Among the routine tests done early in pregnancy- often at the first visit- is to determine whether the Rh factor is present in your blood. The Rh factor is a type of protein sometimes present in your blood and whether or not you have the Rh factor is determined by your genes passed on from your parents.
A woman who carries this protein is Rh-positive and someone without it is Rh-negative. Your Rh status, whether positive or negative, does not affect your health before pregnancy, but during pregnancy- if you are Rh-negative and your baby is Rh-positive, problems can arise. Your Rh status is determined by testing your blood.
