RH Negative

[smile]

Hi
Does anyone happen to know what the minimal requirement is for treatment of people with RH negative blood and their 2nd pregnancy?

[Fuchsia!]

sorry don't follow? I have RH neg blood and with the 2nd pregnancy it was the same as the 1st. I still had to have all the injections

[Oscar's mum]

You don't have to have the injenctions if you don't want. It is your body and your pregnancy.

If you don't want the injections they will probably just check your levels instead to ensure that everything is okay.

[lukaelmo]

I didn't have the injections with my second, mostly because I was tougher and knew I could say no. I waited 'till bubba was born and out, and had just one then.

As Jax said though, the treatment offered is the same for subsequent pregnancies.

[2boysmama]

If you are Rh Negative and your partner is Rh Positive, then why WOULDN"T you have the Anti-D injections???

I don't understand?


Why would you put your unborn baby at risk???

[Fuchsia!]

wow i didn't know that you could go without it! I will remember that next time! I remember when i went to get it they gave me info on it and it said that the stuff has a chance of having hiv in it and it gave me the willys! But i just went it done it cause the doctor said so!

So if you don't get the injections can you just have blood tests to see how you are going? What about the one after the baby is born? Cause both my kids had A+ blood so i had to have the injection so i didn't miscarry a future baby

[lukaelmo]

If you are Rh Negative and your partner is Rh Positive, then why WOULDN"T you have the Anti-D injections???

I don't understand?

Why would you put your unborn baby at risk???

Just because the anti D is a blood product and therefore carries its own risks.

[lukaelmo]

wow i didn't know that you could go without it! I will remember that next time! I remember when i went to get it they gave me info on it and it said that the stuff has a chance of having hiv in it and it gave me the willys! But i just went it done it cause the doctor said so!

So if you don't get the injections can you just have blood tests to see how you are going? What about the one after the baby is born? Cause both my kids had A+ blood so i had to have the injection so i didn't miscarry a future baby


Yep, blood tests and a lot of lectures :D...

But you should read up on the anti D and the risks of not having it too... lol please don't just base any decisions on what I did!

[Fuchsia!]

did you have the one after your baby was born though?

[lukaelmo]

did you have the one after your baby was born though?



I did yes... I don't really know why, maybe because I knew bubba was out and safe... more likely because I just said yes to keep everyone happy :laughing:.

Actually maybe it was because I thought it was the time of greatest risk for blood transferral... is that even a word?

[2boysmama]

The risk of catching anything from the Anti-D injection is FAR FAR LESS than the risk of haemolytic disease of the newborn if you are Rh Negative and your partner is Rh Positive and you have not developed any antibodies.

From the research I have read (too much to go into here) the last reported incident of infection was in 1970 in Ireland.

We have come a LONG way in technology, knowledge and screening processes since then.

Link to Haemolytic Disease of the newborn
http://www.lpch.org/DiseaseHealthInfo/HealthLibrary/hrnewborn/hdn.html

[lukaelmo]

The risk of catching anything from the Anti-D injection is FAR FAR LESS than the risk of haemolytic disease of the newborn if you are Rh Negative and your partner is Rh Positive and you have not developed any antibodies.

From the research I have read (too much to go into here) the last reported incident of infection was in 1970 in Ireland.

We have come a LONG way in technology, knowledge and screening processes since then.

Link to Haemolytic Disease of the newborn
http://www.lpch.org/DiseaseHealthInfo/HealthLibrary/hrnewborn/hdn.html


Lol, I had a felling you might be a bit passionate about this :D.

[Fuchsia!]

thanks 2boysmama! I have had a read! Im not sure what i'll do next time but no i have changed my mind again! I will be getting the injections probably! It just creeps me out knowing that i am having other peoples blood products injected into me. And of cause the HIV risk as well.

[forbetoel]

I have always had the injection, and wouldn't even dream of not doing it, the risks of not having the injection are much higher.

[forbetoel]

I will be getting the injections probably! It just creeps me out knowing that i am having other peoples blood products injected into me. And of cause the HIV risk as well.

The screening done these days is pretty good,and like I have already said, you would be risking a lot more by not getting them done.:)

[andie_pandie]

Im for the the injections also. I am B- and all three boys were B+ hence the risk was far to great not to. I remember when I was in the day unit whilst pregnant there was a woman whom choose not to have them and unfortuately her baby had to have transfusions in ueutro (sp) as bubby was very sick, they had to try to keep bubby there for a few more weeks before it was safe for him to come out and then there was more risk of blood contamination even then.

She went through so much stress and uncertainty if bubby would come out safely, but bubs was ok and still had to have more transfusions when born and was in hospital for quite some time because of his age.

[2boysmama]

Might be cause I'm a Registered Nurse, and Rh Negative (A -ve) myself with a Rh Positive partner (B +ve). My first daughter was OK. She was Rh Positive (B +ve) and I had Anti D after to protect further pregnancies.

