage.
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