Rh Test Should Be Done Before Marriage

Do you know that negative Rh (Rhesus) can kill a baby? The leader of “Negative Rhesus” community
in Indonesia said that 15% people in the world and 1% people in Indonesia have negative Rh.
Although the percentage is small but it has a big effect. If negative Rh meets the postive one (Rhesus
Incompability), it will make some health problems especially with a pregnant woman. Therefore, Rh
test should be done before marriage.

Reason 1 : the baby will have some abnormalities.

According to the antigen, blood group is classified into two, there are ABO blood group and Rh blood
group. ABO blood group which are A, B, AB, and O blood group is well known in Indonesia but not
with Rh blood group. Rh blood group system was dicovered in 1940 by Karl Landsteiner and A.S.
Weiner. Rh blood group is classified into negative Rh and positive Rh. Doctor Rudi Simanjuntak,
obgyn specialist said if couple have different Rh for example man has positive Rh and woman has
negative Rh there is a possibility they will have a positive Rh baby. Sadly, the baby will have some
abnormalities and it can be so dangerous. According to Indonesian Ministry of Health, the
abnormalities are hemolitic anemia and jaundice or yellow body. Hemolitic anemia can lead to the
heart and hepar abnormality. Other abnormalities such as overload amniotic fluid and hepar swelling
can be seen since fetus by USG.

Reason 2 : it is dangerous in the second pregancy

Doctor Chandra, obgyn specialist said the difference Rh between baby and mother also can lead to
erythoblastosis foetalis, which is can make over and over miscarriage and the death of the baby. This
difference is not too dangerous in the first pregnancy. Because, the possibility for body to make
antibody or antirhesus is very small. Even if it’s formed, the first baby still can be born healthy. The
formation of antirhesus begins after the first pregnancy. The baby will be a ‘strange thing’ in mother’s
body. Naturally, body will react by stimulating erytrocyt in the form of antibodies or antirhesus to
protect mother’s body and fight the ‘strange thing’ or the fetus. Antibody will enter the placenta and
harm the fetus. This is called destruction of eytrocyt or hemolitic. Beside that especially in trimester 3,
mother will have some health problems such as swollen foot, and often get a hard stomach just like a
contraction.

I understand that couple who are going to marry is busy with the preparation for their marriage.
Remember one of marriage’s goal is to have a baby but many couples in Indonesia are not used to go
on premarital check up or medical check up before marry, moreover check their rhesus. This
condition is already become a habit even though checking rhesus is above one hundred rupias. This
check up has also become a facility in hospital or clinic for couple who are going to marry. Knowing
each other rhesus will make your household planning more obvious. You can choose the right
decision to go on the marriage or not after knowing the condition.

Reason 3 : Negative rhesus blood is used as a commercialization tool for blood brokers. In the daily
Radar Sukabumi1, it was reported that negative rhesus blood in Surabaya was used as a source of
commercialization by selling ten blood bags at a price of 7 million rupiahs, while in Jogja one bag
sold up to 1 million rupiah. This adds confusion and worries that the owners of rhesus blood are
negative. Moreover, negative rhesus blood is blood that is not stored in the blood bank or UTD PMI,
so that blood seekers will be easily trapped in the sale and purchase of negative rhesus blood.
Negative rhesus blood stock does not arrive immediately.