I'm glad I did because my next daughter was Rh Positive as well (AB +ve). I would hate to have lost her. She is such a treasure. (They both are).

This is the hypothetical scenario of how it could have happened:

As I delivered my first daughter the placenta detached and some of her positive blood cells crossed into my circulation. My body saw them as "foreign" and developed antibodies to positive blood cells.

When I got pregnant with my second baby, my body detects her positive blood cells and starts to fight them because they are not the same as mine. (For some reason, this doesn't happen in the first pregnancy. Just like when you get bitten by a bee, you don't have an allergic reaction till the second bite).

Anyway, as the antibodies destroyed the baby's red blood cells, she became sick. Firstly she became anaemic, then it affected her liver and spleen and they became grossly enlarged, then her brain and she began having seizures. Remember she hasn't been born yet. But it's highly unlikely she will survive the brain damage and deafness. She doesn't. She dies in utero.

Of course.... this DIDN'T happen, because I had the Anti-D injection. I'm so glad I did.

[Fuchsia!]

yep i always thought that the injection after you had bubs was to prevent you from having miscarriages.

[smile]

Ok I need to be more specific here.

Like for instance how often should you be getting monitored? And how many injections should you receive during your pregnancy?

My question does not relate to getting the injections or not I think it goes without saying that if you are RH - and your partner is RH + then why would you risk your baby or any further pregnancies?

Anyhow hope someone can help with the top two questions I just don't think I've been receiving the correct care and am unhappy with my obstetrician (which I'm leaving and trying to find a better service but until then I really would like to know what I should be getting).

Thanks for any help

[Fuchsia!]

ok if i remember correctly i recieved 2 injections and one after the bub was born, and i had about 2 or 3 blood tests to check it.

[smile]

Thanks Jaxcoop
I'm 26 wks and I've only had one blood test and that was because I asked for it...

Do they happen to do urine test to also monitor because this is something that I haven't had any of.

[Fuchsia!]

Are you being looked after by a gp? i go for regular check ups at my gp's and she does a urine test each time i go. So you should be having urines test for sure!

Who is looking after you? In both my pregnancys i see my gp and at around 30 weeks i see my OB and still have the regular checks up at my GP's.

[SorenLorensen]

i chose not to have it while i was pregnant with DD, i did my research on it and decided against it.
there was a very long period of time that they did not give it to everyone while they were pregnant and only a few years befor DD was born did it become an option for everyone and anyone (well neg people) again.
if i had bleed then yes i would have gotten it and i was all set to have it after DD was born. DD was born a neg anyway so i didnt need it.
i had one after my m/c
and with this baby i have not yet had it one
life would be easy if DP would find out his blood type :rolleyes:



(For some reason, this doesn't happen in the first pregnancy. Just like when you get bitten by a bee, you don't have an allergic reaction till the second bite).

isnt it becuase your body needs to get the + in it to build the antibodies that fight the + ?.....so when the + blood first comes into your blood streem there is nothing to fight against it.... im sure that is the basic reason, i could go into more detail but that would involve me finding my study books from school and i soooo dont want to do that

[Tabby]

I had more than the standard injections as I had two bleeds early on in the pregnancy and you need to get them then within 72hrs as well.
Also had two routine shots shots during pregnancy as DP was +. I cant remember when though sorry!
I also had a couple of blood tests to check my levels.


In the end I left My OB though as felt that as he wasnt checking my urine as routine at each visit I wasnt happy. But thats another story.

[SorenLorensen]

this might help






Blood tests for antibodies.The following is a guide as to what you can expect regarding blood tests for antibodies during pregnancy and the administration of anti-D.

Have antibodies checked for (or screened for) as a 'group and antibodies' blood test during early pregnancy, before or at their first pregnancy visit.

Have further 'group and antibody' tests done at about 28 weeks (26 to 30 weeks) and about 34 to 36 weeks of the pregnancy, to check for any unexpected formation of antibodies.

Be given an injection of anti-D Immunoglobulin within 72 hours of a bleeding event or medical procedure during pregnancy that could cause bleeding inside the uterus. The 'anti- D' injection gives the woman 'temporary antibodies' for up to 3 months after the injection to fight any red blood cells from the baby that may get into her system. This means any 'group and antibody' blood tests done within 3 months after the injection will show as being 'positive' for antibodies, or 'antibodies detected'. This reverts back to 'nil antibodies' once the injection wears off.

Have another blood test soon after the birth, called a 'Kleihauer test'.

Have a sample of cord blood taken soon after the birth from their baby's cord(s) to check the baby's Rhesus factor(s).

Possibly require an injection of Anti-D Immunoglobulin within 72 hours after the birth, if their baby (or any of their babies) is discovered to have a Rhesus positive blood group.

[smile]

Thanks Flick83

Yes that does defiantely help especailly about the 3mth protection thank you.

[Tracy79]

I had one at 19 weeks when I had a bleed, one at 28 weeks, and will have another at 36 weeks and then when the baby is born.