Saturday, September 20, 2008

Pregnancy : 28 Week

Your baby is continuing to gain weight and now weighs about 2 pounds, 2 ounces (1000 grams). Her brain continues to mature and she adds fat under her skin. The hair on her head continues to grow.

Earlier on, your doctor probably ordered blood tests for you. One of the tests was to assess your Rh factor (Rhesus antigen), a substance found in the red blood cells of most people. During the last trimester of your pregnancy, some of your antibodies are transferred across the placenta to build your baby's immune system. Some of the transference also includes antibodies directed against the baby's own antigens. (An antibody is a substance that boosts immunity against disease. An antigen is a substance that causes the formulation of antibodies.) Most of these antibodies don't even reach fetal circulation. But if you don't have the Rh factor and are Rh negative and your baby is Rh positive, there is a potential that your baby may have some complications, such as anemia and jaundice. The treatment is very simple and safe. At 28 weeks and again after the baby is born, you will get a vaccine called Rh immunoglobulin to provide the necessary antibodies.

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