My rh- blood got mixed with the baby's. How does that happen?

[finefatmama]

Had emergency cs op three weeks ago on the dreaded NHS and two hrs later, I was told the baby was O+ and his blood had mixed with mine. DS2 was 35weeks and I was having some contractions which they couldn't stop with pethidine.

I keep wondering how the mother and baby's blood get mixed up. Has anyone had this?

[tissy]

it's pretty common for blood to pass back from baby to mother during delivery. Can't remember the exact mechanics of it though. If you are Rh negative and your baby's posistive blood gets into your system, then your body produces antibodies to the posistive bit. In the next pregnancy, if the baby is again posistive, your antibodies can cross the placenta and destroy the baby's red blood cells, causing severe anaemia. This is called Rhesus disease, and is usually prevented by giving a Rh negative Mum "Anti D" shortly after delivery, which "mops up" the positive baby's blood cells, so prevents Rhesus disease happening next time.

15% of the population are Rh negative, so it's a fairly common thing- and, btw, nothing to do with the "dreaded NHS"!

[eemie]

It can happen in labour which is why rhesus incompatible pregnancies are monitored. In fact maternal and foetal circulations are not fully separate in any pregnancy - a few foetal cells get into the maternal circulation.

Did you know your husband was RH+? Did you have anti-D?

Hope your baby is well

And congratulations.

My Mum and Dad were Rh incompatible and we're all fine btw

[eemie]

Sorry, X-posted with Tissy and her explanation is much better than mine

[finefatmama]

All the tests i had done in my home country 'showed' i was B+. when I was first told i was Rh-, I protested and had to question both my parents who swore they were rh+. the test was repeated three times and I am rh-. have been for three prenancies. I was given two anti-d injections post-op because one wasn't enough (???)


I call it 'The dreaded NHS' because of my previous experience which ended up in the loss of dd. ds was private and it all went well. ds1 was meant to be private but the hospital we were using is in london and we live in essex and had a flat tyre. Also the NHS told me i had to leave on wednesday (ds2 born monday morning) to avoid a bed crisis and that I should count myself lucky i could stay till evening. my stitches have since come apart and I had a very bad infection which caused my a lot of pain and had to stop bf to take antibiotics.

[lotussister]

Two Rh + parents can have Rh - children, it's the other way round that is not possible. How do they know the bloods have mixed? I thought they gave the anti-D preventively, in case this happened, and that given that that stops the antibodies forming you never knew for sure.

[finefatmama]

Really? I had no idea. how come two rh+ can have rh-?

I had one anti-D injection privately at 32weeks. They took some bloods and said that the blood test showed that the blood had mixed and that I was starting to develop something so I needed two injections postnatal.

[Seona1973]

I am also in Scotland and DONT get the injections at 28 and 34 weeks. I get blood tests at these times to check if there are antibodies and anti-d is given only if necessary. I do have a green card thing that I have to carry to say I am Rhesus negative. My first dd was Rhesus positive so I got anti-d after her birth.

[MegaLegs]

I am R- and only had the anti-d after the birth of all 4 boys. Also after a mc. Had extra blood tests during pg but no anti-d whilst pg.

[gingernut]

They are supposed to do a test postnatally to determine how much Anti-D you need so this is how they knew the blood had mixed and that you needed 2 injections.

Waswondering is right about the genetics (and both my parents are Rh+ but I am Rh-).

Policy on giving anti-D antenatally varies in different areas. Since 2002, when NICE produced guidelines recommending antenatal administration at 28 and 34 weeks, I think more people have received it antenatally. I only had it postnatally after ds1 (born 2001) but had it antenatally and postnatally after ds2. Also had it after a m/c.

[mumandlovingit]

im rhesus negative and had an anti d routinely after mc in 2000, none during pregnancy but did routinely after ds born 2001.had anti d during pregnancy of ds2 because i had a fal and the blood crossed.also after birth once they'd taken cord blood and determined i needed it as he was positive blood.only had extra blood tests in pregnancy, its different in every area.here they dont give you anti d unless you need it.they dont do it just incase.both my boys are positive blood.they took my blood after delivery to check as it is common for the blood to cross during delivery.

[finefatmama]

It's a relief to know that I should be safe in the unlikely event that another unplanned pregnancy takes place.

so i guess i can stop giving my mum the suspicious look and kill the fantasy about my real dad being a rich mogul.