Understanding E-Antigen During Pregnancy: A Comprehensive Explanation

Question
I'm 22 wks pregnant with my 3rd child.  This time I showed antibody e levels.  my husband was tested and had antigen e.  today i had my antibody e level tested again.  what does this mean and HOW did it happen with the 3rd child.  my husband and I were virgins at marriage and 100% faithful.  is this normal?

Answer
Dear Rachel,

The e-antigen is a really complex and difficult thing to understand - and also to try to explain, so bear with me. The e-antigen is part of the Rh component - the part that indicates positive or negative blood type. Many people who have tested positive for e-antigen do so because they have had a blood transfusion or have had a pregnancy and were exposed to either tranfused blood or blood from a developing baby which was not like their own - causing the body to attach an antigen on the red blood cells. The body then has kind of an allergic reaction to that antigen, and will produce an antibody to fight it.  If the mother's blood and the baby's blood are not the same - in a significant way, there can be some real issues. I cannot find any direct information on fetal effects caused specifically by the e-antigen. However, I would strongly suspect this is a situation very similar to Rh incompatibility. It may be possible that the e antigen was passed on from your husband to your 2nd baby and thus you developed the antibody at that time. It may be something to question your doctor about in more detail.

I hope that I have helped you a bit and I wish you well.

Brenda